Ray Dash - Lead Pastor
Our Pastor grew up back and forth between Harlem and the Bronx. New York City brought many opportunities for aimless passions. The personal hardships and struggles he faced only amplified the idea that there had to be more to life. As a young adult, the influences of the world encouraged the desire to make a name for himself in the streets. Ray found himself in dangerous situations he hadn't anticipated. January 1998 brought a ray of hope when he attended a church service at Calvary Chapel Old Bridge. His pastor Lloyd Pulley preached a message that convicted his heart. Then only 22, he struggled with feeling ‘ready”. One line solidified his decision; “Come as you are.” That day he surrendered his life to Christ and that was the start of true transformation.
After receiving Christ as his Lord and Savior he got married later that year. Shortly thereafter he became involved with youth ministry where he learned many life impacting lessons by just walking and watching the example of the youth pastor and many other godly men in his life. Soon he would find himself starting the ministry “Free Within” that would minister to incarcerated youth in the state of New Jersey. After the youth pastor was called to the mission field, Pastor Ray entered as youth leader in 2003.
While working in Newark one day, Pastor Ray sensed a further call to ministry. He began to travel up to Newark to pray for the Lord to open doors. By the end of 2004, he was asked if he would be open to being a part of a church plant in Kearny (right next door to the city of Newark). As God led him to Kearny, he learned a lot of the responsibilities that take place behind the scenes in ministry, always knowing that God would open the door one day in Newark. In 2007, while on a flight back from California, simply reading through the scriptures he came to Deuteronomy 1:6 which read “You have dwelt long enough at this mountain”.
Taking a step of faith, he would take a 2-1/2 month leave of absence from his place of work to hit the hard streets of Newark. With weekly barbecues in Seth Boyden and Baxter Terrace apartments, church in the park every Saturday night and continual street witnessing, he found himself drawn to the people in the community, never wanting to leave. The Lord was giving him a deep burden and aggressive love for the assignment He was placing on him.
In September 2007 we began a bible study at the Newark YMCA. In December 2008 we hosted Sunday gatherings at a local soup kitchen garage. In April 2014 we were blessed to relocate and eventually purchase our church on Ferry street. The East Ward was filled with ministry opportunities as the church hosted its Rock in the Block Street Festival, Summer Bible Camps, Awana, and plenty of street witnessing in nearby Hyatt Court and Riverview Terrace.
Yet God’s plan wasn't for Pastor Ray to get comfortable because as we know, the harvest is plentiful. In September 2023, we were blessed again with an opportunity to purchase another church in our old stomping grounds near the garage. This 16 month journey was filled with plenty of opportunities to witness God do the impossible, answer prayers, and increase the faith of our pastor and our entire congregation. It will culminate in our first gathering April 2025 at our Clinton Avenue location.
The Rock Christian Fellowship is active in and passionate about soul winning, discipleship, and repentance that brings about transformed living and equipping THIS generation for godliness.
Pastor Ray and his wife Ruthie are also the proud parents of four children as they continue serving the city of Newark, NJ by God's grace. Pastor Ray, or P-Ray as many call him, which spells PRAY, covets your prayers as he seeks to serve and love the community with the heart of Christ.
"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."
1 Corinthians 15:57- 58
After receiving Christ as his Lord and Savior he got married later that year. Shortly thereafter he became involved with youth ministry where he learned many life impacting lessons by just walking and watching the example of the youth pastor and many other godly men in his life. Soon he would find himself starting the ministry “Free Within” that would minister to incarcerated youth in the state of New Jersey. After the youth pastor was called to the mission field, Pastor Ray entered as youth leader in 2003.
While working in Newark one day, Pastor Ray sensed a further call to ministry. He began to travel up to Newark to pray for the Lord to open doors. By the end of 2004, he was asked if he would be open to being a part of a church plant in Kearny (right next door to the city of Newark). As God led him to Kearny, he learned a lot of the responsibilities that take place behind the scenes in ministry, always knowing that God would open the door one day in Newark. In 2007, while on a flight back from California, simply reading through the scriptures he came to Deuteronomy 1:6 which read “You have dwelt long enough at this mountain”.
Taking a step of faith, he would take a 2-1/2 month leave of absence from his place of work to hit the hard streets of Newark. With weekly barbecues in Seth Boyden and Baxter Terrace apartments, church in the park every Saturday night and continual street witnessing, he found himself drawn to the people in the community, never wanting to leave. The Lord was giving him a deep burden and aggressive love for the assignment He was placing on him.
In September 2007 we began a bible study at the Newark YMCA. In December 2008 we hosted Sunday gatherings at a local soup kitchen garage. In April 2014 we were blessed to relocate and eventually purchase our church on Ferry street. The East Ward was filled with ministry opportunities as the church hosted its Rock in the Block Street Festival, Summer Bible Camps, Awana, and plenty of street witnessing in nearby Hyatt Court and Riverview Terrace.
Yet God’s plan wasn't for Pastor Ray to get comfortable because as we know, the harvest is plentiful. In September 2023, we were blessed again with an opportunity to purchase another church in our old stomping grounds near the garage. This 16 month journey was filled with plenty of opportunities to witness God do the impossible, answer prayers, and increase the faith of our pastor and our entire congregation. It will culminate in our first gathering April 2025 at our Clinton Avenue location.
The Rock Christian Fellowship is active in and passionate about soul winning, discipleship, and repentance that brings about transformed living and equipping THIS generation for godliness.
Pastor Ray and his wife Ruthie are also the proud parents of four children as they continue serving the city of Newark, NJ by God's grace. Pastor Ray, or P-Ray as many call him, which spells PRAY, covets your prayers as he seeks to serve and love the community with the heart of Christ.
"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."
1 Corinthians 15:57- 58