Our Story

In May 2002, God gave Dr. Dana Carson a word: “The Cloud of Glory is Moving - Move with the Cloud!” This was a perplexing proposition given to this young pastor who had built a thriving ministry in the Greater Austin area over the past 17 years. After all, he started the ministry with nine people in a small Austin-area home, and it had now grown to thousands of congregants on the membership roll. Even further, he had accomplished what no other ministry under African-American leadership - and many under majority leadership - had done in the city: Dr. Carson had built one of the largest facilities in East Austin, a massive $4 million, 48,000 sq ft. worship center and gymnasium/auditorium on 25 acres of land, founded the ACTS Corporation, a social service organization dedicated to meeting the needs of those in the inner city with a special emphasis on athletic programs for children and youth, and established a preschool, elementary school, printing press, and a full-time staff of over 30 employees. Nonetheless, confident that his ear was keenly attuned to the voice of God, Dr. Carson shared this word with his congregation and soon embarked upon a ministry campaign entitled, “Move with the Cloud!” for all members interested in making this move with the ministry.

Signing up by the hundreds for the “Move with the Cloud” campaign, over 300 core families of the ministry indicated their firm intentions to move to Houston area as soon as they heard about the great opportunity. Excitement was in the air, and the atmosphere instantly became abuzz about stepping out on faith to make such a dramatic move. Further, once the media was made aware of such a phenomenon, The ROCK’s story began to be covered in various media outlets both near and far that documented this historic move! 

Dr. Carson explained that God wanted to bring about revival in the Alvin area, the birthplace of the pre-Pentecostal movement. God was ready to use the ministry to challenge the racial issues that often go unaddressed by the Christian church today, and the congregants were indeed poised and ready to be used to bring about spiritual revival through multicultural ministry to the region. In June 2003, Dr. Carson permanently moved his ministry’s national headquarters from Austin, Texas to Alvin, Texas, renaming the ministry Reflections of Christ’s Kingdom World Outreach International, locally known as The ROCK. 

Reflections of Christ’s Kingdom World Outreach International of Alvin, TX has already begun to experience traces of revival through its exponential growth and its multicultural appeal as members of the community hear of its anointed ministry and program offerings. Further, The ROCK of Austin also continues to flourish under the anointed leadership of Pastor Charles Moody, and other churches have become ROCK affiliate churches in states including Illinois, New Jersey, Georgia, and across Texas!

The ROCK is excited about the awesome growth and attention that is occurring in its midst, and all look forward to serving the Alvin and surrounding communities as a real ministry with a real message to real people. Indeed, The ROCK has caught the vision of God, and it is making a difference!