Our Story

The story of The Rock Church began long before the community ever gathered. In 1895, Mrs. E. E. Wiley, a widow, opened her heart and her home to a homeless child, eventually establishing an orphanage that would later be known as Holston Home for Children. The mission of Holston Home is to provide hope and healing for a brighter future by sharing the love of Jesus with children and families struggling with life’s challenges. Sometimes children are unable to live at home, and Holston Home provides one. Holston Home believes that everyone should have an opportunity to encounter the love of God, and that Jesus is the solution to every struggle or uncertainty our youth and families face.

 For decades, Holston Home prayed about building a church building on its campus for the children. In 2019, The Rock Church was finished and the vision was expanded as Holston decided to open its doors to the public. The Lord quickly started filling the building with locals and missionaries alike with a heart to passionately worship, grow in discipleship, and serve the lost and broken in Appalachia.

You’ll find us serving in jails, homes, rehabs, churches, and communities—really, anywhere brokenness exists. We’re driven by a deep desire to passionately worship God, become more like Jesus, and follow Him in simplicity with radical obedience, bringing His redemption, healing, and love to everyone who needs it—wherever He leads. We welcome you to join us.