Jonathan Sanders began preaching at the age of 14 in Indiana, where he was raised, and began to evangelize at the age of 15. He graduated from Texas Bible College in Houston, where he met his wife, Debbie. Debbie Sanders was born in California and raised in Texas. The Sanders assisted Pastor James Kilgore in Houston for some time before moving to Omaha, Nebraska where they pastored for 7 years. Because of their love for missions, they began to travel oversees — throughout South America, Australia and the Philippines — and became missionaries in the Middle East (Jordan and Israel) as well as Hong Kong. During their missionary term in the Middle East, Debbie was on the Board of Directors of the National American Women’s Club in Amman, Jordan as Director of Meetings, and enjoyed being extensively involved in music in the American Embassy as well as the Jordanian Parliament. Debbie has been involved with the Ladies Ministries of Hawaii for the past 5 years and currently serves on the National Regional Committee. Debbie also currently serves as the director of Today’s Christian Girl, a national ministry for girls aged 10 - 18. Jonathan and Debbie love to travel and have visited 32 countries, many in which they have had the privilege to teach and minister. They never meet a stranger, and enjoy different cultures, people and food (and coffee). With their three girls, Alexis (12), Jordan (8), and Brooklyn (5), the Sanders started the church in Kailua 7 years ago and are excited about what God is doing in the Islands.
Ben and Frances Vannoy assist the pastor and the church family through their contributions in ministry and administration. Ben assists the pastor by filling an undershepherd role that includes teaching home bible studies, providing spiritual guidance, teaching Tues. night bible studies, and any other needs the pastor may require. He is committed to winning the lost, in Kailua and worldwide. Frances Vannoy assists the church family by providing administrative assistance, such as being the church Secretary and Treasurer, managing the church calendar, and assisting Sis. Sanders with District Ladies functions. She also servers as the Ladies District Secretary.
Elton O. Gray II was born in California, and raised in Hawaii. At the age of 16 Elton was offered the opportunity to become involved in Bible Quizzing. He soon became immersed in the Word and was the top Quizzer for Hawaii. He is living proof of the power of Bible Quizzing because it changed his life forever; he gave his heart completely to God and decided to attend Christian Life College after high school. SoShawna J. Gray was born into a family tree filled with Pentecostal preachers, missionaries, and Sunday School teachers. After graduation she left her Southern Louisiana home and journeyed to California to attend Christian Life College. Elton and SoShawna met during their senior year of college, and were married in 2004. In 2006 they experienced the joy of welcoming their first child, a son named Samuel Elton Gray. Elton plays several musical instruments, likes to golf, and recently began making the best pineapple salsa in Hawaii. SoShawna reads voraciously, plans to write books one day, and happens to have a love for pineapple salsa. Samuel likes to listen to Daddy play music, play with his dog, Daisy, work on his personal website, and listen to Mommy read him stories. The entire Gray family loves Hawaii and is blessed to be able to minister at The Rock church in Kailua. Elton and SoShawna Gray assist the pastor and the church family through their contributions in ministry and administration. Elton assists the pastor by filling an undershepherd role that includes teaching home bible studies, providing spiritual guidance, contributing to the music ministry and any other needs the pastor may require. He is committed to winning the lost, in Kailua and worldwide. SoShawna assists the church family by coordinating local Ladies Ministry functions, as well as organizing The Rock Kailua church library and being the church recorder.
On December 3, 1993 Doug and Leonor Nordlund were joined together in marriage and they are loving every minute of it. In 1996 they moved to Minnesota where Doug grew up, and lived there for about one year before coming back to Hawaii because their grand daughter Tehya was born July 5, 1997. After returning to Hawaii they visited different churches for a while and finally found The Rock Kailua. Doug and Leonor then started to get involved in the church activaties. Now they are both a part of the praise and worship team, men’s and women’s choir, church choir, and have been placed in charge of the Aloha Ministry (ushers and greeters and pastor’s aid). Leonor is also involved with INOP, Island Net Work of Prayer.
