welcome to
rome international church
Rome International Church sits at the cross-roads of cultures. This means that we are a diverse group of people, welcoming anyone from anywhere to worship with us as we discover how God's Word reveals God's purpose for our lives. Our services are in English to reach across cultures with the message of Jesus for all nations. If you are looking for a community where you can grow in your understanding of God and the Bible, we would love to have you join us!
Vision:
To see diverse people discover their life-giving purpose in Jesus Christ.
Mission:
To encourage, equip, and empower disciples of Jesus to be disciple makers in Rome and beyond.
Leadership
loren holland - pastor
Loren and Alaina Holland are passionate about seeing transient people find lasting purpose in Jesus Christ. They themselves are internationals with over 20 years of experience living overseas. Although born in the U.S., they grew up in Ecuador and Venezuela. They met as students in an International high school in Ecuador and later married in 2009. Loren holds a degree in Business Management from Thomas Edison State University and a Masters of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Alaina holds a bachelors in Physical Education from Union University. They have four amazing kids. As a family, they are very excited to serve internationals living in Rome.
rocio garcia - administrative assistant
Rocio was born in the Andes region of Venezuela [Merida] and moved to Italy 5 years ago. She enjoys hiking beautiful trails with her daughter. God used the people of Rome International Church to lead Rocio to know and follow her Lord Jesus Christ, so she is thankful to get to serve and care for her RIC family in this way. She is passionate about helping international people as she has lived as an expat for most of her life.
ryan cave - elder
Ryan Cave and his wife Samantha moved to Rome in the summer of 2021 with their 4 children. As a family living abroad and far from the comforts of home and from family they are very aware of the many joys and challenges one can face being part of the international community. They are eager to serve in this community and continue to reach people with the life changing power of a relationship with Jesus Christ. Ryan holds an M.B.A from Liberty University and Samantha holds a Masters in Human and Social Services. It was at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA where they first met. Due to Ryan’s work they have lived in Maryland, Virginia, San Francisco and now Rome. They are not sure how long they will be in Rome but want to be faithful to serve God and the local church during their time here.
larry harrison - elder
Larry and his wife have enjoyed 18 years of marriage and are raising four very energetic children together. Larry became a believer at a young age and throughout his life has been blessed to be a part of churches that have faithfully taught the Word of God.
Larry and his family moved to Rome for work and are excited to be members of the RIC family. They are thankful for the opportunity to serve here in Rome and be part of all that God is doing through RIC.
doctrine
The Bible
The Scriptures of both the Old and New Testaments are verbally inspired of God, error-free in the original writings, and the supreme authority of faith and practice for the believer in Jesus Christ. The Scriptures are rightly understood when interpreted according to the historical-grammatical method, in order to determine the author’s original, intended meaning. (2 Tim 3:16-17; Heb 4:12; 2 Pet 1:20-21)
God
There is but one living and true God, who is one in essence, while eternally existing in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Though each person of the Godhead possesses one and the same nature, each functions differently in respect to God’s dealings with man. (Deut 6:4, Matt 3:16-17)
The Father
The Father orders and directs all things according to His own purpose, pleasure, and grace. He has decreed all things that come to pass for His own glory. He graciously involves Himself in the affairs of men, hears and answers prayer, and saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (Matt 6:9; John 5:19-24; Eph 1:3-6)
The Son
Jesus Christ is both the eternal Son of God and virgin-born Son of man. Fully God and fully man, He surrendered nothing of His deity during His earthly life. Having led a sinless life, He satisfied the Father’s justice concerning sin by His death. Bodily resurrected to life, He ascended into heaven and is the only mediator between mankind and God. (John 1:14-18; Rom 3:24-26; 1 Cor 15; Col 2:9; Heb 2:17-18)
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit manifests the presence of God as He executes His will in the world. He convicts the world of sin, and persuades people to repent of their sins and confess Jesus as Lord. By the same Spirit, all believers are given new life through regeneration, empowered and gifted to live righteously, and enabled to persevere in their faith until the final day. (John 3:1-8; 16:4-15; 1 Cor 12; Gal 5:16-25; Eph 1:13-14)
Man
Man was created, as male and female, in the image of God to glorify Him and enjoy His fellowship forever. Man fell into sin by a voluntary act of personal disobedience to the will of God; consequently all of mankind are born sinners, alienated from God and corrupted in every aspect of their being. This depravity condemns everyone to both physical and spiritual death apart from Jesus Christ. (Gen 1:26-27; 2:7; 3:3-4; Rom 1:18-32; 3:10-23; Eph 2:1-3)
Salvation
Salvation is found in Jesus alone. None can accomplish salvation according to his own merit but receive it only by God’s grace through faith. Those who believe in Jesus for salvation are declared justified by the Father and regenerated by the Holy Spirit. The Christian is adopted as a child of God forever and granted an eternal inheritance. (John 1:12; 3:16; 5:24; 14:6; Acts 4:12; Rom 3:21-26; 1 Cor 15:1-4; Gal 3:26; Eph 1:7; 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-7; Heb 10:10-12; 1 John 5:11-13)
The Future
The next great event of human history will be the personal return of Jesus Christ. This blessed event will coincide with the bodily resurrection of the dead and usher in the final judgment and the consummation of God’s redemptive work. Though the time of Christ’s return is a mystery known only to the Father, it is the great hope for all those who love Him. (Matt 24-25; 1 Thess 4:15-17; John 14:1-3)
The Church
All who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit belong to the one true church and are directed by the Scriptures to associate themselves in local, visible churches. The gospel message and mission distinguish the local church. The mission of the church is to prepare for Jesus’ return by leading people to Christ and helping them mature in the faith. (Matt 16:13-28; 28:18-20; Acts 2:9-11, 41-47; 4:1-16; 1 Cor 12-14; Eph 2:19-22; Heb 10:24-25)
Ordinances
Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water as a visual and symbolic demonstration of his union with Christ in the likeness of His death, burial, and resurrection. The act of baptism has no power to save but vividly depicts a person’s release from the mastery of sin. (Rom 6:4; Matt 28:19; Gal 3:27) As with baptism, the Lord’s Supper is to be observed by those who personally know Jesus as Savior. This ordinance symbolizes the breaking of Christ’s body and shedding of His blood on our behalf and is to be observed regularly in remembrance of Christ’s finished work. (1 Cor 11:17-34; Luke 22:14-20; Acts 2:42,46) From creation God wonderfully made man and woman to be sexually distinct from one another and complementary to one another. Through marriage, a man and a woman are united in an exclusive, lifelong covenant with each other. Marriage is a gift from God that is intended to mirror the union of Christ and His church. (Gen 1:27-28; 2:18, 21-24; Matt 19:4-6; Mark 10:5-8; Heb 13:4; 1 Cor 6:9-20)
Elders
According to the example and instruction of Scripture, a plurality of elders is to govern the church. The elders are to seek the mind of Christ, who is the Head of the Church, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. They must be able to exhort the church in sound doctrine and refute those who contradict the truth. (Acts 6:1-6; Gal 6:1; 1 Thess 5:12; 2 Thess 3:14-15; Titus 1:9; Heb 13:7, 17; 1 Peter 5:2-3)
Restoration
Pervasive, sinful conduct is harmful, wrecking the wayward person and eroding the unity of the local church. Consequently, the church is required by Scripture to confront lawlessness and pursue restoration. Church restoration is never punitive but is rather an effort to encourage every professing believer in righteousness. (Matt 18:15-17; 1 Cor 12:14-20; Gal 6:1)
Final Authority
This statement of faith is not the totality of our convictions regarding truth, morality, or right conduct. The Bible, as the inspired and infallible Word of God, is the absolute and final source of all we believe. The board of elders serves Rome International Church as the interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.
