Thomas White is working on his vision for multicultural congregation

Many churches begin with the vision of reaching their communities for God. Pastor Thomas White of the Rock International Ministries of Jackson also has a vision for reaching across cultural lines.

White said pastoring a multi-cultural church in Southeast Missouri is "different but not too foreign."

"I have a multi-cultural background. We don't target a specific race. It's in my nature to be multi-cultural, so people don't look at a particular race. I enjoy being a barrier breaker," White said.

Since White and his wife Zsavonda began the ministry in 2007, it has more than tripled in population and has hosted conferences for men, women and youth groups. The Rock will host four outreach conferences this year and has expanded to Sikeston, where it meets once a week at First United Methodist Church.

According to White, being pastor of a multi-cultural church has its own set of challenges.

"There's no manual on how to pastor a multi-cultural ministry. People are different and it's been a constant learning experience," said White. "We have people coming from all over the area."

White described the vision of the Rock as "bringing racial reconciliation to Southeast Missouri."

"A lot of our history has caused the races to be torn apart," he said.

White said the church's services and ministries are not tailored to one culture and he lets "the holy spirit breaks down myths that one has about other races and cultures."

White said racial reconciliation is needed "so people will have a better understanding of each other, and appreciate other people's differences."

"We all love and serve the same God." White said.

The Rock recently moved into the former Jackson public library. The church averaged 20 adult couples on Sunday mornings, and has since grown to 80. According to White, the children's and youth ministries were growing so quickly they needed to move. He described the transition as a "step out in faith."

The Rock recently started the Hopewell Family Refuge Center, a program that places unfortunate families with church members and helps them back to their feet.

"My vision is not to merely offer a place to lay their heads for the night, but to provide assistance in their job search and their search for a permanent residence," White said. "It's not the government's responsibility, it's the church's."

The Rock also gives free groceries to the community on the first Monday of every month and opened the Rock-a-Bye Daycare Center in Cape Girardeau, a 24-hour day care that White hopes will provide affordable child care to working families.

Before starting the Rock, White served with Rhema Word Breakthough International Ministries in Cape Girardeau under Dr. A.G. Green. White and Zsavonda married in 2006. He said they believe any strong ministry has to have a husband and wife team.

White said the couple believed God was calling them while at Rhema to begin a multi-cultural ministry. When they began the Rock, the Whites were the only African American couple. White said the name, "The Rock" was one he thought of before he came to Christ and was reminded of it when he and Zsavonda decided to step out into their own ministry.

White said he gave his life back to God in 1999. Before that, he worked as a police officer in Cape Girardeau and Charleston, Mo. White also played football and basketball at Southeast Missouri State University.

"I look forward to this being a greater year not just for racial reconciliation but bringing people back to God," he said.