About Us
Love God, Love People, Share Jesus, Make Disciples.
Rock Harbor Church Bakersfield
Our History
Pastor Brandon Holthaus’ call to start Rock Harbor Church was birthed from the scriptures of Revelation 3:7-13 and Matthew 25:14-30. Jesus Christ had opened the door of opportunity to start a new church, and Brandon wanted to be like the faithful servants who used what the Lord had given them to further the Gospel. On August 28th, 2011, Rock Harbor Church was born and continues the proclamation of the Gospel today.
The meaning of the name: Rock Harbor
The Scripture portrays Jesus Christ as our rock of salvation. (1 Cor 10:1-4) We build our lives on the foundation of the rock of Christ. (1 Cor 3:10-15) The Scripture also indicates that like an anchor holding a ship safely in position, our hope in Christ guarantees our safety in the dangerous ocean of life. (Hebrews 6:19) Christ is our strength and safety in this world so we anchor our souls to the Rock of Christ.
Rock Harbor Church
We're On a Mission
Rock Harbor Church is a community of believers devoted to God’s Word. Founded upon an unwavering commitment to “anchor ourselves to the rock of Christ,” we teach the entire Bible verse by verse from Genesis to Revelation, and seek to apply its truth to our daily lives in order to go deeper in our walk with the Lord. We are a growing body of believers committed to reaching our culture with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We believe that the Bible is God’s Holy Word, and that it contains God’s perfect plan to redeem humanity from sin, through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
We defend God’s absolute truth in a relativistic culture. We desire to ground our understanding of current events from a biblical and prophetic perspective. We protect our people by warning of the growing apostasy inside and outside of Christendom. We value the Biblical family unit which was created by God to be the bedrock of a society. Therefore, our desire is to preserve our marriages and seek to protect and prepare our children to encounter a culture that is hostile to a biblical view of the family. We support the Jewish people, the nation of Israel, and the Lord’s plan for them.
We believe that Rock Harbor Church just didn’t happen, but that the LORD planted us in this area of Bakersfield for a specific reason. Our mission is simple and it guides everything we do: Love God, Love People, Share Jesus, Make Disciples. This mission is uniquely different compared to what the world offers to people. Our church offers what people need instead of what they think they want.
What are we doing?
As a church, our purpose is simple and deeply rooted in Scripture. We are here to love the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob with our whole hearts, and to live in worship and obedience to Him.
We are also committed to loving people of all nations, welcoming others with compassion and care, and reflecting the heart of Christ in the way we serve our community.
At the center of everything is our desire to share Jesus the Messiah, making the Gospel known clearly and faithfully to those around us.
Through all of this, our goal is to make disciples of all nations, helping believers grow through God’s Word, Christian fellowship, and a life shaped by faith.
What are our values?
Our values reflect what we believe matters most in the life of the church. We are committed to cultivating a maturing relationship with the Messiah, growing steadily in faith, obedience, and devotion to Jesus.
We hold firmly to biblical authority, trusting God’s Word as the perfect and final standard for life, truth, and faith.
We also practice biblical hospitality, welcoming all people with the love of the Messiah and creating space for others to hear, know, and respond to the Gospel.
Because our work is ultimately done in service to Christ, we pursue ministry excellence, striving to honor the Messiah in everything we do.
And we value ministry integrity, living and serving with accountability, transparency, and faithfulness before the Messiah.
What makes us successful?
Success in the eyes of the Lord is not measured by numbers or recognition, but by faithfulness. We desire to live in a way that honors Him through worship, love, obedience, and spiritual growth.
We worship the LORD by loving the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, committing ourselves to read and study the Scriptures, giving ourselves to prayer, and walking in obedience to His Word.
We love people of all nations by strengthening our family relationships, growing in unity within the church, becoming involved in Bible study, caring for other believers, and serving faithfully within the body of Christ.
We share Jesus the Messiah by being prepared to clearly communicate the Gospel to the Jew first and also to the Gentile, building meaningful relationships with those who do not yet know Christ, engaging in witnessing opportunities, and supporting missionaries who are taking the Gospel to the nations.
We make disciples of all nations by living with personal accountability among believers, helping equip others to grow, multiplying disciples through faithful investment, and using our spiritual gifts to build up and strengthen one another.
How are we doing it?
We carry out our mission through consistent worship, community, and discipleship. Each week, we gather to worship the Lord, serve one another, and stay connected as a church family.
We also remain focused on reaching others with the Gospel and equipping believers to grow in faith, so that the work of ministry continues beyond our regular gatherings.
Where is the Lord taking us?
We believe the Lord is calling us to be a light in the darkness in a lost and ever-darkening world. The Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Good News of the Person and work of the Messiah, is God’s provision for sinners to move from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light.
As we receive this truth by faith, we are compelled to share the hope of Christ with others and to continue growing in our relationship with the Messiah through worship, obedience, and discipleship.
If you would like to learn more about the beliefs and doctrines of Rock Harbor Church, we invite you to view our Statement of Faith. If you have questions or would like to connect with us, please feel free to Contact Us.