A 1974 Outreach to Spanish-Speaking Miami-Dade
Iglesia La Roca Miami grew out of a 1974 missionary outreach launched by the English-speaking Southwest Community Church to serve the rapidly growing Spanish-speaking population of Miami-Dade County. The work was founded by Freddy Pérez, a Cuban-born believer who had come of age in Havana, settled in South Florida, and prepared for ministry through studies at Florida Bible College. What began as a single Spanish-language congregation on the western edge of metropolitan Miami has, in the half-century since, become a multi-building campus at 10601 SW 48 Street, complete with children's ministry, small-group discipleship, missions outreach, and a younger sister congregation in English.
Three pastors came alongside the founder through the years: Aldo Miranda, a member since 1987 and ordained in 2018; Gerardo "Jerry" Van Dalen, a member since 1980 and ordained in 1995; and Sergio Echezábal, who joined the church in 1985 after eleven years in another Miami congregation and was ordained in 2018. As the Spanish-speaking congregation grew, an English-language ministry called The Rock Miami Church was launched on the same campus in the year 2000 to serve the next generation of English-speaking families in the area.
Today the church describes itself as a non-denominational, Bible-based Christian congregation. Its mission statement reads: "Compartir con toda persona las Buenas Nuevas de Jesucristo, animando a otros a creer en Él, y a ser seguidores de Cristo. Mientras hacemos esto, individuos y familias formarán una iglesia comprometida, amorosa y que dé frutos." Its vision, in two words that frame everything the church does: "Conocer a Dios y darlo a conocer."
Sundays and Wednesdays at 10601 SW 48 Street
Worship is held three times each week, all in Spanish. Two Sunday morning services begin at 9:45 AM and 11:30 AM, with a third gathering on Wednesday evenings at 8:00 PM. Music at the services is contemporary, and the messages are described as inspirational and centered on the Word of Christ. Services are also broadcast live through Vimeo and recorded to La Roca's YouTube channel for later viewing.
The campus sits along SW 48 Street in unincorporated Miami-Dade County and is organized internally into three connected buildings referenced as Edificios A, B, and C. The sanctuary and main auditorium, group meeting rooms, and offices are distributed across the three, with most adult Bible studies, support groups, and weekday ministries gathering in classrooms of Edificio B or C.
The Pastoral Team
Four ordained pastors share the shepherding of the congregation. Freddy Pérez, the founder, was born in Havana, Cuba, in 1949. He prepared for ministry through Bible college studies in Florida, planted La Roca in 1974, and built the church alongside his wife Aurora Guerrero, with whom he has been married since 1975. He is the father of two daughters and grandfather of eight. Today he continues to teach through La Roca's ongoing workshops and Bible studies.
Aldo Miranda is the Director of Grupos Pequeños and was ordained as a pastor in 2018. He has been a member of La Roca since 1987, served as missionary in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic, and led that daughter church until it was institutionalized in 1999 (it continues today as Iglesia La Roca San Pedro de Macorís). Born in Lima, Peru, in 1959, raised in Caracas, Venezuela, and a graduate industrial engineer now working in workers' compensation insurance, he has been married to Lourdes Fernández since 1990. They have three children and three grandchildren.
Gerardo "Jerry" Van Dalen has been a member of La Roca since 1980 and was ordained in 1995. His formal preparation includes a doctorate from the Centro de Estudios Teológicos de la Florida, an MBA from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, a BA in Biology from the University of St. Thomas in Miami, and an associate degree in medical technology from Miami Dade College's medical campus. Born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, in 1958, he has lived in the United States since 1978, has been married to María Elena Álvarez since 1991, and is the father of six children and grandfather of three.
Sergio Echezábal received Christ as his Savior in 1974, was a member of Iglesia Cristiana de Miami for eleven years, and joined La Roca in 1985. Ordained in 2018, he prepared for ministry through theological studies at Florida Bible College and a technical background in electronics, radio, and communications. Born in Miami, Florida, in 1959, he has been married to Vickie Guerrero since 1991. They have two children and three grandchildren.
A small staff handles the church's administration, operations and technology, media production, and accounting.
What La Roca Believes
La Roca identifies itself as a non-denominational, Bible-based Christian congregation and lays out its doctrinal convictions under eight headings: Dios, Padre, Hijo, Espíritu Santo, La Biblia, La Humanidad, Bautismo, and Comunión.
God is confessed as one God in three co-equal persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - the Trinity. The Father is presented as sovereign, who has given human beings the freedom to choose their eternal destiny and desires that all accept His gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ is confessed as perfect God and perfect man, whose sinless life, atoning death on the cross, and bodily resurrection paid in full for the sins of all who believe. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer at the moment of salvation, guides the process of sanctification, and gives spiritual gifts for the edification of the church and the work of ministry.
The Bible is received as the supernaturally inspired, complete, and trustworthy Word of God, the final authority in faith and practice. Salvation is described as a free gift received by grace through faith, with no human effort adding to the finished work of Christ. Believer's baptism by immersion is taught as a public symbol of death, burial, and resurrection with Christ, an act of obedience rather than a requirement for salvation. The Lord's Supper (Communion) is observed regularly as a remembrance of Christ's sacrifice and a symbol of the new covenant in His blood.
The church also teaches tithing (the return of ten percent of one's income to God) as a matter of obedience, gratitude, trust in God's provision, and participation in the work of the Kingdom. La Roca is a member congregation of the Southeast Church Alliance (SECA), an association of independent churches working together across the southeastern United States and beyond.
Small Groups All Around the County
La Roca's signature discipleship path is its network of Grupos Pequeños, under the leadership of Pastor Aldo Miranda. Each week, members gather in homes and on the church campus to study the Word of God, pray together, and care for one another.
Most groups meet on Friday evenings at 8:00 PM, with several meeting at Edificio B on the church campus and others meeting in living rooms across Miami-Dade. Friday groups meet in homes from Kendall, Country Walk, West Miami-Dade, and Hialeah Gardens (with one additional group gathering on Thursday evenings). On-campus groups use classrooms B-202, B-204, B-206, B-208, and B-209 of Edificio B, as well as the lobby of Edificio A. One of the on-campus groups, led by Andrés and Sonia Marcano, focuses specifically on the Ministerio de Sanidad Interior. The current directory of groups, with names and contact information of each leader, is available as a downloadable PDF through the church's online resources section. A few groups welcome participants through a Zoom connection arranged through the church office.
A Church for the Next Generation: Rock Kidz and Homeschooling
Rock Kidz is the church's ministry to children, meeting during the church's main services to evangelize and teach the youngest members of the congregation. Volunteers with a heart for children are always needed to teach, lead small groups, and help with logistics. The ministry's goal is to instruct and equip children and youth so that they, in turn, may know God and make Him known.
Adjacent to Rock Kidz, La Roca supports a growing Homeschooling ministry of around forty families who have chosen home education for their children. The program is built on three pillars - spiritual, academic, and social - and offers resources and shared experience for parents, interactive and collaborative learning activities for students, enrichment courses, educational field trips, and athletic and extracurricular opportunities. Parents benefit from effective teaching strategies, balanced curricular guidance, and a strong mutual support network that includes second-generation homeschoolers and parents with already-graduated children. Interested families are encouraged to connect through the church office.
For Men: Hombres con Propósito
Hombres con Propósito (Men with Purpose) gathers men of all ages on the last Saturday of each month, from 8:00 to 10:00 AM, in Edificio B on the first floor, for a shared breakfast, conversation, and teaching. The group's vision is to provide a place where men can be vulnerable, build meaningful friendships, share their stories, encourage one another, and grow in their walk with Christ.
For Women: Mujeres a Sus Pies and a Weekly Prayer Meeting
Mujeres a Sus Pies (Women at His Feet) is a gathering for women of all ages and backgrounds on the first Saturday of each month at 9:30 AM, providing Bible study, prayer, and fellowship in a confidential and supportive environment. Each meeting is an opportunity to study the Word together, share personal stories, encourage one another, and discover the strength of sisterhood in Christ.
In addition, La Roca hosts a weekly Reunión de Oración (Women's Prayer Meeting) every Tuesday from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM in Edificio C, first floor. The prayer gathering is open to women only.
Walking Through Grief Together: Ministerio de Consolación
The Ministerio de Consolación, which uses the GriefShare program curriculum in Spanish, is a safe, welcoming place for anyone walking through the loss of a loved one. The group meets every Monday at 7:00 PM in Edificio C, Aula 205, and offers structured video teaching, group discussion, and personal prayer. Coordinated by Sonia Quintana and Carmine Vidania, the ministry is open to the community regardless of church membership.
Reaching Beyond Miami: Misiones and Puente de Esperanza
La Roca's outreach takes two complementary forms. The Misiones ministry organizes short-term mission trips to support and help daughter churches in Latin America and the Caribbean. Recent trips have gone to Nicaragua and to the Iglesia Cristiana de San Pedro de Macorís in the Dominican Republic - the daughter congregation that Pastor Aldo Miranda pastored from 1987 until institutionalizing it in 1999.
Puente de Esperanza (Bridge of Hope) is a year-round community outreach that collects clothing, medicines, and Bibles to send to families in need in Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Colombia. Donation boxes are placed around the church before and after services, with extra collection campaigns at certain seasons of the church calendar. Members of both La Roca and the English-speaking The Rock Miami join together to receive, sort, and prepare donations for shipment. The ministry is presented as more than a charitable effort - a mission of faith, compassion, and the gospel that crosses borders.
Strengthening Disciples: Talleres, Sanidad Interior, Evangelism, and More
The Talleres de Sabiduría y Transformación (Workshops of Wisdom and Transformation) provide ongoing Bible-based training in specialized areas of Christian life. Workshops meet on Wednesday evenings during scheduled series and are taught by members of the pastoral team on topics that rotate over the year.
The Ministerio de Sanidad Interior (Inner Healing Ministry) addresses emotional and spiritual wounds through solid biblical teaching, personalized prayer, pastoral counsel, support groups, and special retreats. The ministry works closely with the on-campus small group led by Andrés and Sonia Marcano.
La Roca's Evangelismo (Evangelism) ministry coordinates the welcoming of first-time guests, outreach in the community, and follow-up with newcomers, as well as pastoral care for the sick, those in need, and elderly members of the congregation.
The Alabanza y Adoración (Worship and Praise) ministry is the music team that leads the church's services each week. Members with musical gifts interested in serving are encouraged to reach out to the church office. The Audio Visual and Communications ministry manages sound, lighting, video, photography, design, and La Roca's social media. A small Equipo de Decoración (Decoration Team) refreshes the look of the buildings with each season, festivity, or sermon series.
For those wanting to grow in the basics of the faith, the church offers a downloadable seven-part series called El Cristiano Saludable (The Healthy Christian), built on Acts 2:41-47 and covering salvation and eternal security, baptism, the Bible, prayer, the local church, tithing and giving, and evangelism and discipleship. The series is available in PDF format from La Roca's online resources section.
Messages, Podcasts, and Bible Studies
Each week's sermon is archived on La Roca's YouTube channel, with annual playlists back several years, and a Bible-in-a-year reading plan is available as a PDF download. Sermons are also distributed as a podcast on Spotify and other podcast platforms. La Roca's online Estudios Bíblicos archives a long-running series called "Conoce tu Biblia," covering topics such as Daniel and Revelation, the letter to the Ephesians, the letter to the Galatians, the letter to the Philippians, First Corinthians, a walk through the New Testament, the panorama of the Old Testament, Israel's prophetic history, and Christian salvation.
Giving, Visiting, and Staying Connected
Tithing and offerings are taught as central acts of worship, with several giving channels available. Online giving is available through La Roca's donation portal and through the Givers App, available in the App Store and Play Store. Mobile giving is also supported through Cash App at $ROCKMIA, Venmo at @ROCKMIA, and Zelle at zelle@larocamiami.com. Members and visitors may also give by check or money order mailed to the Accounting Department, by placing envelopes in the baskets or boxes during Sunday services, or by calling the office at 305-559-4851 for instructions on ACH or wire transfers.
Worship services are broadcast live through Vimeo and recorded on La Roca's YouTube channel. Visitors and members can connect with the church office at 305-559-4851 (fax 305-221-2789), by email at info@therockmiami.com, or by WhatsApp at the same phone number. La Roca is active on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Spotify (for the podcast).