Founding and Growth
The group was founded in 2001 in Richmond, Virginia, but quickly spread elsewhere in the United States. When it first started it was simply an outreach center with a Christian theme. The ROC soon transformed into a church, with Pastor Geronimo as the head pastor, and sole founder. As of January 2009, the ministry has gone from 19 people, to an average weekly attendance of over 10,000, ranging from Richmond's poorest in the worst projects, to the most wealthy. The church attracted a variety of personalities, from college students, to drug users, to school teachers, to business men & women, to the elderly and even the homeless. The ROC focuses on urban lifestyle issues such as education and housing.
In 2007, Pastor G. was named "Top 40 Under 40" by Style Weekly Magazine as one of Richmond's top 40 leaders under the age of 40. The ROC also supports the Reach Out Center and thrift store in Petersburg, Virginia. The Reach Out Center, like The ROC, also works closely with the local police department.
The ROC was founded as a place where churches can come together to do inner-city mission work. This group targets residents of public housing projects, motels, and dilapidated homes. The ROC has over 170 ministries, and there is a wide variety of classes and programs offered on a daily basis. Everything ranging from little league to skateboarding to dance, tattooing, motorcycle clubs, Christian 12-step program, to small group counciling sessions. Pastor G. says that winning souls for Christ is The ROC's primary mission.
Read more about this topic: Richmond Outreach Center
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