Block parties can be loud, rambunctious, and often times
test the patience of neighbors. But with one particular block party, a church
was born.
On Saturday, July 25, 2003, a block party broke
out at 124 Milton Road in Rochester.
There was loud music, good food, bouncy houses, and a bunch of people
from Granite United Church in Salem, NH announcing the birth of a new church in
Rochester, a church with a unique name and (soon to be) unique reputation. The
church’s name? The Journey.
Two months later, Pastor Rob Willis and his family took over
the leadership of this baby church with only a dozen people, a small building, a
dream to grow…but absolutely no guarantees.
“About two weeks after we arrived, the initial excitement wore off, and I
felt completely overwhelmed by the challenge to grow this thing and survive.
But I made a promise to God: ‘God, if I
fail, no one will be able to say I didn’t try. I will use every last square
inch of our building to point people to You and grow this church.’”
And despite numerous challenges, The Journey has spent its
first ten years doing just that. The
lives that have been impacted through God’s power and Bible teaching have been
incredible. At The Journey, hearts are changed, marriages are saved, addictions
are broken, teens are giving their lives to God – and much more. One church member wrote just this week to
Pastor Rob: “The people of this church
have shown me what Godly people look like. To be honest, if it was not for some
people of the Journey, I may have driven my car off a bridge or into a tree. I
can truthfully say that this church saved my life.”
In ten years, The Journey has also become a community leader
in service, with a goal to “show God’s love in practical ways.” So The Journey
has actively looked for practical ways to do this in Rochester. They have remodeled the Strafford County
Homeless Shelter; been regularly involved in the Relay for Life; sponsored
blood drives, a health fair, and worked to help homeless teens; financially given
to organizations including We Care Packers, Rochester Veterans Council, Gerry’s
Food Pantry, and Toys for Tots; given large amounts of food and assistance to
needy families; and become the driving force for Rochester’s annual Night
Before the 4th since 2009; and much more. “I believe we’re just only
getting started,” says Pastor Rob.
The Journey’s impact on Rochester began with a block party
in 2003, and ten years later, they are still partying and still making
noise. This Sunday, July 28, 2013, The
Journey Church is celebrating its 10th Birthday with a special
unified service at the American Legion on 94 Eastern Avenue in Rochester. The event will be a celebration with special
music, guests, video, and memorabilia from our first 10 years.
While church growth trends in America continue to decline,
The Journey Church continues to grow. They recently purchased a second location
in Barrington (opening in the fall), and have plans to become a “multi-site”
church, using technology and several teams to become “one church in multiple
locations.” As Pastor Rob says, “We are
excited to expand and bring the Good News of God’s love to more and more communities.
In our minds, the party is just getting started.”
