I received the vision for the rock when I was in a church service in 1999.  The Lord spoke to me very clearly and told me that I was to start a church for him in Benton Harbor, MI.  I thought no Lord, anywhere but Benton Harbor.  My family was in this area and I had grown up here and couldn't imagine God calling me and my family to start a church here. But, I knew I had heard from God.
     
I spent two years thinking and praying and asking questions of the Lord concerning this move before I ever said a word to my wife. When I did tell her she was supportive of me and our faith in God even though she had a million questions. We truly loved the church we belonged to and our Pastor, Dr. Al Jennings and his lovely wife Carla had taken us under their wing. The majority of theological and ministerial training that we received came directly from them or through their efforts to get us educated in the things of God.  They were so loving and supportive of our decision.  I’ll never forget the advice that he gave me that day.  He said "Son, this ministry will only be birthed through prayer.  It will only grow through prayer."
     
On December 29, 2001 at 8:07pm, I sat down with Becky and we wrote a faith statement in the front of my Bible and it read as follows: Becky and I have decided to answer the call to Pastor a local church. The decision was made after years of learning and training. It was made with much deliberation and prayer. We’ve decided to pioneer a work in Benton Harbor/St. Joseph Michigan because we believe this is where the Lord would have us to go.  So on this day we dedicate our family and our future to serving the people of this place by and through the spirit of God.  
    
We give this project to God because it is he alone who will grow it – therefore Becky and I cannot fail except in our effort to serve.  Today we choose to love the Twin Cities and shepard those in them.  We moved here and started the church in our home for the first two years we had church on Saturday night in our home with our long time friends, Donna and Shannon and my grandmother. In March of 2004, we opened the doors of a rented office building on Mall Drive and had a Grand Opening for our church that was then under the name of Twin Cities Family Church.   We ministered in that facility for three years and we saw God do many wonderful things in the lives of the people who came.  We faced many challenges, some of which if it weren’t for the grace of God not only would the ministry not have survived, but our very lives may have been shipwrecked forever.  I give glory to God that he brought us through intact and today we are stronger than ever and carrying the word forth in this region.
    
Today our ministry is called the "Rock".  And "The Rock" is made up of real people, facing real challenges, in touch with a real God; who have a desire to succeed in life.  We believe that God wants us to live a victorious, exciting and fulfilled life on this earth and we further believe that he has provided a way for us to do that through the sacrifice of his dear son the Lord Jesus Christ and the instructions that he gave us to live by in the Bible. 
    
I am excited that you have chosen to learn more about the rock and it is my prayer that we have the opportunity to continue our relationship with you while helping you grow your relationship with God.