THE CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST is a Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in which the word of God is preached, ordinances are administered and the doctrine of sanctification or holiness is emphasized, as being essential to the salvation of mankind.
Our Church is commonly known as being Holiness or Pentecostal in nature because of the importance ascribed to the events which occurred on the Day of Pentecost, the 50th day after the Passover, or Easter as being necessary for all believers in Christ Jesus to experience.
Peter Rock Church of God in Christ has been in existence since 1957; however, the founder Allen Smith, Sr. and his wife Revanell Smith has been in the ministry since 1948. The church started in the home of Pastor Smith/Missionary Smith and after their family started to grow, it moved to Gary’s Small Farms; nevertheless, the church grew since then and is now located on Gary’s southwest side.
Today, the son of Pastor Allen Smith, Sr is the current pastor and is leading the church to continue the vision of the community outreach of the founders in helping the unchurched to realize the power of God’s Spirit. Pastor Allen Smith, Jr. with his wife, Vickie L. Smith is focused on loving the Church, the Congregation, and the Community to transform into an abundant life in Christ. Peter Rock COGIC is a Holiness church that uses Worship, Word, and Work to transform the saved and the unsaved community into mature saints.
At Peter Rock Church of God in Christ, the church’s mission is to be victorious at winning souls to Christ by becoming disciples, growing in maturity, and taking our passion and love to help the community see the goodness and redeeming power of Christ in our lives.
The vision of Peter’s Rock COGIC, a Pentecostal/Holiness church, will be to develop the membership to recognize their potential by discovering new attitudes and motivation in Christendom and community efforts. The goals are to become spirit-driven, biblical-based, and discipleship directed to bring the word of God, passionate outreach, and innovative programs to stimulate the community by recognizing the power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of all who hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. Utilizing all resources in our outreach ministries, Peter Rock COGIC will bring about real and lasting change in our community by focusing on five core areas:
Changing the lives of the Unchurched will be our primary focus by giving hope and meeting the physical and spiritual needs of the down trotted and the unchurched. Educating and modeling how to live above the hopelessness and dejection of the community will give purpose and hope to our community.
As we grow in Christian maturity, our outreach to the community will include helping the unchurched to realize the need for the Christian life. Bringing the gospel and educating the unchurched to know God’s redemptive work; for that reason, we will develop leaders to take the word of God to the community.
Therefore, the foundation of the Mission, Vision, and Purpose of Peter Rock is to reach, grow, and send out the congregation to reach the unchurched through life-changing ministries/programs.
We believe the Bible to be the inspired and only infallible written Word of God.
We believe that there is only One God, eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son and, God the Holy Spirit.
We believe in the blessed Hope, which is the rapture of the Church of God, which is in Christ, at His return.
We believe that the only means of being cleansed from sin is through repentance and faith in the precious Blood of Jesus Christ.
We believe that regeneration by the Holy Ghost is absolutely essential for personal salvation.
We believe that the redemptive work of Christ on the Cross provides healing for the human body in answer to believing prayer.
We believe that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, according to Acts 2:4, is given to believers who ask for it.
We believe in the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a holy and separated life in the present world.