The Rock Church

Election Day

The election is less than two weeks away (November 5). Earlier this year, we took six weeks to study what the Bible teaches about politics in our King Jesus series. We specifically covered several important lessons during that time. Here are a few significant reminders as we approach election day. 

• First, if you aren’t registered to vote, please register before Friday, October 25. 

It says in Jeremiah 29:7, “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” More Christians voting biblically is a significant way we can bring good to our city, state, and country. 

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church

English Club has been well attended!

English clubs have been going well. We’ve had over 70 people sign up for them so far, and we’re hoping to have 100 people sign up by the end of the week. Everyone has been very enthusiastic, and we’ve all loved getting to know the university students. God is fostering the foundations for deeper relationships already, and he’s brought several people for each English Club level, so we have our hands full each day with English clubs!

We haven’t had anyone else yet get saved that we know of, so if you could please be praying that we would continue to have Gospel conversations and see more people pass from death to life, it would be much appreciated!

Here are the general plans for the rest of the week. 
We’re having a cooking class tonight and teaching them how to make pancakes! This should be a very fun time. Also, as this is the middle of the week, it’s likely we’re going to get into deeper conversations with the students, and the same for the rest of the week. It will be the standard English club format for Thursday and Friday, although, on Friday, we’ll hold a sort of “graduation” party to celebrate the end of the week.

On Saturday, we’ll be going on an excursion to the town of Chiavenna! We have already begun to invite the students, but please pray that the majority of them will want to come with us and be able to so we can continue to shine the light of Christ in their lives and love on them! 

Church, we’re so grateful for your continued support while we labor here with the Apisas and the Lehtonens. Have a wonderful day!

Grace and peace, Abbi

Posted in Missions by The Rock Church

Longing for Our Heavenly Home

“Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” (Hebrews 11:16 NIV84)

Mary and I recently returned from a delightful vacation in one of our favorite places — Boothbay Harbor, Maine. We had a fantastic time; however, I must admit, the many lobsters I enjoyed didn’t have the same fate!

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church

Salvation on Day One

Well, we’ve been in Italy a little over 24 hours. We got here with everyone, all our luggage, and only mild jet lag. The weather has been pretty nice for us, so far. We might get rain in the last half of the week. Church was great this morning. We got to worship with about 20 Italian members, so our ten increased the numbers by 1/3. For me, it’s always great to catch up with everyone, give them a hug, and just let them know that they aren’t in this alone.

While we were out seeing some of the sights, one of the church members, Andy, from Ohio, and one of the previous English Club students joined up with us. As we walked through the city, Andy (from Ohio) and Lourdes (from the Utah team), shared their stories of salvation with Pasquale, and he prayed to accept Christ. We don’t usually see salvations every year, but God had been working on his heart from coming to previous English Clubs. Please pray for him, his confidence in his salvation, and clarity on taking steps to start his life as a new creation.

We start the English Clubs tomorrow, so we need a lot of prayers. Pray for everyone that signed up and pray for them to show up. Pray for more people to sign up and show up. Pray for the Holy Spirit to help all of us team members to meet lots of people, listen to what they have to say, and to give us the right things to say and the right way to say them. God is at work in Italy, for sure.

We thank you all for your love and support. We can’t wait to see what God is going to do this week and what amazing things He has planned for everyone in the future. In the meantime, we hope all of you are doing well in your own, daily, personalized mission trips that God hand picked each of you for.

God Bless,

Chris Troxel

Posted in Missions by The Rock Church

“No One Knows Me Like You” is Out Now!

“No One Knows Me Like You” (featuring Caleb and Kelsea Yetton), is latest EP released by The Rock Music. This five-song body of work delivers original tracks such as title-track, “No One Knows Me Like You,” with “Holy Savior” and “Revolution Medicine.” NOKMLY also spotlights TRM’s take on the popular worship songs “All Hail King Jesus” and “You’re Beautiful.” 

Posted in News, The Rock Music by The Rock Church

Beyond Imagination

In Titus 3:7, the Apostle Paul mentions two things that are so remarkable. In fact, when you read them, it feels almost too good to be true:

“So that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:7

I want to consider two truths:

Truth #1: We are Justified.

Truth #2:  We are Heirs.

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church

Galatians Sermon Series

A Study of the Book of Galatians

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. — Galatians 2:20-21

Posted in News, Series by The Rock Church

Do You Really Believe This?

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” — 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Recently, I was talking with a friend about the story of Jonah. We recounted the story play-by-play. It reminded me how the story of Jonah has undoubtedly become one of the most challenging Bible stories to believe. In 1794 (230 years ago), Thomas Paine, author of “The Age of Reason,” said the book of Jonah was “…A fit story for ridicule if it was written to be believed — or of laughter if it was intended to try what credulity could swallow, for if it could swallow Jonah and the whale it could swallow anything.”

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church

Gain

I gained encouragement during some interactions I’ve had with my oncologist. I will share it with you in the hope that you will be encouraged as well.

My oncologist has helped me with my ongoing cancer challenges and was at the helm through my sweet wife Jeanne’s battle with cancer. Back then, we used to joke with him that we were his two-for-one clients. I often thank him for his tireless attention to his cancer patients. He genuinely cares for me and my family. Consequently (and like all of us), he was especially burdened when Jeanne lost her battle with cancer.

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church

Astounded

There is nothing quite like being astounded by Jesus. Obviously, Jesus is always amazing, but sometimes, in our faith journey, He occasionally orchestrates something genuinely astounding.

In July, The Rock Church Youth Group attended our annual DTC (Discipleship Training Camp) in Colorado. It was a tremendous few days where our young men and women played tons of games, sang songs, and laughed with friends. What is more, they learned the biblical roadmap for godly manhood and womanhood. For this particular DTC, the men and women were in two separate camps — about an hour away from each other.

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church