First Christian Who We are at First Christian Church  

First Christian Church was established in the Rochester Community in 1881 and has been faithfully serving God and the people of Rochester for over 140 years. First Christian Church is part of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), which is one of the largest Christian denominations founded on United States soil. This affiliation allows us to work together with other congregations in areas of overseas missions and disaster relief as well as providing educated pastors and connections beyond the local congregation. At the same time, this affiliation also allows each congregation autonomy in hiring ministers, theological stances, and financial matters.

What Disciples Believe

Open Communion
The Lord's Supper, or Communion, is celebrated in weekly worship and it is open to all.

The Oneness of the Church
All Christians are called to be one in Christ and to seek opportunities for common witness and service.

Freedom of Belief
As Disciples, we are called together around two essentials of faith: a belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and that Christians are free to follow their conscience guided by the Bible, the Holy Spirit, study, prayer and are expected to extend that freedom to others.

Baptism by Immersion
In baptism, the self-centered life is set aside, washed away and a new life of trust in God begins. Although Disciples practice baptism by immersion, other baptism traditions are honored.

The Ministry of Believers
Both ordained ministers and lay persons lead in worship, service and spirited growth.

And above all that, Jesus Christ is the son of the Living God, who offers saving grace to all who seek it through the Son.

Voice of the Congregation
A few Sundays ago, Pastor Mike asked the congregation where they saw God in the church. Here are some of the answers:
  • When those who are outcasts in the world are welcomed, appreciated, and comforted

  • Song, Message, Children, Sunday School, Communion

  • Acceptance, Love, Kindness, Joy, Forgiveness

  • By helping those in need

  • In the generosity and selflessness of our volunteers

  • Invitation, Communion Table, Hymns

  • Happy children

  • God is revealed in the children in our church. They are eager to learn about God

  • Small group studies

  • Caring loving people, concern for one another and others

  • Communion and when we sing

  • When we reach out to feed the hungry, welcome ALL to the table, help those afflicted by disaster.

  • When a minister is so moved by the Spirit that they are overcome with emotion during the sermon

    • In love

    • In Acceptance

    • In Empathy

    • In Caring

    • In Sharing

    for one another and for ALL of mankind!

  • In how we love each other, help, hold -- touch, letting each of us knows we are loved.


  • The People, Communion, Outreach -- Sharing God's love with others

  • Through the children's moment. They know God loves them and wants them to do things to make Him smile.

  • With people helping in need of food, housing, and emnotional support

  • By supporting each other in times of crisis, The church family communion.

  • In the people / God is most obviously revealed in Nature.

  • What we do for the church and those in the church.

  • God is revealed when we work outside the church building. Community Dinner, Serving Sunday, when our members volunteer.

  • God is revealed on the smiling faces of the children during the children’s message. It’s revealed on our older members as they teach others.

  • Through giving of time and resources. Through membership. Providing food for pantry and monthly dinners.

  • Through the actions of the Children of God

  • Prayer, friendships, volunteering to help others, our young children, hymns, crosses

  • The Community Dinner, Fellowship, Through the love given by the congregation.
  • Community and Fellowship, Thru the Spoken Word.


  • He reveals himself through our congregation. This church body accepts all!
  • Serving others—community dinners, Serving Sunday, calling on shut-ins. Youth—Junior Church, Sunday School, VBS.
  • Take care of children.
  • Community Dinner, blessing box, Daycare. Our group of men who take care of the lawn.
  • The people who gather here to sing and pray. The light shining through our lovely lead glass windows.
  • How: In the caring of our church community –cards, calls, visits, prayers, texts.
  • The beauty of nature that God created. Trees, grass. God’s mercy and grace in helping a friend through a recent medical situation.
  • The people who are friendly and show compassion, God is revealed in the Sunday School classes.
  • God is revealed in the Church through its members who love, share their gifts and serve Jesus and others.
  • Song, Scripture, Sermon, People, Prayers, Through the actions of the Children of God
  • Prayer, friendships, volunteering to help others, our young children, hymns, crosses
  • I SEE FRIENDSHIP AND TOGETHERNESS. LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
  • Through the kindness and compassion of others.
  • Praise Team. He is present in our songs, prayer, and worship. He is also present in our group!
  • Youth Ministry.
  • Worship, Study, Giving, Praying, Support, Education, Encouragement, Teaching/Preaching.
  • Acceptance of ALL individuals. Communion every Sunday. He’s Everywhere: Sunday School, In our hearts, stained glass windows, Community Outreach, Ladies Luncheon.
  • God is revealed through worship and prayer. His presence fills the room whenever we speak his name.
  • Baptisim, Communion, Worship, Healing, Transformed Lives

Our Mission

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is a gathering of people around our Lord Jesus Christ. In short, our mission is to bring people to Christ, grow as disciples, and together serve God.

We live out our mission by teaching, learning, and experiencing the lessons of Jesus in everything we do. Jesus' Great Commandment calls us to love God and love our neighbor as ourselves. With unconditional love and acceptance of individuals, meeting people at the point of their deepest need, and drawing closer to God through prayer, Bible study and worship, we strive to grow into the loving and giving people God wants us to be. It is good to live out the truth that God loves us right where we are but loves us too much to let us stay there.

We are a congregation that supports disaster relief and Christian missions around the world through our affiliation and support of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) denomination as well as serving locally in food, friendship, and teaching ministries.

The leadership of this congregation recognizes the incredibly powerful and positive impact being a follower of Jesus has had in their lives here on earth as well as preparing them for life with God after death. We want to share that power.

Perhaps our mission is best illustrated in worship as we gather around the communion table each Sunday morning. The table is a place where all are invited to share in bread and juice as a means of connecting to Jesus and each other

 

Pastor

Pastor Mike VanHeyningen

Pastor and family

Pastor Mike grew up outside of Cleveland, Ohio before heading off to Bethany College in West Virginia where he graduated with honors with a Bachelor's degree in psychology, then onto Lexington Theological Seminary in Kentucky graduating with a Masters in Divinity degree in 1991. Mike spent the next 19 years serving as the pastor of Crofton Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Crofton, Kentucky. Thanks to some hard work by mutual friends, Mike and Amy fell in love and were married in December of 2001. Their son Will arrived as a late Christmas present in December 2004. The Van Heyningens moved to Rochester and Mike began serving as pastor of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in August 2010. Amy works as a kindergarten teacher at Columbia Elementary School in Rochester and enjoys music and reading. Since arriving in Rochester, the family has taken up boating on Lake Manitou with Will in Cub Scouts and Mike participating in triathlons (swim, bike, run) and occasionally enjoying time in his woodworking shop.

 

Organization

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is a congregational denomination. That means the congregations run the churches. Each church has it's own By-Laws that establish the church organization. First Christian Church's By-Laws establish the groups described below and several standing ministry teams to carry out specific aspects of the work of the church. They are described here.

Click for Bylaws

Executive Team: Board Moderator, Vice Moderator, Board Clerk, Chair of Elders, Pastor -- serves as personnel committee.

Board: meets 10 times a year to carry out the business of the congrgation. The board is made up of congregation officers listed above, plus Deacon chair, Trustee chair, Little Lambs leader, chair of ministry teams and representative of other major groups like Disciple Women and Youth.

Little Lambs Daycare: is a ministry of this congregation dedicated to providing quality, affordable childcare in a Christian atmosphere. Little Lambs has their own board which is made up of church members, parents, and community representatives. Lori Simpson serves as chair.

 

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Denomination

Click here for the denomination web pages