In 1996, while serving on staff at a summer youth camp on the coast of North Carolina, Jimmy Britt, our Founding and Lead Pastor, had his “burning bush” experience. He caught a glimpse of what a church could be like if the barriers were removed between people who need the message of Jesus and need genuine life change. God put a dream in his heart to start a new church that would reach today’s generations.

In January of 1999, Jimmy resigned as Pastor of the traditionally modeled church where he was serving in North Charlotte. He set out with his wife Karen and their little daughter Annie, to start a church for people who have never been to church and are not being reached through traditional church methods, as well as those who have given up on “church as usual.”

They began with about 8 other people who formed the core nucleus to help them launch Rocky River Community Church. The group began meeting in a modular classroom at Pitts Baptist Church (our sponsoring church) in February 1999. Then in May of 1999 they moved to the Rocky River Elementary School in Concord, NC where they held their grand opening on Sunday October 17, 1999. Today, hundreds of people from Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, Union and Stanly counties call Rocky River their home church.

Rocky River Community Church is a unique church. It began as a dream I had to build a new kind of church community for people who have given up on church, or who are not being reached through traditional church methods. I believed (and still do) that the thing that would make our church unique is that we would do anything necessary, so long as it does not conflict with the Holy Scriptures, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with people in our community and around the world. I am determined to make sure that Rocky River is a church that is focused on showing people that God loves them and how they can know Him personally, rather than keeping old traditions alive. Rocky River is a place for people, no matter who they are or where they’ve been. We are a church for people, that’s it, plain and simple.”
(Excerpt from a LifeTalk delivered by our Lead and Founding Pastor, Jimmy Britt)

Rocky River is a Dream

• It’s the dream of a place where people, no matter who they are or where they’ve been can find love, acceptance, help, and encouragement.
• It’s the dream of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with the thousands of people moving into Cabarrus County.
• It’s the dream of building a “healthy” growing church that focuses on people.
• It’s the dream of developing people spiritually through creative environments and worship experiences, small group fellowships, seminars, retreats, and a Bible School for our members.
• It’s the dream of helping people discover the gifts and talents God has given them and then empowering them for meaningful ministry in our community and world.