Who We Are...

Our Vision
"Joy Community Church is a multicultural people reaching across the generations with the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ establishing the family of God as a center for wholeness & outreach."

Our Faith

We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16,17).

We believe in the triune Godhead as eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 13:14).

We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed Blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His present priestly ministry (Ro. 1:4; Matt. 1:18; 2 Cor. 5:21; Matt. 4:23,24; Ro. 3:25,26; 1 Jo. 1:7; Heb. 7:25).

We believe in evangelistic and missionary fervor and endeavor (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15-18).

We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential. We further believe in the keeping power of God (Heb. 9:22; Jude 24,25; Tit. 3:5).

We believe that sanctification, holiness, and the overcoming life are God's design for the Church, which is the Bride of Christ (Eph. 5:25-27).

We believe that sexual purity is a necessary expression for all of God's children, and requires abstinence from adultery, fornication, incest, homosexuality, and other sexual relationships or practices forbidden by Scripture (Heb. 13:4; 1 Cor. 6:18; Lev. 18:1-30; Gal. 5:19).

We believe that marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime, and a sacred institution established by God (Matt. 19:4-6).

We believe that since mankind is created in God's image, human life is of inestimable worth and significance in all its dimensions, from conception to the grave (Gen. 1:27; Ps. 139:13,14).

We believe that water baptism is for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and is to be administered by immersion, thus bearing witness to the gospel of Christ's death, burial and resurrection for us, and our own new life in Him (Matt. 28:19; Ro. 6:4).

We believe that communion, when shared by believers, witnesses to the saving power of the gospel, to Christ's presence in His church, and looks forward to His victorious return (1 Cor. 11:23-26).

We believe in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit as on the day of Pentecost, and in the continuing ministry of the Holy Spirit, as evidenced in charismatic gifts and ministries, and in the fruit of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer (Acts 2:4, 10:46, 19:6; Eph. 4:11; 1 Cor. 12:8-11; Gal. 5:22,23).

We believe that divine healing is obtained on the basis of the Atonement (1 Pet. 2:24; Matt. 8:17).

We believe in Christ's imminent personal return in power and great glory, and in His present and everlasting dominion (Acts 1:11; Rev. 1:7; Dan. 7:14).

We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto eternal life, and they that are lost unto eternal punishment (John 5:28,29; Rev. 20:15).

We believe that it is the duty and privilege of every believer to, within his ability, support the local assembly with his regular presence, giving and service (Heb. 10:25; 2 Cor. 8,9; 1 Pet. 4:10).

We believe that tithing, accompanied by free-will offerings, is God's ordained method to finance the spreading of the Gospel and the needs of the local assembly (Mal. 3:812; 2 Cor. 8,9).

The Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:

Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
    born of the Virgin Mary,
    suffered under Pontius Pilate,
    was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell.

The third day He arose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy *catholic church,
    the communion of saints,
    the forgiveness of sins,
    the resurrection of the body,
    and life everlasting.

Amen.

*The word "catholic" refers not to the Roman Catholic Church, but to the universal church of the Lord Jesus Christ.

A Brief History

In the late 1970's and early 1980's, during the Catholic Charismatic Renewal movement, a prayer meeting grew up in the Rochester area, attended by members of several area Catholic churches. This group functioned under the leadership of Al Gerhardt and a core group of people. By 1980, the group saw a need to incorporate as a non-profit organization and established a board of trustees.

In 1982, when New Covenant Church in Penfield, NY donated a church building in Bushnell's Basin to the group, they decided to incorporate as New Jerusalem Community Church (NJCC) with Al Gerhardt as pastor.

Following the influence of leaders such as Bob Mumford and Derik Prince in a movement known as New Wine, NJCC committed themselves to discipleship and covenant relationships in the context of a Christian community under the headship of Christ. It is these committed relationships which form the building blocks at the very core of the churchâ€™s foundation.

In 1986, encouraged through his affiliation with Elim Fellowship, Pastor Al Gerhardt prayerfully decided to make the move back to the city, purchasing their current building, the former Profetta Funeral Home. For the next 20 years NJCC reached out and impacted the neighborhood and the world at large.

In the spring of 2004, while fighting an illness, Pastor Al decided to retire and the search for God's replacement started. At the same time Pastor Tony, who was overseeing a growing church in New Jersey heard the Lord speak to him that he was to move back to Rochester and to minister in the city itself. Pastor Tony was a good friend of Pastor Al's and when he heard that the church was looking for a new shepherd he believed that was where the Lord was bringing him, though he did not speak this until he was selected.

Pastor Al was glad and blessed Pastor Tony and not too long after the Lord took our beloved Pastor Al home in peace. A new season began for us in June 2004 with the installation of Pastor Tony. At that time the Lord began to speak of 'enlarging our tent' and that the growth that He has spoken for many years was about to start. Since then we have seen much growth and refreshing newness and plans are being put in place for our expansion. This included the purchase and renovation of the 19th century building next door that for so long had been a

blight of the neighborhood.

While looking back, hopefully you see a little of our future. The Lord has laid a good foundation and while the darkness presses in on us, we see a lighthouse posed ready to bring in many of those searching for the light of salvation.