Nathan VanLochem: A story of patience

Click here to see a video of Nathan's testimony

I grew up in a Christian home and still feel blessed for that to this day.  In my late teens and early 20s, I tried living for myself and stopped attending church regularly. I would continually try to block out the Holy Spirit convicting me away from the path I was taking. I started partying a lot and it became my main focus in life. I also had little to no patience for anything or anyone and I used to stress and worry about everything.

I still remember the feeling of being so lost. My thoughts were so scattered that it would regularly affect my sleep.

It came to a point when I was 22 years old that I had to stop smoking pot ... period. I didn't like who I'd become and I spent the next year getting my head clear. I started going to church again, turned my life back to God and accepted Christ as my Saviour. I feel like God through his grace gave me a second life. I never wanted to look back.

For the next 10 years, I started praying for patience. One area I needed to be patient with, was finding my wife. I moved to Whistler when I was 25. It was in Whistler that Tim Unruh, the pastor of the Whistler Community Church, challenged me to pray for God's woman in God's time. So that's what I prayed everyday for three years.

There were so many Christians from different denomination backgrounds in Whistler that all worshipped together and I was often challenged and encouraged to live for God.

Back to the wife thing, God sure did answer my prayers and I am now a husband to a wonderful wife and a father to a beautiful baby girl. Yes! Marriage and fatherhood have given me a deep joy and sense of responsibility. It's hard to describe.

The Holy Spirit has and is continually challenging me to be the kind of Dad and husband God intended for me to be. Since coming to the Rock Church, I have been encouraged to grow deeper in my relationship with Christ. I am excited and I am beginning to understand what it means to live for Christ in every area of my life.

Almost 10 years after I turned my life back to the Lord, I am still so thankful for God's blessings in my life and how He continually forgives me.

I am being baptized today because I felt the Holy Spirit leading me to this place. I want to proclaim what Christ has done in my life.

I want to be obedient to Christ and in doing so, be an example to my family and friends. I am a work in progress. I am being challenged to live for God with my seatbelt off.

In closing....

“And Jesus came and said to them “ All authority in heaven and on earth had been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age.”

— Matthew 28:18-20

Gospel Foundations Series & the Bronsons

We recently talked to James and Jill Marie Bronson about their experience with the current Gospel Foundations Series. We hope you are encouraged by their story.

Q: Tell us about yourselves. What’s your story? Why the Rock Church? Why Squamish?

A: James - "I grew up in a churched home but there was never a sense of community for me. When it came time to leave home I went to bible college and experienced monastic style of community which was great but not exactly God glorifying.  When I came to Squamish in 2008 I had given up on finding a church that could really feel like a family and show the grace of God.

The first time I went to The Rock Church I felt like these people really cared about each other and wanted to live a life that was more than about themselves.  There was also a really cute girl there so that helped too!"

Jill Marie – "I grew up going to church, but I had a dysfunctional family and I was a part of a lot of dysfunctional churches. To adapt, I formed a very individualistic faith that would only involve other Christians for short periods of time. I initially came to Squamish in 2004 to work as a raft guide. In 2009, I felt God was telling me to stop travelling and come back to stay put. I joined The Rock and found my husband."

Q: What have you thought of the Gospel Foundations sermon series so far?

A: James - "It has been challenging, as we discover what our true identity is and what we have been saved from. It makes us really look at how our life is oriented, which is a reflection of what your life is devoted to.

I've discovered that living with gospel intentionality really means denying yourself, which has been a hard thing to struggle with.  I’m happy to be on the journey with the rest of the church - it’s hard but also exciting."

Q: What have you taken away from the series so far?

A: James - "We need to learn to make our every day “rhythms” reflect and point to the glory of God.  I don’t know how that looks yet but it’s the goal."

Q: What has impacted you the most?

A: James - "The testimony of James Boney who in the face of having a sick baby decides to trust God and that God is sufficient.  Not only that but he uses it to share the gospel with the doctors and now God has healed his baby.  It's amazing and I can’t get over how good our God is!"

Q: Why is the Rock community valuable to you guys?

A: James and Jill Marie - "It is our family, you can’t live this life alone and if you try, you will loose heart. We have both tried that in certain seasons of our lives and we have both come to the realization that its through the church that we are being used to share the love of Christ."

"I (James) would go as far as saying that God won’t use individuals who refuse to be part of his family, which is the church.  We want to be used by God and we love the family he has placed us in."

Q: What are you excited most about with regards to the Rock, the future, faith etc? 

A: James and Jill Marie- "Seeing our friends come to faith in Squamish and the town restored as well as living life with the church in the Ledge Cafe."

Q: Why do you think it’s important that we are looking at the Gospel Foundations?

A: James - "To wake us up to the reality of who we are and what the gospel really means and how to share it with others.  I have a hard time, sharing my faith but I’m learning about living your life in such a way that it demands a gospel explanation."

Taking God at His Word

This was printed in the Squamish Chief newspaper this week. Be encouraged and pray that God's message reached readers. Bible believing Christians are often ridiculed for “taking the Bible literally.” Unfortunately, in some cases there is merit to the accusation, especially so when what the Bible says is taken wildly out of context and therefore applied too literally.

Another problem people have about faith in God and Christianity in particular, is that they are not sure they can trust the Bible. After all, hasn’t it been proven to be historically, scientifically and culturally either unreliable or outdated?

And so it goes.

The reality is, most people today have never really read the Bible, including the pundits. Now, we don't expect everyone to understand that the whole Bible is about His story (together we get the word history), about Jesus and God's plan to rescue his people and his creation, but I do hold out hope that one day everyone will at least read the Bible along with someone who knows their Bible.

In my own experience, whether I was studying music, marketing or theology, it was always helpful to be holding a textbook while listening to someone who was actually knowledgeable on the subject teaching me what the manual or textbook was really saying.

At The Rock Church we do take the Bible literally and what we mean by that is this—we take God at His Word! The very first words of the Bible declare two amazing facts. First, that God IS and secondly, that he has and does speak to us.

Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God.” In the first four words of the Bible we simply see the declaration that God IS. No debate, no question and yes, no proof from the author. That comes a few verses later in Genesis 1:3, “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.”

From that point on we learn about a God who loves us so much that he sends his Son Jesus to speak to us directly. What we learn is that God promised to send Jesus and that he promises many more things, all of which have either come true, are true or will be true.

Bottom line is, you can take God at His Word. Join us some Sunday and hear for yourself what the Bible really has to say—literally ;-)

Glenn Davies - Lead Pastor The Rock Church

The Ledge - a story only God could write

A place for music, laughter, healing, learning and discipleship, the Ledge is that and so much more. It's a place to introduce Jesus to Squamish. Located in Squamish's downtown core, the Ledge is about living in everyday community together and simply making Jesus known.

Imagine a place that serves the community as a missionary outpost, a discipleship school, cafe, and live music venue. Where the words of Jesus are walked out.  It's part of the vision God gave the Rock Church.

It's exciting and we want to tell you why.

Beginnings

The Ledge started with a prayer and a small "for sale" sign in the window of a downtown Squamish storefront.

"The vision for the Ledge goes back two years before we even moved here," said Glenn Davies, lead pastor at the Rock. "At first I thought I was crazy thinking and praying about something like the Ledge but the Lord opened the door."

A few months after the launch of the Rock, the church was able to purchase that little downtown storefront. This in itself was a miracle for such a young church.

"The old girl needed repairs but we felt it was what we were supposed to do. With the support of our denomination and church community, a taskforce was formed and you would be amazed by the core group of people God brought along," Davies said.

Today, this core group of young men, women, families, community business leaders and faithful prayer warriors are working hard to see this little building become, a place that serves Squamish as the Rock's Ministry Centre and The Ledge Cafe.

The journey

The journey has not been without a few bumps and delays but Davies said each bump was a reminder of God's timing. In fact, the little building has become a testimony of what God is doing in Squamish and the church community.

There were times when it seemed challenges with the Ledge were stacking up. After peeling back a few layers, it became clear the building needed more than just a bit of paint. But again, God proved more faithful than imagined.

"From the beginning we wanted to let the Lord lead us. I remember driving past the Ledge during the Santa Claus parade and it was painful. I wanted to be in there ministering. But I was reminded that God knows what He is doing," Davies said. "Soon after, the work really started to come together."

The miracle

After raising over $209,000 in 1.5 years, more funds were needed to finish the renovations and open the Ledge. God swung the doors open. Early in 2012, the BC Conference of MB Churches, committed to finance the balance of the funds required to complete the renovations.

"The Lord took care of the details, which is such a testimony that He is doing this," Davies said.

In a few short months the doors of the Ledge will be open to Squamish. Imagine a place dedicated to the Lord, to talking about Jesus, to seeing lives changed through the gospel. Imagine the Ledge. For images of the Ledge click here.

The key plans for its use include:

Ledge Cafe & Live Music Venue—connecting with our community with great coffee and outstanding music!

The Rock's Ministry Centre—church offices, meeting, prayer and counseling rooms

Rock Church Sunday Night Gatherings—to reach the young men, women and families who live downtown and throughout Squamish with the Gospel

Base Camp • Discipleship Theology School—evangelism and discipleship training centre for young urban missionaries

Rock Church Ministry Classes—Foundations, Membership, Redemption Groups, Alpha and More!

Christian Bookstore—featuring a great selection of Christian theology, ministry, study guides and children's books.