User:Rockford First/sandbox

Rockford First
Rockford First is a megachurch affiliated with the Assemblies of God located in Rockford, IL. Pastor Jeremy DeWeerdt has been the lead pastor since May, 2007. He oversees all ministries of Rockford First including Christian Life School (a PK3-12th grade Christian school averaging 700 students), Christian Life Retirement Center , Focus.one (a post-high school ministry) , and dozens of other ministries for people of all ages. Around 2,000 people attend services each week.

History
Rockford First in Rockford, Illinois is a megachurch that was originally founded in 1934 as First Assembly of God. In 1971 a new location was built for First Assembly with a seating capacity of 1,200. Rockford First, under Pastor Ernest Moen, in 1973 opened up Christian Life Elementary School and Christian Life High School was opened in 1975. Also, in 1981 Christian Life Retirement Center was opened on N Mulford Dr. in Rockford and in 1979 the first Radio Station WQFL (100.9 FM) was purchased from Open Bible Church. Due to continued church growth, in 1986, new ground was broken for an additional sanctuary with seating of 3,650. In 1993, Pastor Jeanie Mayo and Jeremy Deweerdt, started The Rockford Master’s Commission for post high-school students, which is now known as Focus.one. As well as, throughout the 1990’s and early 2000’s five more Christian Life Retirement Centers were opened throughout Rockford and surrounding cities.

In April of 2007, after serving 13 years with the Rockford Master’s Commission and Cross- Current (junior high and high school ministry) Pastor Jeremy and Jen Deweerdt were named the lead pastors of Rockford First. Upon taking the position Pastor Jeremy and Jen Deweerdt focused Rockford First to be a church that “loves God, love People, and loves Life”. (this will be sourced to our website) (sourcing for Pastor Jeremy will be to his blog)

Affilition
Rockford First is part of the Assemblies of God. The Assemblies of God is committed to fulfilling a four-fold mission; evangelize the lost, worship God, disciple believers, and show compassion. ( this will be sited with the Assemblies of God website)

Community Involvment
Earthbeat is a non-profit organization that is focused on getting the youth back involved with their community. Started in 1993 by Pastor Jeremy Deweerdt, Rockford First partners with the Rockford Park District on many projects to help to do many local projects. (Earthbeat Website)

In August of 2010 Rockford First Care Strategy was started. The goal of Rockford First Care Strategy is to promote hope within a community by bridging the gap between poverty and opportunity. Care Strategy is involved in many different venues in Rockford; for example, The Women’s Crisis Center in Rockford, The Rescue Mission, Blackhawk Boys and Girls Club, and many other venues throughout the city. In August of 2010 Care Strategy partnered with Kaboom! and Barbour Language community for a playground build. (all of the different things that are named, I have references for all of them.)

Ministries
Rockford First runs many different ministries in addition to the weekend services and events. Rockford First, runs off of a small group structure throughout the church called “life groups”. These groups are the size of 10-20 people that meet once a week throughout the city of Rockford and the surrounding cities. The main ministries of the Rockford First are:

Rockford First KidsLife

Rockford First KidsLife is the children’s ministry at Rockford First church. Rockford First provides a children’s program for the weekend services and the mid-week services. Children are broken down into two different age brackets for the weekend services.

AkolooLand ( 12 months to 5 years old)

KidsLife ( 1st grade to 5 grade)

The Venue

Rockford First provides a junior high and high school ministry called The Venue. The Venue services meet on Wednesday Nights and are set up in a small group structure on Sunday nights. The small groups are set up by grade-level and done out of students homes throughout the city of Rockford.

theFORUM

theFORUM serves as Rockford First young adults ministry. theFORUM is a collection of life groups that meet throughout the city of Rockford. theFORUM focuses on giving young adults between the ages of 18-30 a place to gather and talk about God, ask questions, and how to practically walk out faith. theFORUM also hosts a service on the first Friday of every month. theFORUM services consist of contemporary worship and teachings.

Original Women

Original Women was founded by Jen Deweerdt to focus on the women of Rockford First. Rockford First’s women’s ministry focuses to inspire and empower women to live a life that is purposeful, centered, passionate, true, and original. This women’s ministry meets once every 8 weeks to provide women with teaching and fellowship.

Men Of Promise

Men of Promise was founded by Michael Hongsermeir and serves as Rockford First’s Men’s Ministry. Men of Promise is a small group that meets on Wednesday Morning to discuss a series of different topics.

Missions

One of Rockford First’s main focuses is on missions and sends out many different missions trips across the world. Rockford First partners with many different missionaries to provide individuals the opportunity to see different avenues of ministry, as well as, many different cultures.

Conferences
Original Conference

Original Conference was founded by Jen Deweerdt in April of 2007. Original Conference is an annual conference centered on empowering women to live a life that is purposeful, centered, passionate, true, and original. Original Conference offers contemporary worship and a series of teachings.

Men’s Conference

Rockford First offers a Men’s Conference, which was founded by Jeremy Deweerdt in February of 2010. This is an annual conference that concentrates on relevent, life changing, ministry to and for men. Men’s Conference offers contemporary worship and a series of teachings.

Podcasts and Media
Rockford First also broadcasts teachings multiple times each week on three local television stations; Channel 13, 17, 23 as well as, 2 radio stations WQFL (100.9 FM) and WGSL (91.1 FM). (sourced to all the websites of TV stations and Radio stations)

In 2007 Rockford First offers a podcast ministry for Rockford First Sundays, The Venue, and theFORUM. (this will be sourced to the iTUNES links)

References