Meet Pastor Rolando and Teresa Atienza

Open arms. That's how Pastor Rolando and Teresa will greet you when you come to their home on Boracay Island. They started On the Rock Ministries with nothing but the "grace, mercy and love of God," says Pastor. And those are the possessions that continue to carry the ministry throughout the years.

Rolando and Teresa both grew up on Capiz, a province located on the northeast portion of Panay. They met while going to Bible School on the island. They were both pastoring at different churches at the time. Their love for God was apparent, so they combined that love into one holy matrimony. After seventeen years of marriage they have three children of their own, and one adopted son who truly represents what their mission on Boracay is all about. 

Their eldest, Jedidiah, is seventeen years old and living in Manila. Dan and Tori Beaver sponsor Jedidiah so  he can go to Hope Academy and get a solid education. Their only daughter is Micah Joy who is fifteen years old, and Jethro is fourteen. They adopted their youngest, Jared, almost two years ago. The story of this little four year old will without a doubt make your heart melt. Jared lived with is mother and attended a feeding site led by On the Rock Ministries. Two years ago his mother passed away from cancer. Since there was no father present, Jared was without a home. The Atienzas have a heart for the kids of Boracay, so they welcomed Jared into their family without ever looking back.

Rolando and Teresa moved to Boracay and stared On the Rock Ministries in October of 1996. It started out as a church with four adults committed to God. They preached God's word under a mango tree to shelter them from the intense Boracay sun. From there they used a vacant space. Then for seven months they rented out a nightclub on Sunday mornings. Currently, the church meets at Faith Village where they rent an auditorium for 200 pesos an hour. This space will have to do for the time being; considering their new ministry center is in the process of being built. What started out as four people under a mango tree-is now a ministry reaching about 300 adults and nearly 800 children on the island. They have six full time workers for the ministry. And after partnership with First Love International, they also have many visitors who help build up the ministry center and spread God's love all over the island.

Right now their biggest focus is the ministry center, which will enable them to reach more people. They hope to have the first floor of the building done by September so they can open their school doors. The second and third floors of the building will be committed to a Bible School and a medical and dental clinic. The rooftop will be a full-size basketball court to allow for sports outreach, a place for fellowship, and it will serve as their church on Sunday mornings. Eventually, they would like to have a shelter for neglected children. In many ways this shelter will be like an orphanage. They would also like to offer livelihood-training classes for adults who are struggling in the workforce.

Although the ministry center is a big focus, their true love lies with the kids. When asked what their favorite part of the ministry is, Rolando answers with no hesitation what-so-ever, "children! Feeding children, reaching parents." Teresa spells it out, "we will not make people come to the church building, we will take the church to them." They now have fifteen sites spread out across the island. They have a small army feeding, singing, preaching, teaching, loving and mending wounds for the children. And right over those kids' shoulders are their patents. They believe that if they can reach these kids at a young age they will truly know God, and their parents can see the unconditional love that God and On the Rock can offer them. Parents can be moved by the joy in their child's heart.

What they still need?

Every mission needs support, and this is true when it comes to this mission. With the ministry center being built, they are still in need of funds. Supplies still need to be purchased in order to make this project possible. Come September their need will be focused on teachers. They hope to have missionaries come serve as teachers so their tuition costs for the kids can be next to nothing. Can you come serve for a semester, a year, or longer? They are also in need of transportation, like a motocab. A lot of church members can't afford the fare across the island, and many of the kids will need help getting to and from school. Medical supplies, doctors, nurses, teachers, vitamins, computers, printers, if you can provide it; the ministry can use it! What can you give?

Come to Boracay to see for yourself....

Both Rolando and Teresa want you to come join in on the fun! They would love for you to come and join the On the Rock family and get mission experience. Come and enjoy Boracay in two ways; serving God and a beautiful vacation! After all, have you seen the beach?

Favorite Bible verse? You all have one! So do the Atienzas. Rolando says his favorite verse is John 3:16 because it is the heart of the Bible. "For God loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Teresa also goes with a verse out of the book of John. "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except thorugh me." -John 14:6. She says this verse is what their ministry is all about. After all, their ministry shirts say "Lahay Kay Christ," which mean "All for Jesus!"