We hope you’ll join us for a special week of devotions on the topic of persecution, leading up to the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, Sunday, November 3. Mission India has prepared seven daily devotions and prayer prompts from Sunday, October 27 – Sunday, November 3. Each devotion includes stories of persecuted Christians in India and offers a glimpse into their struggles and unwavering faith. We invite you to participate:

• Receive daily emails from Missions in Action with guided prayer prompts (If you’re not already receiving them – sign up here.)
• Pick up a copy of the brochure in the lobby under the missions wall

Throughout Scripture and even today, Christians endure profound suffering for their faith, yet God provides strength in every trial. While their struggles might seem distant from our own, God commands us to “remember” them (Hebrews 13:3). In doing so, we can learn from their steadfastness. We hope as you participate you’ll feel encouraged about your own struggles and equipped to stand alongside persecuted believers, especially in India.

Commit to praying each day as we approach International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church on Sunday, November 3. Let’s lift up those enduring hardship for the name of Jesus.

Black Rock Church sent its first missionary 92 years ago, and our missions program continues to impact the world for Jesus through your PRAYING, GIVING, and GOING. Years ago, the Missions Board, entrusted by the congregation to lead our missions efforts, identified four key priorities to guide our global partnerships. These priorities keep us focused on God’s call to bring the gospel to ALL NATIONS and make our Global Missions Program uniquely Black Rock.

In this new series of videos, Pastor Jeremy and members of our Mission Board give us a more in-depth look at each priority:

1. Taking the gospel to those with least access – Watch Now
2. Taking the gospel to the poorest of the poor 
3. Reaching the most vulnerable and exploited
4. Equipping global Christians for evangelism and church planting among unreached groups

The first priority is “Taking the gospel to those with least access” to it. This means reaching people in countries where less than 2% of the population has heard of Jesus. More than half of our missions giving goes directly to this work, supporting creative partners who bring the gospel to these difficult-to-reach areas in what’s referred to as the 10/40 Window (the box or “window” that runs from northern Africa through the Middle East and to Asia, around 10° north through 40° north of the equator.) 

The first video is available now, with the rest releasing over the next three weeks. Watch them on our YouTube page or follow Missions In Action (MIA) for updates.

As Jeremy mentioned, one of the partners we support is Chikondi. The show has been so popular that episodes are now available on Amazon!  Take a look.

At Black Rock, we want everyone to be part of sharing the gospel, whether it’s around the world or right here in our community. We offer many ways to get involved in Community Engagement and Global Missions. It’s not about choosing between local or global outreach; it’s about doing both. 

While Global Missions supports overseas partners who are bringing the gospel to people and places with little access to it, Community Engagement gives you the chance to serve locally. Their goal is the same: to get everyone involved in God’s work. Whether you’re thinking about joining a mission trip or starting with a local service project like Second Saturday, there’s a place for you.

On Community Engagement Sunday, August 25, you can learn more about how to get involved. Visit the booths in the lobby between services to meet our local partners, organizations that serve our community right here in Fairfield county, and find out how you can help. 

For more information on how to serve locally, visit blackrock.org/servelocal. For a brief video of Pastor Jeremy discussing how community engagement and Global Missions can work together for greater impact watch this video.

Check out these videos.

Our nine Summer Trips have begun taking off to various parts of the world, and we are eager to share their stories. You’ll be encouraged to hear how our teams make an impact as they support the work of our global partners, preach the gospel, and help the poor. Check out our latest Blog Post where you will find recap videos of teams that have returned from the Dominican Republic (Sanctuary), Namibia, and Egypt. Subscribe to our YouTube channel so you are sure not to miss upcoming videos from soon-to-return teams. You won’t want to miss it!

Check out this video.

This summer, Black Rock is sending numerous mission trips all over the world. You might be asking why? Here are five reasons why we go and why you may want to join us on a future trip.

1. Our Global Partners are asking us to come. They want our help to share the gospel with the communities they serve. Let’s answer the call to support them!
2. God calls us to go and share the gospel with all nations. As a church, we are committed to following God’s call to go into all the world. We can start by going on a short term trip.
3. Mission trips strengthen our faith. Serving in a new place and in new ways deepens our faith and reliance on God.
4. Families can serve together. There is no greater joy than serving alongside your spouse and children.
5. Trips expand your worldview. Immersing yourself in a different culture helps you gain a broader perspective and see how BIG God is.

See the list of where and when we are going here along with some prayer prompts. We hope you will join us in praying, and consider going on a trip soon.

Check out this video.

This year, our missions program has achieved some milestones. More of you are praying, giving and going than ever! 

• Over 1,100 people are now praying for our global partners, with more than 200 new prayer partners signing up for the first time during Missions Week.
• Financially, we exceeded our goal by raising nearly $1.35 million, allowing us to provide additional support to our partners in the form of special year-end grants. (Check out our MIA posts below) 
• Our summer mission trips are set to take the gospel around the globe.

On behalf of the Black Rock Board of Missions and staff, Pastor Jeremy expresses his enthusiasm and thanks for YOUR prayers, generosity, and willingness to go. Together, we’re making an impact to see “His kingdom come” and we look forward to what God will do next. 

To read more about our special end-of-the-year grants click below:
What’s New With The Global Missions Budget of $1.3M?
Because of Your Generosity

Check out this video.

Our global partners Jon and Valerie have served the Yanomami people in the jungles of Brazil for the last 20 years. They are home on furlough and share a brief update here. For a glimpse into what life is like among the Yanomami, check out this other fun video about their work. 

The Browns value the importance of prayer and ask for us to pray for their family and ministry. Please pray:

• For protection against malaria, especially for Jon who has had it eight times in the last two years. 
• For their two sons now at boarding school and their daughter whom Val homeschools. 
• For God to complete the good work He’s begun by showing Jon and Val whom to invest in. Their dream is that the church in their village will be led by local leaders and that it will grow and become self-sustaining.  

To receive regular updates from Jon and Val (or any of our Global Partners) and join other Black Rock folks lifting them up, you can sign up to become a prayer partner!

Check out this video.

“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”  Luke 10:2

These words of Jesus inspire the theme of Black Rock’s 67th annual Missions Week March 9-17. Watch Pastor Jeremy’s invitation here and join us as we celebrate the work of our global partners and hear God’s call for us all to get involved.

The harvest IS plentiful. During Missions Week, our global partners will share about how God is blessing their work, but there’s also much work to be done to reach the 2 billion who have never heard the gospel. God wants to use each of us as we PRAY, GIVE, and GO! Come discover your next step in helping spread God’s love worldwide and bringing in the harvest. See you there!

Click here for the Missions Week page where you can see a list of speakers, events throughout the week, and ways you can participate. We would love to have you join us! Programs are free, but please register here to pay for meals and sign up for childcare where available.

Schedule of Events | March 9-17

Saturday, March 9 | Women’s Event + Breakfast

Breakfast at 8:30 | 10 AM Program

Sunday, March 10 | All Services – Dr. Mary Ho  International Executive Leader, All Nations

Monday, March 11 | Pizza with Prayer Partners

5:45 PM Pizza and Prayer

Monday, March 11 | Messianic Seder Demonstration – Dr. Mitch Glaser  Chosen People International

7 PM Program 

Wednesday, March 13 | All-Church Program

5:30 PM Dinner | 6:45 Adults Program 

Saturday, March 16 | Men’s Event

Breakfast at 8 | 9 AM Program

Sunday, March 17 | All Services – Abu  Black Rock Partner, Middle East

Check out this video.

It’s January and that means it’s time to consider if God is calling you to go on a mission trip this summer with one of our Black Rock teams. Registration for our 2024 Summer Missions Trips is now open and we believe God has something for you. See below for a complete list of our eight great trips and to sign up online. 

Here are some of the top reasons to go as you pray and consider which trip is right for you:

• You will grow spiritually through new experiences and build meaningful relationships both with those you serve and those you serve alongside
• Our Global Partners are asking for teams to come and you can make a positive difference through discovering and using your unique gifts
• You will develop a global perspective by experiencing and enlarging your understanding of different cultures around the world

If you are curious, watch Pastor Jeremy give a video overview all about trips here. If you are interested in specific trips you can click on the links below to watch video invitations from each of our team leaders and check out the trips page here for more information and to sign up.

Level 1 Trips:

Florida // April – Learn More Here

Level 2 Trips:

Honduras #1 // June – Learn More Here

Honduras #2 // July – Learn More Here

Dominican Republic (Adults & Families) // July – Learn More Here

Level 3 Trips:

Namibia // June – Learn More Here

Egypt // July – Learn More Here

Rwanda // July – Learn More Here

Kazakhstan // July – Learn More Here

Bosnia // July – Learn More Here

Check out this video.

Christmas is a time of giving and receiving gifts and God has been good to Black Rock Missions this year. Join Pastor Jeremy in reviewing and rejoicing over some of the many gifts we’ve received. Click here

Also, Ximena Jordan, who went on a short-term trip to Nigeria in January, shares a thought on generosity. She highlights the need not just for those who can GO but for those who can GIVE to enable the mission. Click here.

Black Rock, we celebrate your generosity! If you would like to make a year-end gift out of how God has blessed you this year, it will go to supporting our partners in the front-line work they are doing to Love God, Love People, and Serve Our World. Click here to give.

Check out this video.

A short-term team of Black Rock members just returned from Spain where they encouraged BRC Global Partners Emil and Sarah. For a video recap click here. Cultivating relational connections was at the heart of the trip. Among other things, the team distributed Spanish and Arabic copies of the Sermon on the Mount and helped with a community cleanup initiative. As Spanish speakers, many of the team members effectively participated in evangelistic outreach. Spain is less than 2% evangelical with a huge influx of Muslim immigrants. 

Emil grew up at Black Rock and he and Sarah welcomed the team with joy. They took the team to see beautiful sights in Spain as well as to meet local partners doing good work. They explained that their ministry often challenges our Western expectations, especially on short-term trips where much of the outreach work revolves around building relationships rather than structured activities. 

This model of investing time for deep discipleship is validated by stories like that of a Somali family that had a spiritual encounter during Ramadan 17 years ago. The wife grew up loving the Koran but was curious about Christianity after witnessing the violence of extreme Islam. She had a life-changing experience when Jesus appeared to her in a dream, twice. A man in shining light appeared saying that he was God. She was puzzled until she had a second dream where this same person told her, “I am the way, the truth and life.”  When she Googled that phrase, she saw an image of the man in her dream. Curious, she sought to learn more. 

It took her husband a few years, but he also joined her on the path of faith. They were the first local Somali believers. God has used them to bring thousands along the same journey, a testament to the transformative power of time, prayer, and patience in fostering genuine connections and spiritual growth.

PRAISE and PRAYER

• Three pastors have taken the Perspectives course Emil coordinates. Stay tuned for opportunities to take the class at Black Rock in 2024.
• Sarah continues acquiring skills in cyber security which is helpful for workers serving in closed countries. Pray for wisdom in taking advantage of AI for initial-interest responses requesting feedback.
• They are looking forward to an upcoming team retreat. Pray they bond with new teammates as they continue to grieve the death of a colleague.

Check out this video.

Chris Bruno, our devoted Mission Trip Coordinator, provides a heartfelt recap of our year in missions. With seven impactful trips and the participation of 67 individuals, we witnessed God’s answers to prayer as we ventured beyond our comfort zones to embody Christ’s love, support our partners, and share the gospel.

Chris talks about his third trip to Kazakhstan calling it “the best trip yet.” He also celebrates the wonderful things that God accomplished in and through the teams. We saw Christ’s church around the world and had the joy of welcoming folks into the kingdom, including family members who traveled along with one of the teams.

We’re already planning our trips for next year, revisiting some places and exploring new partnerships. Look out for our trip launches in January and consider joining us; your life will never be the same!

For more trip details and recaps, click on the links below.

Mission IS Possible

Living Out Black Rock’s Mission

Honduras

Follow The Adventure

Dominican Republic

Kazakhstan

Check out this video.

Kaitlyn and Sue are two Black Rockers with a shared passion for missions. These ordinary women are taking an extraordinary step of faith to make a difference in the lives of those in need. Kaitlyn is returning to Uganda this fall to work with Good Shepherd’s Fold, a home for orphaned and vulnerable children, as a Sponsorship Coordinator. Sue is heading back to Nigeria to work with the Leah Foundation as their first missionary, as well as serve with City Ministries at the Hope and Freedom Center.

Their paths first crossed when Sue hired Kaitlyn at her coffee shop, and their shared faith drew them together as friends who would grow to become like family. As you hear their stories, you’ll hear their heart for God and helping the lost in both practical and spiritual ways. 

Sue’s desire is to stand by the Nigerian people, especially women who are overcoming the challenges of addiction, sex trafficking, persecution, and more. Her mission is to show these women that they are beautiful, strong, and not defined by their past. Most of all, she aims to share the joy and hope of Christ. 

Photography is one of Kaitlyn’s talents, and she loves using it to capture the beauty and value of the children she meets. She hopes her loving presence and creative work will illuminate the true worth of these precious children.

Grateful for the community and support they have found at Black Rock, Kaitlyn and Sue encourage others to explore short term missions as a way to discover their own calling. They believe that missions is an invitation for everyone to be involved. By praying, giving, and going, we can all play a part in spreading God’s love and joy to those in greatest need.

Their journeys inspire us to discover our unique mission in life, and to step out in faith. Watch here.

PRAY

To become a prayer partner to Kaitlyn or Sue you can sign up here. 

GIVE

To help us financially support Kaitlyn, Sue and our other global partners you can give here. 

GO

To go on a trip to Nigeria this January, check out our trip info page here.

Check out this video.

This year we’ve chosen Justin and Sarah as one of our Featured Partners. They are involved in many important projects including living among the beautiful people of West Africa during turbulent times, leading a Bible School that trains indigenous believers, and creating Chikondi, an outreach to children and families through media (a ministry which Black Rock also supports). Let’s take a closer look at this inspiring couple.

In a recent Sunday service at Black Rock we saw a video greeting from Justin and Sarah where they expressed their longing to see a harvest of faith in “Muslim majority nations where the word of God is most needed but access to solid biblical teaching is less available.” They also gave us an update on how God is multiplying their impact to sow many seeds of faith through the availability of smartphones and internet access across their region. They’re even developing an app, with a focus on West and North African nations. 

Justin and Sarah send their love and thanks to everyone at Black Rock. They appreciate our prayers, moral support, spiritual encouragement, and financial provision. Despite the challenges they face, they continue their work by abiding in God’s love.

To watch their video greeting click here.

PRAY

If God is stirring your heart to be a Prayer Partner you can sign up here. 

GIVE

To give financially and support Black Rock Missions click here.

GO

We celebrate our short term mission trips this summer as they took literal steps of faith to GO and bring the good news around the world. Check out our YouTube page for videos from our summer teams.