the ROCK -- Seward, Nebraska

Our Faith: We believe in God the Father, creator of all that exists. We believe in Jesus, the Son, who became human to suffer and die for the sins of all people and to rise to life again in victory over death and the devil. We believe in the Holy Spirit, who creates faith in us.

Our Mission: To be a joyful, supportive group of people in Seward, Nebraska, that is grounded in the Word of God and always working to connect people to Jesus Christ and to each other.

Our Vision: 1,000 people joined together by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and working for new connections through open gatherings, conversations, service in the community, and mission beyond borders.

Our Name: “The Rock” reminds us that God (our Rock) has pulled us out of the muck and mire of our sin and placed us on solid ground. With God’s help, we will offer a simple message of certainty and stability and hope to people struggling in an uncertain world. There are many references to the Rock in the Bible. Our focus has been on Psalm 40:1-3 (NIV):

I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a ROCK and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.

Accepting : We are open and accepting of people from all circumstances of life. Our activities are, to the best of our abilities, conducted in an orderly way, but we will not allow fear of failure to delay action. We relax and delight in the fact that God works through our feeble, messy efforts.

Connecting : We establish connections with those who desire to follow Jesus Christ and those who are open to further conversations. We create open and welcoming environments in which individuals can be honest and accountable. We gather in small groups and large groups for support, teaching, conversation and celebration. We will connect to people where they are; not where we think they should be.

Caring: We make connections with each other and the community by caring for physical and emotional needs.

Equipping: We teach the Word to equip each other for lives of service and outreach.

Seeking: We seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance (as discerned and tested through prayer, bible study, and fellow Christians) so that we can join God where he is working rather than follow our own plans. We find truth in the Bible. It reveals God’s plan of eternal salvation and is relevant for daily living.

Sending: We are active participants in our community, using our unique gifts to serve in a variety of ways. We encourage more action and fewer meetings. We teach and equip people to grab opportunities to share and serve for Jesus sake, even if it means they will be absent from our gatherings. We send them with our blessing for service in the community, at work, and at play.