Lead Pastor Oscar Longoria is not your typical pastor. His attire consists of concert t-shirts and ripped jeans, and he loves rock and roll. He insists that giving up who he is was not a requirement for him to become a pastor. A musician since five years old and a member of several bands (some even professionally signed), music has always been a huge part of his life. So naturally, music is an integral part of his vision for The Rock.
Pastor Oscar has been serving in various ministries for over thirty years; including homeless and music ministry. He was ordained in 2001, but never planned on pastoring a church - but God obviously had different plans! He is also very transparent about his prior struggles (which include two earlier divorces), as his passion is to foster an environment where people are authentic and real, which is where true community starts.
In 2011, Oscar married his wife Ashley, who has remained an integral part of his ministry as well; including hosting weekly bible studies and counseling. It was the Fall of 2018 when Pastor Oscar and Ashley were called to start The Rock, which is what the church world calls a "church plant" - basically a new startup that has the support of a more established church (which was The Grove Church, our sending church). Although The Rock was planted by The Grove, we never had the intention of being the exact same kind of church. As The Grove Pastor Barry Russell says, "It is kind of like ice cream - churches can have different flavors." The Rock is extremely thankful to have such a generous sending church partner who has a passion for church planting.
In the Spring of 2019 with a core team of 30 people, we began to gather every week to study God's word and talk about our vision for the North Brevard community - to have a Bible-based church in a comfortable atmosphere with great music! On March 1, 2020, The Rock Church officially launched at Astronaut High School. An amazing team of people spent their early Sunday mornings transforming a high school auditorium into a worship space, serving others during service, then loading everything back into trailers, all to be completed again the following Sunday. The Rock only had a total of five in-person services before the COVID pandemic forced us to immediately begin having online services. Although the immediate online service production was a significant hurdle for a newborn church, God has been faithful to sustain us, and he used something bad for good!
In July 2020, The Rock was presented with the incredible opportunity to receive a nearby empty church building. The blessing of obtaining a permanent facility so early in our journey was not expected, and we are humbled and incredibly thankful. After several significant building renovations that started in March 2023, the majority of the first phase of construction is complete. The next phase will include construction of a new auditorium with a new area for our Rock Solid Kids ministry. Please help us pray for provision and wisdom for this next stage of construction.
With all of that said, the real story of The Rock Church is not about music, or a building. It is about changed lives. People have been saved, broken marriages have been restored, devastated lives have found new hope and purpose, and people are growing in their faith. God is very much at work and moving through His ministry here at The Rock. We give him all the glory for what he has done and stand ready to be used for His work in the future.
NOW ALL GLORY TO GOD, WHO IS ABLE, THROUGH HIS MIGHTY POWER AT WORK WITHIN US, TO ACCOMPLISH INFINITELY MORE THAN WE MIGHT ASK OR THINK. GLORY TO HIM IN THE CHURCH AND IN CHRIST JESUS THROUGH ALL GENERATIONS FOREVER AND EVER! AMEN.
EPHESIANS 3:20-21
Pastor Oscar has been serving in various ministries for over thirty years; including homeless and music ministry. He was ordained in 2001, but never planned on pastoring a church - but God obviously had different plans! He is also very transparent about his prior struggles (which include two earlier divorces), as his passion is to foster an environment where people are authentic and real, which is where true community starts.
In 2011, Oscar married his wife Ashley, who has remained an integral part of his ministry as well; including hosting weekly bible studies and counseling. It was the Fall of 2018 when Pastor Oscar and Ashley were called to start The Rock, which is what the church world calls a "church plant" - basically a new startup that has the support of a more established church (which was The Grove Church, our sending church). Although The Rock was planted by The Grove, we never had the intention of being the exact same kind of church. As The Grove Pastor Barry Russell says, "It is kind of like ice cream - churches can have different flavors." The Rock is extremely thankful to have such a generous sending church partner who has a passion for church planting.
In the Spring of 2019 with a core team of 30 people, we began to gather every week to study God's word and talk about our vision for the North Brevard community - to have a Bible-based church in a comfortable atmosphere with great music! On March 1, 2020, The Rock Church officially launched at Astronaut High School. An amazing team of people spent their early Sunday mornings transforming a high school auditorium into a worship space, serving others during service, then loading everything back into trailers, all to be completed again the following Sunday. The Rock only had a total of five in-person services before the COVID pandemic forced us to immediately begin having online services. Although the immediate online service production was a significant hurdle for a newborn church, God has been faithful to sustain us, and he used something bad for good!
In July 2020, The Rock was presented with the incredible opportunity to receive a nearby empty church building. The blessing of obtaining a permanent facility so early in our journey was not expected, and we are humbled and incredibly thankful. After several significant building renovations that started in March 2023, the majority of the first phase of construction is complete. The next phase will include construction of a new auditorium with a new area for our Rock Solid Kids ministry. Please help us pray for provision and wisdom for this next stage of construction.
With all of that said, the real story of The Rock Church is not about music, or a building. It is about changed lives. People have been saved, broken marriages have been restored, devastated lives have found new hope and purpose, and people are growing in their faith. God is very much at work and moving through His ministry here at The Rock. We give him all the glory for what he has done and stand ready to be used for His work in the future.
NOW ALL GLORY TO GOD, WHO IS ABLE, THROUGH HIS MIGHTY POWER AT WORK WITHIN US, TO ACCOMPLISH INFINITELY MORE THAN WE MIGHT ASK OR THINK. GLORY TO HIM IN THE CHURCH AND IN CHRIST JESUS THROUGH ALL GENERATIONS FOREVER AND EVER! AMEN.
EPHESIANS 3:20-21