History of The Rock Church
The Rock Church was founded in Monroe in 1984 by Jeff Knight’s parents Joe and Linda Knight. Jeff remembers, “Those early years when I was only a teenager were quite an experience. We would have church in my parent’s living room. It was just like many small groups meeting in homes today. It continued to grow to the point where we had parking issues.” Jeff’s parents were the kind of people who “never met a stranger” so anyone who came for bible study was invited in, eventually giving birth to a church. The church spent the early years growing in the city of Woodinville before returning back to Monroe in 1994, ten years into the journey.
Linda attended Monroe High School, where Jeff and his wife Melinda graduated as well. Pastor Joe was from Bothell, so having a church located in Monroe, Jeff explains, “…made perfect sense for God to move us back to our roots.”
The purchase of Bethel Assembly’s church building on Main Street was the location where Pastor Jeff would spend his early years as a Youth Pastor. Graduates of Central Washington University, Jeff and Melinda returned home with a call to serve young people. Jeff recalls, “Just before our senior year of college we both had a powerful ‘God-sized’ experience. We were getting our degrees and suddenly God was pulling on our hearts to give our lives to serving Him.” Naturally they returned home and got involved right away, but success did not come right away.
Jeff and Melinda were working full-time jobs in construction and exercise physiology, respectively, and full-time at the church in the beginning. Jeff notes, “Serving God is the greatest Life to live, and we will not give anything less than 110% every day. It is a privilege to do what we do and we do not take it lightly.”
“Church has changed,” exclaimed one person returning to The Rock, “and I love it!” After the loss of Joe and Linda Knight, Jeff and Melinda stepped up and cast the vision net. “I want people to experience real Life, not some watered-down version. Too many people live day to day. Instead, I want them to experience life with a capital ‘L’,” says Jeff.
Connecting people to Life is how The Rock Church defines its mission today. ”Christianity is not something done only on Sunday,” Jeff notes, “being a Christ follower impacts every moment and every day.” Don’t just make a living, but make a Life! There is real potential for meaningful relationships when you redefine your priorities to include church. You will find God, guidance and friends at The Rock Church.