WHAT MAKES TRC UNIQUE? 3 of 4

By Jeff Knight on Ministry Methods

I started this series back in August and realized I hadn't finished it. After reading through some of these characteristics I realized these aren't super unique. Most churches carry these characteristics. So maybe instead of calling it What Makes TRC Unique I should call it, What Makes a Good Church? Here is the third installment, check the archives in August for the other two...

TRC Unique Characteristic: Personal Ministry
The Rock Church believes in personal ministry. Wisdom, prayer and benevolence support are offered through our pastoral care team and support structure. TRC prioritizes Sunday church as one of its’ most important times and makes able and willing people available to minister during the week. Also, through email and the prayer pager prayer teams can be accessed. The Support Team and prayer teams are trained to offer support for many of life’s tough situations and they are capable of providing prayer and wisdom in life’s major decisions.

TRC Unique Characteristic: Generosity
TRC is a giving church. TRCer’s give abundantly. Through various ministries multiple opportunities exist for TRC to give. Generous givers help support missions, benevolence, providehope.com and more. We teach sound financial doctrine and believe resources have a purpose in extending the Kingdom of God. This unique balance provides for a tremendous church and many opportunities for God to work miraculously in the financial arena of life.

TRC Unique Characteristic: Reach Teams
Reach Teams provide all people an opportunity to meet others and connect. Each team has a specific task and focus each semester. The semesters run in the fall and spring, making total commitment possible. They are not a replacement for Sunday church, smaller groups of people meeting throughout Snohomish County are a great way to meet people and get connected.

WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT TRC? 1 OF 4

By Jeff Knight on Ministry Methods

Preachers preach each other’s sermons, churches copy other churches and outreaches are duplicated in city after city. After all, as Christ followers we are called to be “conformed to Christ’s image” and “emulate the works of Jesus," so similarity should be expected. Let’s face it though, churches are different.

What is unique about your church? What is unique about The Rock Church? In this 4 part Blog series we will drill down into our unique design. Let’s get started…

TRC Unique Characteristic: God-Lead
Though each service is planned out and prepared in advance the Holy Spirit has freedom to move, change and re-arrange. This characteristic allows TRC times of worship the flexibility to be spontaneous and the dependability to connect with many generations.

If the sermon needs to be changed up a little; change it. If the worship set of songs doesn’t connect they are thrown it out. If the video illustration is just messed up; kill it. By being God-Lead TRC has the freedom to discern what the Holy Spirit is saying for this Sunday and adjust accordingly.

Most Sunday’s go according to weeks of preparation and planning, but some, well; they are totally by the leading of the Lord. Creative Church requires intense planning, but the Holy Spirit sometimes apprehends His plan.

TRC Unique Characteristic: Innovative Sunday Experiences
A few years ago I heard a message about the importance of Sunday mornings. Sunday mornings are, in fact, the most attended outreach TRC will ever do. They are, in fact, the place where more guests come than any other event. They are, in fact, the time when more people come to Christ through TRC vision than any other. I am not minimizing all the other events TRC does, just saying, “SUNDAY’S ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT.”

If teams do not show up on Sunday, with Super Bowl faces, ready to Connect People to Life, the vision will fail; thus, Sunday Services are designed to reach people with the presence of God--1 Cor 14:25—“So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!"

We can never assume that what happens in service will connect people; consequently, this attitude impacts every facet of Sunday morning: Parking lot, foyer, children’s, youth, greeters, coffee bar, café, ushers, music, video, message. Each of these ministries and the people who make them work are vital to innovation, and that is why each of these elements are in full effect on Sunday mornings.

These two distinctives are only the beginning of the methods at TRC. Connecting People to Life defines TRC victories and the church is confident that characteristics blended with scriptural foundation will bring Jesus Christ into North King and Snohomish County!

Stay tuned for part 2...