Rock of Our Salvation Church

What Rock of Our Salvation Church does

Rock of Our Salvation Church, operating as Rock of Our Salvation Evangelical Free Church (DBA: Rock Church), is a private nonprofit religious organization founded in 1984 and based in Chicago's Austin community. It is an autonomous member congregation of the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA), a network of approximately 1,500 churches across 75+ countries. The church delivers its core offering through in-person worship services held Sundays at 10:30AM and Wednesdays at 7:00PM at the Kehrein Center for the Arts (118 N. Central Avenue), with supplementary programming including the Bible Study Café, Prayer Ministry, Worship Team, Jubilee Ladies (women 50+), Singles Ministry, and Marriage Ministry.

Its product portfolio centers on spiritual formation programs — most notably the ROCK Mentor/Mentee 12-Month Discipleship Program with downloadable handbook and bootcamp training, and a Spiritual Gifts Survey tool — alongside community outreach delivered in partnership with Circle Urban Ministries (employment help, homelessness assistance, domestic violence support, ID assistance serving 800+ Austin families) and Catalyst Circle Rock School (K-8 charter school serving approximately 300 students). The church's technology stack consists of a WordPress-based website, PayPal-hosted online donation infrastructure, and YouTube live streaming of services; no proprietary software or app is operated.

The business model is donation-driven: voluntary tithes and offerings from congregation members, one-time and recurring online donations via PayPal, plus ancillary revenue from ticketed special events such as the Annual Christmas Banquet ($55 per person) and fundraisers like the Taste of Africa event supporting Kenya missions. The church supports an international missionary ambassador program with workers in Kenya, DR Congo, Mexico, and New Orleans. Operations are lean, with approximately 5 staff under the leadership of Senior Pastor Robert Louis Stevenson, who has 26+ years of ministry experience.

Name

Rock of Our Salvation Church

Legal name

Rock of Our Salvation Evangelical Free Church

Website

https://rockofoursalvation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Rock of Our Salvation Church is a Chicago-based Evangelical Free congregation founded in 1984 that delivers worship services, discipleship programs, and community outreach to residents of the Austin neighborhood through partnerships with Circle Urban Ministries and Catalyst Schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (813110), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAJAA

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations

SECONDARYBPAGAJAG

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations

SECONDARYBPAGAJAE

Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations

Keywords

• Religious worship services
• Community outreach programs
• Discipleship and ministry
• Faith-based education
• Missionary sending

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: Voluntary financial contributions from congregation members during worship services
2. Online Donations: Digital giving through PayPal platform for one-time and recurring donations
3. Event Revenue: Ticket sales for special events such as the Annual Christmas Banquet ($55 per person)
4. Fundraising Events: Cultural events like Taste of Africa fundraiser supporting Kenya missions team travel

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Rock Church delivers Christian worship services, spiritual formation programs (Bible Study Café, Prayer Ministry, Marriage/Singles/Jubilee Ladies ministries), a 12-month ROCK Discipleship curriculum, community outreach through Circle Urban Ministries (employment, homelessness, ID assistance, and other social services), an educational partnership with Catalyst Circle Rock School, and a global missionary sending program (ROCK Ambassadors) supporting workers in Kenya, Congo, Mexico, and New Orleans.

Product overview

Rock of Our Salvation Church (Rock Church) is an Evangelical Free Church of America congregation located in Chicago's Austin community. The church operates as a unified ministry offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Its product portfolio centers on spiritual formation through worship services and discipleship programs (including Bible Study Café and the Mentor/Mentee Bootcamp), community support via Circle Urban Ministries (offering employment, homelessness, and ID assistance), and educational partnership with Catalyst Circle Rock School. Additional offerings include specialized ministry programs for singles, married couples, women (Jubilee Ladies), and a worship team. The church also supports global missions through its ROCK Ambassadors program with missionaries in Kenya, Congo, New Orleans, and Mexico. Key resources include a Spiritual Gifts Survey tool and downloadable discipleship materials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Worship Services In-person Christian worship services held Sundays at 10:30AM and Wednesdays at 7:00PM at Kehrein Center for the Arts in Chicago, featuring live music, biblical teaching, and a Children's Church program for ages 4 through 6th grade. Open to all regardless of background.
• Bible Study Café Weekly Bible study program where participants dive deep into God's Word and build community over a cup of coffee. Meets Sundays at 8:45AM.
• Prayer Ministry Prayer team committed to praying for the needs of the church community and beyond, offering weekly prayer sessions and submission of prayer requests. Prayer meetings are available 7:30AM-8:00AM on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.
• Jubilee Ladies Ministry Women's ministry for women aged 50 and older, involved in mentoring younger women, supporting the church, cooking, communion setup, and ushering. Part of the broader women's ministry serving all life stages.
• Singles Ministry Ministry for single individuals to connect and grow in their relationship with Christ through Bible studies, social events, and service opportunities.
• Marriage Ministry Ministry offering counseling, retreats, and workshops to strengthen marriages and build community with other couples.
• Circle Urban Ministries Community Services Faith-based community services offered in partnership with Circle Urban Ministries at 118 N. Central Avenue, Chicago, providing employment help, homelessness assistance, resume/interview help, hospital prayer, drug rehab options, domestic violence help, and ID assistance to Austin community residents regardless of background.
• Catalyst Circle Rock School A college-preparatory charter school (K-8) operated by Catalyst Schools in partnership with Rock Church at the Circle Urban complex, offering extended school days, summer classes, and 160 minutes of daily reading instruction. Serves approximately 300 K-8 students.
• ROCK Discipleship Program Mentor/Mentee discipleship lifestyle journey including a 12-month plan, monthly lesson notes, and bootcamp training sessions, with downloadable handbook and class materials as resources.
• ROCK Missionaries/Ambassadors Program International missionary sending program featuring missionaries serving globally in Kenya, DR Congo, New Orleans, and Mexico, including PACE Ministries Kenya and various cross-cultural workers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300 K-8 students educated through Catalyst Circle Rock School partnership
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Catalyst Schools / Catalyst Circle Rock SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Catalyst Schools has run a Charter school in the Circle Urban complex since 2009. The school is a college preparatory institution offering K-8 students an educational setting that nurtures academic, social, and emotional growth. In partnership with Rock Church, the focus is on developing the potential and value of every child regardless of background.
• Moody Bible Institute / EFCA Gateway Theological InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994Pastor Rob received his theological training from Moody Bible Institute and the EFCA Gateway Theological Institute of Biblical Studies, grounding his ministry in sound biblical teaching and practical application.
• Circle Urban MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1984Rock Church and Circle Urban Ministries are united in their mission to offer faith-based services to meet the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of residents in the Austin Community regardless of racial, cultural, ethnic background, or religious involvement. Since 1984, the common goal has been to see lives transformed and people who have lost hope receiving assistance and direction.
• Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe EFCA is an association of some 1500 autonomous churches in over 75 countries worldwide united by a mutual commitment to serve the Lord Jesus Christ with the guidance of the Holy Spirit and obedience to the Word of God. Rock of Our Salvation is a member church.
• Christian Brothers / De La Salle BrothersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWhen approached by the Christian Brothers about having a Chicago Public Charter School at their location, Circle Rock merged with the new school, resulting in Catalyst Circle Rock School.
• 15th District CAPS and Clergy CoalitionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPastor Rob is an active member of the 15th District CAPS (Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy) and Clergy Coalition, collaborating with local leaders to build bridges and promote peace in the Austin community.
• Columbus Park Golf CourseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPastor Rob serves as Chaplain of Columbus Park Golf Course for over 18 years, bringing spiritual encouragement and unity to the diverse community of golfers.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Circle Urban Ministries: Faith-based community outreach organization serving Chicago's Austin neighborhood since 1984. Direct operational partner with Rock Church; offers overlapping employment, homelessness, and family services to the same target community.
• New Life Covenant Church: Large multicultural evangelical church based in Chicago with strong urban ministry focus. Directly comparable in mission to serve underserved Chicago communities through spiritual development and community outreach.
• Catalyst Schools: Chicago charter school network operating Catalyst Circle Rock School in partnership with Rock Church. Direct partner organization; runs the K-8 educational program that Rock Church co-hosts and supports.

Broad incumbents

• Moody Church: Historic Chicago evangelical church affiliated with the Moody Bible Institute (where Rock Church's pastor trained). Larger, more established congregation operating in the same theological tradition and city.
• Willow Creek Community Church: Large Chicago-area evangelical megachurch with extensive community outreach and global missions programs. Comparable evangelical identity and missional DNA, but at significantly greater scale.
• Evangelical Free Church of America: Denominational network of 1,500+ churches that Rock Church belongs to. Provides theological resources, missions infrastructure, and peer accountability to Rock Church's operations.

Emerging players

• PACE Ministries Kenya: Kenyan faith-based community development organization receiving missionary support from Rock Church's Ambassadors program. Comparable faith-based community service model in a different geography.

Regional players

• Awana Chicago (Cabrini Ministries): Faith-based urban youth and family services organization in Chicago. Comparable mission of serving Chicago's underserved communities with faith-based programming and practical support.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCRLdsA9Z7nvlRuDsothtA_g
• Facebookfacebook.com/rockofoursalvationefca
• Instagraminstagram.com/rockofoursalvationefca

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rock of Our Salvation Church