Helping Others During the Holidays

The Rock Church is kicking off its string of holiday giveaways.

Pastors Billy Joe and Theresa Watts of The Rock Church.

The Rock Church is active with outreaches and giveaways all year round, but this is the time of year when they kick off an impressive string of holiday giveaways. “We love giving,” says Pastor Billy Joe Watts. “We just want to bless people. Our mission is to serve God and love people, and our giveaways are some of the ways that we do that. They’re some of our favorite things to do.”

The Rock Church is a diverse church with a strong and active body of members. They meet at Union High School’s Performing Arts Center (6636 S. Mingo). “The church is growing, and it’s wonderful for us in a lot of ways. For one thing, in addition to the bus stop benches we’ve had for so long, we have our first billboard now, at 61st and Mingo,” says Billy Joe. Their giveaways are growing, too.

First up is the annual Touched by a Turkey Day, when The Rock Church gives away Thanksgiving turkeys to families in need. “This has been an extremely popular event for us,” says Billy Joe. “Last year, we gave away 400 turkeys in one hour. This year, we’ll have 500 to give away.” Touched by a Turkey is Saturday, November 20 at Union’s Sixth and Seventh Grade Center (10100 E. 61st St.), beginning at 10 a.m. Turkeys are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Starbucks Day is Thanksgiving (November 25) this year. “We’re going to be giving away a hundred $5 Starbucks gift cards at each of four different Starbucks locations,” says Billy Joe. “There will be no proselytizing of any kind – we just want to bless people. The cards are purchased with contributions from our members, and we’ve been able to jump from 200 cards last year to 400 this year.” Pastor Theresa Watts adds, “So many people are lonely during the holidays, and it’s amazing how a small thing like this can touch people.”

The Rock Church’s annual bike giveaway is Sunday, December 12, during the worship service. “Last year was wonderful,” says Billy Joe. “We’ll be giving away a hundred bikes again this year. Our church members can sponsor a new bike for a needy child or family, for people who might not otherwise have a Christmas present, for just $42.” If you know someone in need of a new bicycle, contact The Rock Church office.

There’s plenty more going on at The Rock Church. They’ve partnered with the Department of Human Services’ adopt-a-worker program to help needy families by supplying specific and practical needs like school supplies, clothing and toiletries. They are also involved with the United Way’s Leadership Development Program.

The Rock Church has restructured its children’s program. “We’ve added puppets and skits to our children’s church, and we’ll be adding live worship for our kids at the beginning of next year,” says Theresa. Kids can also earn Rock Bucks, which they can redeem for toys and gifts, by doing things like remembering their Bible verses from the previous week, bringing their Bibles, and bringing a friend.

The Rock Church recently added new youth ministers, Will and Traci Parham, who are graduates of Rutgers University and Rhema Bible Training Center. Will teaches math and coaches the ninth-grade girls’ basketball team at Jenks High School.

The Rock Church has plenty more in the works, too, including a TV broadcast of their worship services and a “The View”-style program hosted by Theresa called “Just Us Girls.”

The Rock Church holds worship services every Sunday at 10 a.m. at Union’s Performing Arts Center (6636 S. Mingo). The first Sunday of every month is a Communion service. There’s always plenty going on there, and they’d love to have you. You can visit them on the web at www.therockchurchtulsa.org.

For more information, contact

The Rock Church

(918) 694-7625

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www.therockchurchtulsa.org