The Rock House Church Network's Home Page

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The House Church Network: Dedicated to Kingdom Expansion

Why We Exist - Our Mission, Our Vision, Our Values, and What We Believe


The Rock Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is an expanding network of House Churches headquartered in the Pacific Northwest.  We began as a typical building-based church in Auburn, Washington, but in 2002 believed God was leading us to use the assets (and freeing ourselves from the liabilities) of our building and property to establish a rapidly multiplying network of House Churches.

In our first year as a House Church Network, we made many mistakes including trying to "do church" like we used to, only moving into the living room of people's homes.  It didn't work (so we suggest you not try it!).  However, with the input of Wolfgang Simson and the leadership of our pastor Bill Tenny-Brittian, a model for achieving our vision was conceived and a strategic plan was written, adopted, and employed.

This plan was specific for a denominationally attuned House Church Network in the North American context.  The main difference between The Rock House Churches and other House Church Networks in the world is seen in our training and accountability structures.  A thorough look at the plan can be found in the book House Church Manual written by William Tenny-Brittian and published by Chalice Press (2004).

Today, The Rock has House Churches located in the Seattle-Tacoma.  These House Churches are multiplying and we hope to reach the goals of our first year strategic plan with several months to spare.
Our House Church Network exists to connect people with God and help them become committed disciples of Jesus.  We accomplish this in three ways.
  1. Discipleship Development.  From pre-Christian to House Church Pastor, we develop disciples by teaching the Gospel of Jesus and by apprenticing, mentoring, training, and
  1. Multiplication.  Jesus said that the harvest was plentiful, but the workers were few. The House Church Movement is one of the most economical and effective ways to reach the unreached for Jesus. The Rock is committed to multiplying disciples of Jesus, multiplying leaders for the church, and multiplying House Churches for the Kingdom of God.
  1. Missions.  The Rock became a House Church Network after experiencing the agony of seeing needs but being unable to meet them. Because there are no buildings or property to support, more money is available proportionally for direct mission’s care through The Rock than in most building-based churches. At The Rock, living the Gospel in deed is as important as sharing the Gospel in word.
What happens if we're successful?  If we reach our goals?  That's what we call our vision.  Our vision is that by succeeding in planting multiplying House Churches we will actually see the fabric of our communities changing.  We're not hoping to see our community or our nation become a right-wing, over-the-top, our-way or no-way nation, but we do expect to see committed followers of Jesus making a difference in the way they work, the decisions they make, and the ways they live.  We'll see a kinder, gentler, more ethical and more compassionate community as a result.
And finally, what do we believe?  We believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Divine son of God, and that He gave us what we call The Four Greats:
  • The Great Invitation: Follow-Me
  • The Great Commandment: Love God
  • The Second Great Commandment: Love Others
  • The Great Commission: Make Disciples
This is what we believe are the foundations of our faith and our behaviors. All other doctrines and dogmas, we believe, are matters of choice--so long as we live by The Four Greats.		  
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