ROC 3:22 is based on Jeremiah 3:22 – “Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding.”  “Yes, we will come to you, for you are the Lord our God.” (NIV)

In the summer of 2005, we felt the calling from the Lord to help restore the youth of Chicago.  We knew we would not be able to help restore a city if we couldn’t strive to restore ourselves, so we resorted to prayer.  That summer, the ministry began as a simple prayer group amongst a few people; little did we realize that no prayer group was just a “simple prayer group.”  We began spending more time with God in Worship, Prayer, and reading His Word, and after seeking direction from God, ROC 3:22 began to reach out to the surrounding communities in a unique way Chicago has not encountered.

In December of 2006, ROC 3:22 hosted our first event, The Battle of Bands – the response from the community was extremely positive and young people began to connect with one another by forming bands of their own, small groups within their own churches, and branded new friendships with fellow believers.  ROC3:22 started out as a prayer group seeking guidance, and by God’s grace, He has developed us into an organization that hosts city-wide concerts, numerous social gatherings and various small groups around Chicago since its inception.

MISSION:

To develop youth into a community for Christ.

VISION:

Through organizing concerts, social activities, and small groups, we will bring the community together and ROC for God.

After realizing the true calling God has placed on our lives to reach out to the youth of Chicago, we continue to strive to restore ourselves unto God, as we reach out to the youth, in hopes that TOGETHER, we may return, be cured of our backsliding, and RESTORE OUR CITIES, for He truly is the Lord our God.

Restoring Our Cities (ROC)

Restoring:  According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary (bear with us!), there are several meanings of this word:  (1)  give back, return; (2) to put or bring back into existence or use; (3) to bring back to or put back into a former or original state:  RENEW; (4) to put again in possession of something.  In light of this, it is important that we understand that we, as Christians, are continually restoring ourselves back to God.  We were once sinless (the era of the Garden of Eden), but became sinners (through the Fall of Man through Adam), but are restored once again to God through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ.  1 Corinthians 15:22 – “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” (NIV)  We must acknowledge that we are sinners, but Christ’s blood redeems and restores us back to God, so in essence, we must continually return, bring ourselves back to His use, and acknowledge that Christ places us back into a position of our original state; into the possession of God and not of this world.  Colossians 1: 19-20 – “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him [Christ], and through him [Christ] to reconcile to himself [God] all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his [Christ’s] blood, shed on the cross.” (NIV)

Our:  Everything in, above, and below this earth belongs to God; however, He gave us all of it to reach out to the people in it, so we must realize – this is OUR city, this is OUR generation, this is OUR world – He gave us a responsibility, a calling, and it’s up to us to accept it and live up to it!  Genesis 1:26 – “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’” (NIV); Matthew 28:18-20 – “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (NIV)

Cities:  We are currently based in the Chicago-land area; however, we know God has called us to minister to all peoples in today’s generation.  We commit to go as far as God will lead us, in the meantime, we encourage all youth in all cities, regardless of age, sex, beliefs, and race to contact us to get plugged in!  We hope to fulfill God’s calling on our lives to help Restore Our Cities back to God, so that we can become a city that Christ would gladly call His own.

Our events are hosted by our generation, FOR our generation.  Through this, our ministry is able to relate to our surrounding communities by tuning in, listening, and understanding the community’s needs, effectively.  ROC 3:22 creates a welcoming atmosphere for today’s generation by using leaders within the community itself, to help reach out and develop our young people to become more active for the Lord!  We believe that by being ready, willing and able to work together towards a common purpose for our Lord, we will become that community for Christ; radically unashamed, unafraid, and excited to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.