The Rock gets started...
In the mid-1990s, Reid Lamport, a longtime teacher and coach, felt God was calling
him to start a church.
Despite Reidís initial efforts to dissuade himself - after all, he was neither an
ordained minister nor a theologian - the call remained insistent.
Eventually, Reid knew he either had to start the church, or explain to God why he
was ignoring this call. (Not to mention having to explain it to his wife, Michele, who
also believed God wanted Reid to start a church.)
So, a small group of believers that began meeting in the Lamport's family room in
early 1995, became a fellowship called The Church of the Rock in 1999, holding Sunday
services by the end of that year in the gymnasium of Poland Union Elementary School.
Mark Brungard, also a coach and teacher, and his wife Kari, were with the fellowship
from nearly its beginnings, and Mark accepted the call to step forward as Associate Pastor
alongside Reid's position of Senior Pastor.
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Who is afraid of funeral homes?
In June of 2000, The Church of the Rock began meeting at the Cunningham-Becker
Funeral Home, which came with two side-benefits:
- The funeral homeís gracious owners refused to accept any money for rent.
- It wasnít diffcult for Reid and Mark to keep everyone's mind on the temporary
nature of our lives here on earth.
To provide the church's growing body with more space and additional access during
the week, the Church of the Rock moved to the fellowship hall of Brownlee Woods Presbyterian
in December of 2002.
The Rock has landed...
The land for the Church of the Rockís current location was purchased in Poland, Ohio in
early 2002. Ground was broken in September of 2004, and the First service was held here at
7025 Luteran Lane in June of 2005.
We are grateful to God for this property and this beautiful building. But, the building
is not the church. The church is comprised of the people who make up the Body of Christ
throughout the world.
The non-denominational congregation called the Church of the Rock sees itself as a member
of that worldwide Body of Christ, seeking to bring about the Kingdom come for the Glory of God.
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