ABOUT US

Steve & Kelley Gardner

Lead Pastor

In 2004, Pastor Steve and Kelley felt the call of God to move from their pastorate of 14 years in Milwaukee, WI and plant CTR Church. Founded upon the vision of Matthew 16, Christ the Rock Church is now celebrating 14 years of successful ministry.

With over 38 years of ministry, Pastor Steve and Kelley have served in various positions, specializing in Pastoral restoration and ministry development. Pastor Steve studied at Northwest Bible College, the Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and most recently, at the Pentecostal Theological Seminary. Kelly studied at Lee University and Northwest Bible College.

Pastor Steve and Kelley recently celebrated the addition of a new title, Grandparents, with the birth of their grandson, Emmanuel, Jr.

In addition to their Pastoral responsibilities, Pastor Steve also heads up Reclamation Ministries, a ministry dedicated to the purpose of leading people in the Last Days outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and in the renewal of the leadership of the Body of Christ! To find out more about Reclamation Ministries, please visit that website by CLICKING HERE!

Brittany Gardner

Worship Director

Brittany is passionate about the worship of the Lord Jesus Christ! She is a gifted singer and leader! She plays the keyboard and writes music herself. She is dedicated to ushering people into the presence of the Lord! Early in her life, her gifting and calling was evident as she was always singing and loved worshipping the Lord. She directs the Praise Team and Choir of Knoxville is One, an Inter-Denominational, Church, and Cultural ministry here in Knoxville!

Jerry & Diane Webster

Evangelism & Outreach Pastor

Pastor Jerry and Diane serve the Lord with a heart of compassion for those who are struggling in life. Sister Diane works full time with Mission of Hope here is Knoxville Tennessee. Pastor Jerry also volunteers with Mission of Hope. Together, they serve CTR as our Liason to Local Missions Projects, as we partner with Mission of Hope!

Mario Viera Rodriguez & Ruth Agosto

Hispanic Ministries Pastor

Pastor Mario Viera Rodríguez and his wife, Sister Ruth Agosto have served the Lord for many years as pastors, evangelists, and teachers in Puerto Rico. His love for souls and the teaching of the word of God is tireless. He is a Spanish teacher and he studied at the Missionary Bible Institute of the Fuente de Salvacion Misionera Council, staying as a professor for 28 years until his transfer to Knoxville, TN."We are only servants of the Most High God, to Him be all the glory.

Katelynn Doan

Children's Director

Katelynn Doan has been involved in Children's Ministry for many years! Growing up in the Church, and in Children's Ministries, her gifting and calling from God was recognized early, and she was used to be a Children's Church helper. Now, Katelynn serves full time as the Children's Pastor of CTR!

Rob & Leah Rupnow

Youth Pastor

Pastor Rob and Leah Rupnow have seved the Lord in Youth Ministry for many years! Pastor Rob was brought up under the ministry of Pastor Steve Gardner in Wisconsin, and Leah is the Daughter of a Pastor, growing up in ministry! Together, they have a wonderful gifting and calling from the Lord to minister to the Youth of CTR and the Community!

What We Believe

In the verbal inspiration of the Bible.

In one God eternally existing in three persons; namely, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

That Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father, conceived of the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary. That Jesus was crucified, buried, and raised from the dead. That He ascended to heaven and is today at the right hand of the Father as the Intercessor.

That all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and that repentance is commanded of God for all and necessary for forgiveness of sins.

That justification, regeneration, and the new birth are wrought by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.

In sanctification subsequent to the new birth, through faith in the blood of Christ; through the Word, and by the Holy Ghost.

Holiness to be God’s standard of living for His people.

In the baptism with the Holy Ghost subsequent to a clean heart.

In speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance and that it is the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

In water baptism by immersion, and all who repent should be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Divine healing is provided for all in the atonement.

In the Lord’s Supper and washing of the saints’ feet.

In the premillennial second coming of Jesus. First, to resurrect the righteous dead and to catch away the living saints to Him in the air. Second, to reign on the earth a thousand years.

In the bodily resurrection; eternal life for the righteous, and eternal punishment for the wicked.

Vision Statement:

Christ the Rock Church of God is a church that is formulated and exists upon the foundation of Jesus Christ as described in Matthew 16:13-19. Our church is made up of Followers of Jesus, who are committed to advancing the Kingdom of God, and living life in such a manner so as to honor the Lord Jesus Christ!

Mission Statement:

Because the life of a Follower of Jesus is a formative process, the following “keys” will be how we will fulfill the Vision the Lord has given us:

Through the centrality of the Lordship of Jesus Christ!
Through the preaching and teaching of the Word of God in an unadulterated context!
Through the enablement, power, and anointing of the Holy Spirit!
Through the identification and development of each individual’s Spiritual Giftings!
Through the genuine heartfelt Praise and Worship of Christ!
Through outreach, recovery, and supportive Ministerial endeavors!
Through Fellowship opportunities to promote a “Familial” relationship!
Through Ministry Endeavors that are directed towards various groups!
Through seeking Genuine Revival by seeking the Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ to be more deeply manifested in our lives: Personal, in our Family, in our Church, in our Communities, and in our Nation!
Through seeking and facilitating the Last Days outpouring of the Holy Spirit and His enablement, as prophesied in Joel 2:28-29, fulfilled in Acts 2:4, and available for each of Christ’s Followers today for the proclamation and validation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Through the utilization of various “Media” and Media Ministries!
Through seeking the unity of the body of Christ by bringing together Followers of Jesus from various denominational backgrounds for the purpose of combined worship, fellowship, networking, and ministry!

With these items in place, we seek to fulfill the vision the Lord has given us, and to become that Church Jesus described in Matthew 16 as a “Christ-Exalting; Holy Spirit-Empowered force; “that the gates of hell cannot resist” for the city of Knoxville and its surrounding communities!

History

Christ the Rock Church of God began September 12, 2004 in the living room of our Pastors, Steve and Kelley Gardner. Shortly thereafter, we moved into the Disabled American Veteran's building in Fountain City. In 2006, the Lord blessed us with a new building!

In 2006, we moved into our new and current building at 4306 Washington Pike in Knoxville Tennessee! Since that time, we have been seeking ways to reach our community with the love and power of the Lord Jesus Christ and His message!