The Rock Church

Existence of God

I have been challenged so much this week to share the existence of God. During the coffee table sessions, there have been many opportunities to direct conversations to eternal matters. It’s been convicting to think about how I live my daily life without attempting to share more about God. 

There was a conversation yesterday afternoon with a man who had lived under Sadam Hessian and escaped with his life. He had doubts that a God could even exist. It was challenging but rewarding to share God, defend his existence, and talk about the evidence of His presence in the world. These experiences only help to confirm and strengthen my faith as I share Jesus and his love.

– Tim Fleury

Posted in Missions by Brent Kendall

Forgiveness Through Jesus – Illustrated Stories and Park Outreach

We started our day with breakfast, worship, and team time, during which Sarah taught us a conversational tool for sharing the gospel using a Bible story about Jesus. She asked us to fold a sheet of paper in fourths and told us the story from Luke 7:36-50, broken into four parts. Simon the Pharisee invited Jesus to dinner at his home, where a sinful woman entered, weeping and washing Jesus’ feet with her tears. Jesus challenges Simon to think about forgiveness in the story he tells Simon about the canceled debt of two men. Jesus says to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” Finally, Jesus tells the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Posted in Missions by Brent Kendall

15-Second Testimonies — Parkour, Coffee, and House Church

Today, we woke up and felt mostly adjusted to the time zone.  With that, we started the day with breakfast and team time.  We sang a few songs accompanied by Alicia on the piano and prayed for the day; Sarah had an activity to help us share our testimony in 15 seconds. It was a super easy one with only five steps! Even the kids had it down after a couple of times practicing with one another.  This proved to be very helpful later in the day.  We wrapped up team time and headed for prayer walking, prayer parkour, and lunch.  After lunch, Brent had the opportunity to pray for the new restaurant owner we had just eaten at.  After this, we returned to Sarah’s place to prepare for the afternoon activities.

Posted in Missions by Brent Kendall

Arrived — Church Service and a Sunday Stroll

We made it to Sweden! Praise God our day of travel was light, easy, and stress-free. Our flights were pleasant, and the connections were short yet restful. We arrived looking like zombies, but most of the team caught a second wind in time to go for a walk and get acquainted with the neighborhood. We shared a dinner with Sarah’s good friends, Stefan and Ingrid. Our team enjoyed listening to ministry stories from a sweet couple running hard for Jesus for over 40 years. Some of these teary-eyed stories were compelling testimonies of committing their lives to Jesus, trusting in His ways, and falling in love by God’s timing. What a blessing to Sarah to have a solid couple to do life with! They have also graciously opened their home so that Carmen, Scott, and Alicia can have a place to stay.

Posted in Missions by Brent Kendall

Eager for Sweden — “Twenty-twenty-twenty four hours to go”

I can’t seem to shake the Ramones song playing on a loop in my brain as I think about the next 24 hours. I really do want someone to “just get me to the airport, put me on a plane,” and let me get going. I’m anxious and eager to get started. I don’t do well leading up to a big trip like this. I stress about getting all the tasks crossed off a list, ensuring everyone is healthy, and communicating flights. I’m an over-planner. I can get distracted by all the planning and forget to let the Holy Spirit lead.

Posted in Missions by Brent Kendall

Witnesses of God’s Work: Reflections from Croatia

“God has raised this Jesus; we are all witnesses of this. Therefore, since He has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, He has poured out on you what you both see and hear.” — Acts 2:33

By God’s grace, we finished our mission successfully. The missionaries were blessed and our team has made lasting friendships and memories. 

Posted in Missions, News by The Rock Church

A Marathon Day of Fun in Vrsar

“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.” — Acts 20:35

Today was our marathon day, of sorts, with thirty-six children, nine adults, and eleven hours of childcare. This allowed the parents an entire free day to rest and /or adventure around Istria. 

Posted in Missions, News by The Rock Church

The Beauty of Fellowship: A Glimpse of Heaven with God’s People

“For our momentary, light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable, eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” — 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Our team joined all the missionaries and their children on a boating excursion in the Adriatic Sea today. We stopped for lunch in Rovinj, then headed up the Lim Fjord, stopping at a historic pirate cave. 

Posted in Missions, News by The Rock Church

Third Culture Reality: A Metaphor for the Christian Life

 “Lord, through all the generations you have been our home!” — Psalm 90:1

Our team had a full day with the European missionary kids. The older kids (12-19) had a hike, devotional, polar plunge in the Adriatic, rock climbing, board games, and a night game of kick the can. For kids 11 and under, they went swimming, played tag, looked at tide pools, skipped rocks, did an obstacle course, watched a movie, and played video games. It was a full day that hopefully gave their parents essential rest.

Posted in Missions, News by The Rock Church

Welcoming the Children: A Connection Through Generations

“He told them, ‘Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me welcomes Him who sent me. For whoever is least among you – this one is great.” — Luke 9:48

After a sunny day with some planning, exploring, and swimming in the ocean, the work we came here for officially began. Children ranging from toddlers to nineteen years old were gathered for a time of getting acquainted and worship on the beach. Thirty-seven children in all made for a lot of volume and kinetic energy, but our time was fruitful. The night ended with a rousing game of hide-and-seek amongst the tweens and teens. This game was of course in the dark, outside, on the large resort campus of a foreign country. God was definitely gracious to us.

Posted in Missions, News by The Rock Church