A House of Prayer in Millersville
Church on the Rock sits on Old Mill Road in Millersville, Maryland, a nondenominational congregation that frames its life around a single verse: "My house shall be called a house of prayer." Members describe themselves as a praying people first and a programming church second, and that priority shows up everywhere from the Sunday gathering to the smallest midweek group. The church's motto in practice is that the Christian life is lived in community, not isolation, so everything from Bible study to men's breakfast exists to put people around a table together.
Gospel Community: The Center of Everything
The phrase "Gospel Community" is used so often on the church's own pages that it functions as a brand within a brand. The church teaches that Jesus did not die to rescue isolated individuals but to create a new community of people living in the Spirit, so every member is urged to join a community group and serve on a ministry team. The goal of these groups is to live out the Bible's "one another" verses together: love one another, honor one another, forgive one another, carry one another's burdens, encourage one another, and speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
Each group has the autonomy to set its own schedule and study, working with the elders and the senior pastor. Current groups include a Tuesday 10:00 a.m. women's group led by Terri Decarli at the church, a Tuesday 7:00 p.m. group led by Elder Guy Pounguen at the church, a Wednesday 7:00 p.m. men's FaceTime meeting with Elder Rod Jarrett, Saturday-morning men's and women's groups meeting at varied locations, and a monthly men's breakfast at Panera in Pasadena led by Dr. Morales. On the first Saturday of each month at 8:00 a.m., Pastor John hosts a prayer gathering at the church, open to anyone who wants to start the day on their knees.
Sunday Meeting at 10:00 a.m.
The main weekly gathering is the Sunday Meeting at 10:00 a.m. A typical morning runs through singing, an uplifting and inspiring message, and a chance to get to know one another. Ushers and greeters meet visitors at the door, help them find a seat, and answer questions. The teaching is Bible-centered, and the music is spirited without being formal, fitting the church's nondenominational, evangelical lean.
What to Expect on Your First Visit
The church's own "I'm New" page sets expectations plainly. Dress runs from casual to business suits, and the welcome is the same either way. Families with children can drop them off with dedicated workers in the nursery or children's church, where kids hear the Bible at their own level. The body of the service includes prayer time and fellowship, so even a first-time visitor is folded into the room rather than observed from the back.
Tuesday Bible Study, Mornings and Evenings
Bible study is offered twice on Tuesdays, at 10:00 a.m. and again at 7:00 p.m., so working schedules, school runs, and energy levels are all accommodated. The Tuesday 10:00 a.m. study is also where the women's Gospel Community group meets, and the 7:00 p.m. session connects to Elder's community group. Both are open to visitors.
Recovery and Prayer on Thursdays and Saturdays
On Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m., the building opens for a Narcotics Anonymous meeting, a steady recovery presence that the church hosts for the wider community. Saturday mornings carry a similar spirit: Pastor John hosts prayer at 8:00 a.m. on the first Saturday of each month, with community groups gathering at 11:00 a.m. on most Saturdays in homes and at the church.
What the Church Believes
Church on the Rock publishes a plain statement of faith that reads like a Sunday-school primer. The Bible is the infallible Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit. There is one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Humanity was made in God's image but is separated from him by sin, and salvation comes only through faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, by grace and not by works. Hell is real, Jesus will return for those who believe, baptism is by full immersion, sanctification is the Spirit's ongoing work, divine healing covers body, mind, emotions, and spirit, and spiritual gifts are active and relevant today.
The statement also reflects the church's social heart: God loves all people, and the body of Christ is called to reach out to those who are poor, oppressed, widowed, orphaned, and brokenhearted.
Five Fronts of Prayer
Prayer is given its own page and is structured around five circles: the individual (a daily personal prayer life, following his pattern of withdrawing to a quiet place), the family (praying with and for one's household each day), the church (a praying church, not just one that holds prayer meetings), the community (praying with other believers in the region and presenting a united front), and the world (praying for the salvation of the nations).
Serving and Ministry Teams
The church teaches that every believer is a vital organ in the body of Christ, and members are urged to serve not out of duty but out of the overflow of joy in him. Visible ministry teams include Sunday Connections (ushers and greeters), Children's Ministry and Nursery, and Property Care. A community group and a ministry team are the two main pathways of belonging for anyone who walks in the door.
Meet the Pastor
Senior Pastor John A. Krach Jr. brings more than forty-five years of ministry experience to the pulpit and has served in various Christian organizations and traveled to over a dozen countries sharing God's Word. A U.S. Army veteran who served in units including the 82nd Airborne Division, he has been married to his wife Linda for more than thirty-eight years. They have two sons, Erich and Andrew, and a daughter, Katie, and are the proud grandparents of Owen and Liam.
Getting Connected and Giving
Online giving is available through the church's giving page, and a dedicated prayer request form lets people send requests to the prayer team. The church keeps an active Facebook presence and updates a YouTube channel under the handle mdcotrvideo for video content.