NEW HOPE

Rev. Jacob “Jake” Rock was born and raised in South Minneapolis. He became a member of New Hope Baptist Church through baptism on 8/6/2000. As a disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ at New Hope Baptist Church, he has served as worship team member, church treasurer, interim pastor, full-time pastor, and was ordained as a minister on 7/17/2005.

Jake is a graduate of The School of Urban Ministry (Diploma in Cross-Cultural Urban Ministry, 2006); Ashworth College (A.S. in Business Management, 2007); The University of Georgia (Certificate in Music, 2009);and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s Midwestern Baptist College, SBC (Diploma in Christian Ministries, 2009; Diploma in Church Planting, 2011). Jake has taught Intro to Cross Cultural Studies and Church Planting Strategy for Midwestern and will be teaching The Gospels and Christian Doctrine I and II in 2012. He has been certified in volunteer leadership by MAVA and has a mini- MBA in Non- Profit Management from the University of St. Thomas. He is currently pursuing a Diploma in Biblical Studies from Midwestern.

Jake has served as moderator of the Twin Cities Metro Baptist Association, member of the executive board of The Minnesota/Wisconsin Baptist Convention, and is in his 4th term as board member/treasurer of The Phillips West Neighborhood Organization. In 2009 he was the recipient of “The Wendell Phillips Award” for outstanding service in Minneapolis’ Phillips community.

Jake and Brittany met at church and were married in 2007. Brittany is from Beloit, WI and moved to Minneapolis for college in 2003. She is a graduate of North Central University (Bachelor’s degree in Church Music, 2009) and The University of Georgia (Fundamentals of Supervision and Management, 2011). Brittany works full-time in retail management and serves the church as worship leader. They have one son, Antioch Zane. Jake and Brittany live in South Minneapolis and enjoy movies, the lakes, snowmobiling, sports (proud owners of the Green Bay Packers), music, and video games. Jake practices Indonesian Martial Arts and enjoys all things heavy metal. Brittany loves long-distance running and her Sheltie, Mrs. Tadakichi.

How to become a Christian

You’re not here by accident. God loves you. He wants you to have a personal relationship with Him through Jesus, His Son. There is just one thing that separates you from God. That one thing is sin.

The Bible describes sin in many ways. Most simply, sin is our failure to measure up to God’s holiness and His righteous standards. We sin by things we do, choices we make, attitudes we show, and thoughts we entertain. We also sin when we fail to do right things. The Bible affirms our own experience – “there is none righteous, not even one.” No matter how good we try to be, none of us does right things all the time.

People tend to divide themselves into groups - good people and bad people. But God says that every person who has ever lived is a sinner, and that any sin separates us from God. No matter how we might classify ourselves, this includes you and me. We are all sinners.

“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

Many people are confused about the way to God. Some think they will be punished or rewarded according to how good they are. Some think they should make things right in their lives before they try to come to God. Others find it hard to understand how Jesus could love them when other people don’t seem to. But I have great news for you! God DOES love you! More than you can ever imagine! And there’s nothing you can do to make Him stop! Yes, our sins demand punishment - the punishment of death and separation from God. But, because of His great love, God sent His only Son Jesus to die for our sins.

“God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

For you to come to God you have to get rid of your sin problem. But, in our own strength, not one of us can do this! You can’t make yourself right with God by being a better person. Only God can rescue us from our sins. He is willing to do this not because of anything you can offer Him, but JUST BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU!

“He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.” Titus 3:5

It’s God’s grace that allows you to come to Him - not your efforts to “clean up your life” or work your way to Heaven. You can’t earn it. It’s a free gift.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

For you to come to God, the penalty for your sin must be paid. God’s gift to you is His son, Jesus, who paid the debt for you when He died on the Cross.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Jesus paid the price for your sin and mine by giving His life on a cross at a place called Calvary, just outside of the city walls of Jerusalem in ancient Israel. God brought Jesus back from the dead. He provided the way for you to have a personal relationship with Him through Jesus. When we realize how deeply our sin grieves the heart of God and how desperately we need a Savior, we are ready to receive God’s offer of salvation. To admit we are sinners means turning away from our sin and selfishness and turning to follow Jesus. The Bible word for this is “repentance” - to change our thinking about how grievous sin is, so our thinking is in line with God’s.

All that’s left for you to do is to accept the gift that Jesus is holding out for you right now.

“If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10

God says that if you believe in His son, Jesus, you can live forever with Him in glory.

“For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Are you ready to accept the gift of eternal life that Jesus is offering you right now? Let’s review what this commitment involves:

I acknowledge I am a sinner in need of a Savior - this is to repent or turn away from sin

I believe in my heart that God raised Jesus from the dead - this is to trust that Jesus paid the full penalty for my sins

I confess Jesus as my Lord and my God - this is to surrender control of my life to Jesus

I receive Jesus as my Savior forever - this is to accept that God has done for me and in me what He promised

If it is your sincere desire to receive Jesus into your heart as your personal Lord and Savior, then talk to God from your heart:

Here’s a Suggested Prayer:

“Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I do not deserve eternal life. But, I believe You died and rose from the grave to make me a new creation and to prepare me to dwell in your presence forever. Jesus, come into my life, take control of my life, forgive my sins and save me. I am now placing my trust in You alone for my salvation and I accept your free gift of eternal life.”

If you have trusted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, please let us know. We want to rejoice in what God has done in your life and help you to grow spiritually.

If you have questions or concerns you would like help with, please call or write and let us know. We’re here to help you understand the love that Jesus is offering you for free, no matter who or where you are.

Church mission, values, & vision

Mission Statement: “Passionately Seeking & Speaking the Love of Jesus Christ.”

Core Values:
1.TRUTH: Psalm 86:11.
2.PRAYER: 1 Thessalonians 5:17
3.PROCLAMATION: Acts 3:6
4.TRUST: Exodus 4:2

Vision Statement: “A New Antioch”

Darkened streets and alleyways illuminated by the light of the world. Homes and families warmed by the Gospel fire. Broken souls and hardened hearts healed by the power of God’s love. A place no longer known, judged, or condemned by the standards and statistics of the world, but one that reaches the commands and ordinances of God through the reconciliation of the messiah, Jesus Christ. God’s word gives us a vision of His city in Rev. 7:9 “After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.” This is our model, our template for the vision of our city, a city of God.

Through worship and service to the King of Kings, we will see God use New Hope Baptist Church to impact our community as part of His greater Kingdom’s redemptive plan to transform Minneapolis into a city of God. God has given us a purpose through His sovereignty and His Word, He has fought and won the battle through grace by His son, and He has gifted us with power and wisdom through the Holy Spirit. We see Minneapolis becoming a headquarters for Kingdom advancement, a new Antioch.

Why wait? God is at work building His Kingdom; we gladly join Him in His harvest field. God is doing His part, let’s do ours!

Matthew 9: 35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”