It was a great celebration at the Grand Opening of The ROC (Richmond Outreach Center) at The Big House located on 5501 Midlothian Turnpike in Richmond, VA 23225, on April 10, 2010.  Senior Pastor Geronimo Aguilar waited a very long time before he could triumphantly declare, “Welcome to six o’clock ROC at The Big House!”

Bertha Hinson and I were among thousands who came to celebrate this great victory for the body of Christ.  Bertha has known Pastor G for a long time.  She knew him nine years ago when he was pastoring a church and busy “Changing Lives and Making Life Changers.”

Geronimo started small and faithfully kept building what God had put in his heart.  He kept the vision alive and nine years later by the grace, power, provision, and favor of God and the work of countless people, Pastor Geronimo and his wife Samantha Aguilar literally stepped into a three dimensional manifestation of that vision come true.

The ROC’s new ministry headquarters at The Big House is a shining example to all of us how big God is.  The Pastor so aptly confessed at the grand opening, “Look at the house God built!”  He emphatically testified that all this is not about a man, a ministry, or people, but about JESUS, who came to seek and save the lost.  The Big House was built for sinners so they could come to know Jesus and be saved and transformed.

Pastor G invited a very special guest to deliver a greeting and opening prayer.  Governor Bob McDonnell came to the Pastor’s aid in the early years of the ministry  when McDonnell was Attorney General.  The crowd went wild with applause for the Governor’s support.  They both have come a long way.

There was a wonderful time of exuberant worship, much of it led by Samantha Aguilar.  The youth displayed a lot of fancy footwork in an energetic presentation of “The History of Dance.”  All the musicians were quite gifted.

Pastor G preached a stirring message about the great love Jesus has for all sinners.  He is still the same today, yesterday and forever. Jesus never turns anyone away who comes to Him to be saved and He is always seeking that which is lost.

The Pastor shared that in the past week alone the different ministries in their evangelistic outreach led 1010 people to Christ.  Then he gave an altar call for salvation and there were more people flooding the altars then there were people to pray for them.  There is no question about it.  The ROC is reaping a rich harvest of souls for Jesus.  If you want to know how effective any ministry is, just look at the fruit it is producing.

At The Roc, it is evident that this is a community of God’s people who have managed to break down the walls that separate people according to race, ethnicity, nationality, denomination, education, and socio-economic standards – just like God does.  All are welcome here just like they will be in heaven.

It has been an amazing test and testimony of Geronimo and Sam Aguilar’s faith. Their spiritual journey of the heart has brought them all the way from a warehouse on Brook Rd. to The Big House on Midlothian Turnpike.  The architect for this incredible facility is Eric Hepler.  It has a capacity to hold 4500 people.

This state of the art building houses the ROC Café, Fitness Center, Dance Studio, Food Pantry, Computer Lab, Shops including: The ROC Bookstore, Jesus Couture, Laundromat, Hair Salon and Spa to name a few.

The ROC has about 140 ministries.  For more information check it out at their all new website at http://theroc.com

Thank you, Lord for The ROC at The Big House and everyone connected to it!  This is a mighty victory for the body of Christ.  May we all be encouraged to dream big and hold onto our God-given dreams until we see God bring them to pass because of our steadfast faith in God’s Word.

I simply want to declare that Jesus is Lord and Savior over Virginia.  Save this city, Jesus!  Hallelujah and praise God in Jesus name.  Amen.

In my quiet time this morning I asked the Lord what would He have His people know this day on the heels of such a glorious victory and grand opening celebration of the manifestation of the vision for The ROC at The Big House.  He gave me a prophetic WFJ (Word From Jesus) called: A Celebration Built On The Solid Rock of Jesus Christ. I will post it tomorrow on my blog “God Whispers”  at http://Abigail777.com

Love in Jesus,

Abigail Slocum
“A pen in God’s hand giving LOVE a voice”
The bellows of God

http://Abigail777.com

Prayer Power

Father God, I thank you for your Son Jesus who died on the cross of Calvary to make a way for all of us who have fallen short of  Your glory.  Thank you for Your everlasting love and never ending  grace.  Thank you for never giving up on us and for never turning anyone away who comes to You and calls on Your name, Jesus.  I thank You for being the solid rock and foundation of our faith in our time of need and trouble.  We give you all the praise, honor and glory forever in Jesus name.  Amen.