Mission & Outreach

River Rock seeks to support local, national and international organizations and ministries through prayer, volunteerism and giving financially. Current organizations, ministries and missionaries supported through River Rock’s Mission & Outreach fund are listed below. Click on the name of the organization/ministry to visit their website.

Classis Grand Rapids North: This regional district of Christian Reformed Churches works together to support regional causes, to raise up and credential church leaders, to plant local churches, to help existing churches, and to handle administrative tasks for the region.

CRC Ministry: The Christian Reformed denomination does national and international ministry as an extension of the local churches. Causes include church planting and support, worldwide missions, world hunger ministry, education and credentialing of leaders, radio/TV ministry, and several ministries that support the local church.

Rise Up – Cedar Springs: In 2019, River Rock planted a new church in Cedar Springs, MI, led by Pastor Jon Huizenga. River Rock continues to support this church.

North Kent Connect: NKC is a one-stop resource hub, connecting families in northern Kent County to food, clothing, education, jobs, mental health counseling, and more.

Dégagé Ministries:  A Grand Rapids organization for people experiencing homelessness and low-income individuals in need.

Forgotten Man Ministries: A County jail ministry that provides Bibles, Christian reading materials, one on one mentoring, Bible study correspondence courses, and help transitioning back to families, churches, and communities. Its mission is to provide Christ centered hope and healing through biblically-based, chaplain led, volunteer ministries. 

The Foundry:  A local organization whose ministry is to strengthen and support church leaders at every level with biblical and practical training.

Fulaa Lifeline International/Cornerstone Children’s Home: An organization that works to meet the needs of children who have become refugees in areas of South Sudan and Uganda, with an emphasis on rebuilding lives and planting the seeds of the gospel.

Alpha Grand Rapids : Motivated by the love of Christ, Alpha Grand Rapids promotes abundant life by providing holistic services to women and men affected by unplanned pregnancy.

Jim and Jamie Loker (https://audioscripture.org/latin-america/Audio Scripture Ministries) – Mexico: Primary focus is to connect indigenous people groups with God’s Word in their heart language.

Dan and Lisa Van Zoest (Nicaragua Christian Academy) – Nicaragua/stateside:  The primary ministry of NCA National campuses is to provide a high quality integral Evangelical Christian education for the children of Nicaraguan Christian families. Dan’s position is that of assistant to the director of Nicaragua Christian Academy.

Michael and Sherri Carlson (Pioneers): The Carlsons serve in Europe, where they are using their God-given talents at church ministry (to change lives), at church planting (to change a nation) in the Czech Republic and at church multiplication and training (to change the region of Europe).

 (Names withheld for security reasons) Wycliffe missionaries in southeast Asia with River Rock since 2010. Chris is a software developer manager and Rebecca is a counselor. They have 3 children.

World Mission –  World Mission provides the Word of God in an audio format (The Treasure) for oral learners living in unreached people groups. They also invest in leadership training strategies that empower indigenous leaders for the purpose of reaching their own people.

Steve and Chris Van Zanen -(Resonate Global Mission: Lithuania) Steve is teaching Bible courses to students at LCC International University in Lithuania, many of whom have had little exposure to the Christian faith.

Other ministries that River Rock Church supports with financial and volunteer support:

Kids Hope: River Rock Church partners with Meadow Ridge Elementary School in Rockford. We work to match adult members of the church with students from the school who need a positive adult role model. Our mission is to shower these at-risk children with the power of God’s love by showing up for them each week. One Mentor, One Student, One hour a week. 

Hand2Hand: Hand2Hand provides food for kids facing weekend hunger in West Michigan.  River Rock Church partners with Meadow Ridge Elementary School and North Rockford Middle School in Rockford, delivering and distributing food to students’ lockers discretely and with prayers.