The Rock of Israel Congregation

About Our Messianic Synagogue

The Rock of Israel Congregation is a Messianic group of both Jewish and non-Jewish believers in Yeshua (Jesus) as the promised Messiah. This Messianic Synagogue is part of the fulfillment of the “One New Man” written of in Ephesians 2:15. Come and visit with us, and you will find a family that will warmly welcome you. Come and grow in your own personal relationship with the King of Kings and discover your purpose for which you were created. Come and learn the deeper meanings of the Holy Scriptures from both the Old and New Covenants from the Hebrew perspective. Come and expect to be transformed (Romans 12:2).  We have a main campus located in Hickory, NC, which offers Saturday Shabbat Services at 10:30 am and a satellite location in Mooresville, NC, which offers Saturday Shabbat Services at 4:00 pm.

Our Mission

Our Mission is to Minister to the Needs of Our Members and Our Community through the Teaching of Biblical Core Values from a Judeo-Centered Messianic Point of View while Seeking to Enrich Lives and Propagate the Spread and Understanding of The Gospel of Yeshua (Jesus) The Messiah.

Our vision

We dream big knowing when we reach the end of our ability, this is when His perfect strength is made manifest in our weakness.  We persevere and refuse to give up on our appointed mission.  We hold fast to the cultural roots of our faith and refuse to go over the cliff of popular societal insanity.  We hold fast to the Truth of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation; this is the only Truth.

Our Purpose

We exist to seek and save the lost among both the Jewish people and those who are not of Jewish descent.  We are called to be a peculiar people and firmly believe we accomplish this by endeavoring to adhere to a Torah observant lifestyle.  We teach and lead our congregation family to study the Bible and walk out our faith in Yeshua (Jesus) by mirroring the first century believers as much as we are able.  We seek to encourage believers outside our fellowship to go deeper in their understanding of Scripture and to follow our Messiah more closely as we all walk out the process of sanctification.  We empower our brothers and sisters in Messiah to become bond servants to the King, ministering to the needs of the Body as well as the community in which we live. 

Our Values

 We value integrity, transparency, loyalty, honesty, and unwavering determination. 

Our Beliefs

We are a Messianic Synagogue Congregation who believes in the entire Word of G-d, from Genesis through Revelation.  As Rabbi Sha'ul, the Apostle Paul, taught the Torah is the foundation of our faith.  We believe the Old Covenant is the Renewed Covenant concealed.  We likewise believe that the Renewed Covenant is the Old Covenant revealed.  Is it hard to follow Yeshua the way the first century church did?  One of the great teachers of the Law (Torah) named Hillel was told by a gentile that he would convert if Hillel could teach him Torah in the time he could stand on one foot.  Hillel replied, "That's easy.  That which is hateful to you do not do to another.  Everything else is commentary.  Go and study it."  You don't have to already have great knowledge.  Just come and start learning at your level and at your own pace.  We are all here to help one another on our journey. 

We believe that Christianity is not and was never intended to be a new religion, rather all who believe in Yeshua are grafted into the vine.  In other words, we are adopted into the Jewish family.  We will stand unwaveringly upon the Rock of Our Salvation, Yeshua.  We will study and apply the Word daily in our lives, no matter the cost.  We will walk alongside the church family and support them in every way possible.  We will reach out to the lost and encourage other believers outside of our congregation to live a more Torah observant lifestyle.  We will support our congregation generously, taking ownership for its health, growth, and mission.  We will honor all of the appointed Feasts of ADONAI in Leviticus 23, including the Shabbat.  We will not fail because the Ruach Ha-Kodesh (Holy Spirit) will direct our paths and order our steps of the leadership of this congregational family. Shalom.

Unity

We believe Yeshua, (Jesus) is the only begotten Son of the Living G-d, born of a virgin.  We believe He lived a perfect, sinless life.  We believe He was made to be cursed in our place, and He atoned for our sins once for all.   

Liberty

We believe Yeshua died on the execution stake as our Pesach (Passover) Lamb.  We believe He rose from the dead on the third day and sits at the right hand of the Almighty G-d.  

Love

We believe that the keeping of the Mitzveh (instructions or commands) of the Torah do not save us.  Rather keeping the Mitzveh of the Torah is a lifelong process of observance that goes to our sanctification, being made Holy or set apart for the L-RD, demonstrating that we love Him and wish to follow Yeshua's example of obedience.  John 14:15:  "If you love Me, keep my commandments."  

Salvation

We believe that salvation is indeed a FREE Gift, NOT of works lest any man shall boast (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:9). At no time do we do enough to earn our salvation.  It is ALWAYS Yeshua's blood that saves us daily!  

Baptism

We believe in baptism by immersion.  

Appointed Times

We believe that all the appointed times spoken of in Leviticus 23 are still valid today.  These include the observance of Shabbat, the Sabbath on the seventh day (Saturday) to make it Holy.  We observe the Spring Feasts of ADONAI; Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, Feast of First Fruits and Shavuot (Pentecost).  We also keep the Fall Feasts of ADONAI; Yom Teruah (Feast of Trumpets), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), and Sukkot (Feast of Booths/Tabernacles, of In-Gathering).  

Eternity

We believe in the rapture of the Body of Messiah.  We believe we will all return with Messiah to rule and reign with Him for 1,000 years.  We believe we will forever-more be with Him in Glory, Hallelujah!

 Who We Are

Our Team & Leadership

Rabbi Jeff Grillo, along with his wife Anna, son Joshua, and daughter Emily serve here at the Rock of Israel Congregation.  The family has been part of the Congregation since its inception, originally meeting in the family home and then branching out to hold Bible studies in various homes and churches.  In 2014, services officially began being held as guests of the Lifepoint Church. Rabbi Grillo and the congregation united in prayer in December of 2023 to "expand its tent pegs" and the prayer was quickly brought to fruition. In March of 2024, G-d moved the congregation to its own building located at 1405 2nd St Dr SW, Hickory, NC 28602.  Today, we gratefully have grown to a diverse team of men and women that diligently serve the congregation and community with a heart for their Creator and Savior.

Grace in the Shadows Podcast Episode 119

Overcoming Adversity

Grace in the Shadows Podcast Episode 120

Unveiling Israel's Future

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Rabbi Jeff Grillo

Congregation Leader

Book a Phone Call with Rabbi Jeff

Rabbi Jeff has a Bachelor's degree in Pastoral Ministries.  He attended Southeastern University and graduated from Christian Bible College and Seminary.  He is credentialed under the Assemblies of G-d as well as a member of the National Jewish Fellowship of the Assemblies of G-d.

Rabbi Jeff has a bit of an unusual background.  He happens to be blind.  He lost his sight as a result of an hereditary degenerative retinal condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa.  He is also a cancer survivor.  In 1991, he was diagnosed with two forms of testicular cancer at the same time.  One form had a 90% fatality rate.  He is a walking miracle and testament to the awesome power and providence of our G-d!

Determined to turn around all of his challenges into blessings to as many individuals as possible, Rabbi Jeff wrote and published two books, the latest in 2015, which is called, "The Excuse Assassin."  The L-RD used his books which tell of his challenges with blindness, cancer, heart and other health and life issues to reach many around the world with the Gospel.  G-d opened the door for him to do many interviews.  He has appeared on CTN (Christian Television Network), Dove Broadcasting, TCT, and Atlanta LIVE as well as radio station interviews and podcasts on secular stations WBSM and WHKY in Massachusetts and North Carolina respectively.  He credits ALL to the Glory of the Most High G-d!

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Power in Perseverance by Jeffrey J. Grillo

Rabbi Jeff offers a message of hope in his book, Power in Perseverance. He tells his story of overcoming major life obstacles, one after the other- blindness, two forms of malignant cancer, debt and more!

Power In Perseverance: Grillo, Jeffrey J: 9798333484390: Amazon.com: Books

 

 

The Rock of Israel Congregation Leadership Team

Meet Our Congregation Leaders, Elders & Volunteers

Rabbi Jeff Grillo

  • Head Rabbi
  • Worship Team Leader
  • Worship Team Pianist
  • Worship Team Guitarist
  • Author, Speaker, Podcaster

Anna Grillo Rebbetzin

  • Congregation Treasurer
  • Children's Yeshiva Director

Joshua Grillo

  • Associate Rabbi
  • Homeless Ministry Leader 
  • Youth Group Leader
  • Tech Booth Co-Leader

Emily Grillo

  • Nursery Volunteer
  • Tech Booth Operator

Louis Gagne, Jr

  • Elder
  • Nursing Home Ministry Leader
  • Building Maintenance Leader

Elaine Gagne

  • Congregation Secretary
  • Eldress
  • Tech Leader
  • Sisterhood Leader
  • Website Developer

Ari Bauza

  • Elder
  • Brotherhood Co-Leader

Sara Bauza

  • Eldress
  • Oneg Committee Volunteer

David Helton

  • Worship Team Leader
  • Worship Team Singer
  • Worship Team Guitarist
  • Hebrew Language Instructor

Michelle Shelly

  • Worship Team Leader
  • Nursing Home Volunteer

David Shrader

  • Brotherhood Leader 

Bridgette Woodcock

  • Hospitality Director
  • Oneg Committee Leader
  • Worship Team Singer
  • Nursery Volunteer
  • Greeter

James Carroll

  • Worship Team Violinist

Arielle Bauza

  • Worship Team Singer 
  • Guitarist

Jesse Haynes

  • Men's Yeshiva Candidate
  • Worship Team Drummer
  • Worship Team Guitarist 

Jessica Haynes

  • Worship Team Singer
  • Worship Team Guitarist 

Candice Jones

  • Worship Team Singer
  • Worship Flag Bearer
  • Children's Yeshiva
  • Homeless Ministry Volunteer

Zachariah Karp

  • Hebrew Language Instructor

Elizabetha Karp

  • Hebrew Lanuage Instructor

Bill Shelly

  • Sound Booth Engineer

Joshua Fortney

  • Building Housekeeping
  • Shofar

Jeff Keever

  • Building Maintenance
  • Shofar

Raynette Fortney 

  • Building Housekeeping

Janet Keever

  • Oneg Committee 

Vicky Shrader

  • Oneg Committee
  • Nursing Home Volunteer

Lisa Pope

  • Oneg Committee

TBD

  • Oneg Committee

TBD

  • Greeter TBD

What ROIC Congregation Members & Others Say About Us

Why We Love ROIC

Michael P.

Local Guide (83 Reviews) Google Review

∗∗∗∗∗ Five Stars

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Angel

Local Guide (Level 5) Google Review

∗∗∗∗∗ Five Stars

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David H.

Local Guide (Level 5) Google Review

∗∗∗∗∗ Five Stars

Awesome place, friendly people who love digging into the original Hebrew meaning of the Bible

Link to Review

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Debbie H.

(4 Reviews/Contributions) Google Review

∗∗∗∗∗ Five Stars

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Robbie A.

(4 Reviews) Google Review

∗∗∗∗∗ Five Stars

Wonderful Rabbi, wonderful congregation! They have a passion for Yeshua!

Link to Review

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Monica M.

(4 Reviews) Google Review

∗∗∗∗∗ Five Stars

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Carol W.

(2 Reviews 1 Photo) Google Review

∗∗∗∗∗ Five Stars 

Adonai, is truly in this place. I enjoy the gathering of the loving like minded believers. The overview of the weekly Torah portion, presented by Elder Jim is so refreshing and informative. Our Rabbi Jeff always has a timely word and the worship is sweet.

Link to Review

Google-Review-ROIC-Candice-Jones-Icon

Candice J.

(3 Reviews) Google Review

∗∗∗∗∗ Five Stars

Ever since attending The Rock of Israel Congregation I’ve learned so much and gained another family. The very first Sabbath I felt so welcomed and felt such a warm atmosphere. It is a place where anyone is welcomed and loved! Shalom!

Link to Review

Contact Us

We Support & collaborate With many Jewish & Christian Non-Profit Organizations in an effort to seek and reach as many people as possible with the everlasting Gospel of Yeshua HaMashiach

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