ROCK OF ISRAEL LEADERSHIP BIOS

I came to The Rock of Israel from the Olive Tree Congregation in 1999, a sister congregation in Prospect Heights. That’s where I came to know the Lord.  The Jewish pastor of the OTC at that time led me to the Lord. I would say I was perfectly trained for this job, though some might say I have no "formal training".  

When I came to the Lord, I started to read the Word, and I have never stopped. I served at the OTC as an Elder from 1986 to 2003. I came to The Rock in 1999 and co-pastored with Sherman Carter for 2 years, at which time Pastor Sherman stepped down and in 2003 I resigned as Elder at OTC and became Senior Pastor at The Rock.

I have a degree in Engineering and Management from the University of Illinois and own an auto repair shop in the city. God has gifted me to serve Him in every way necessary as a pastor. As time went by, we realized I could only do it part-time, and the Lord led Elder Tom into the pastoral ministry.

God has been blessed me with Linda, my wife of 38 years, our 3 children and 3 grandsons. Though we have seen many trials serving our Lord at the Rock, we've been blessed much more by the people that have come to and supported the congregation over the past 2 decades  and hope to continue to lead here, as our Lord allows. 

Roy Schwarcz was born and raised in Metropolitan New York. His mother and her family fled Berlin, with the growing persecution of Jews by the Nazis. His father was raised in New York City. At the age of thirteen Roy received his Bar Mitzvah in the Orthodox tradition.

While traveling across country Roy met Christians who demonstrated God’s love. Through their kindness and prayers, he came to believe Jesus was his Messiah. Roy has been involved in almost every type of Jewish ministry since he came to faith. He has worked on college campuses, led home Bible studies, and began two Messianic Congregations in the Chicago area.

Roy leads weekly interactive Bible studies utilizing the internet. His studies have helped both Jews and Gentiles to grow in faith and maturity in Yeshua.

Roy works also serves as Midwest Regional Director for Chosen People Ministries. Roy graduated from Moody Bible Institute where he received his diploma in Jewish Studies. He received his M.A. in theology with an emphasis in Jewish studies from Talbot Seminary of Biola University. He was ordained through the Olive Tree Congregation, the first congregation he planted with Chosen People Ministries. Roy is married to Joanne, and they have four grown daughters, and nine grandchildren.

Roy has authored the book “Where Jesus Walked”, which examines over 50 portions of the life of Jesus demonstrating how the Old Testament prophets foretold events in the life of Jesus and how they were fulfilled in the New Covenant. Each portion is considered from a Jewish perspective giving insight and perspective on the unity between Old and New Covenants.

Roy also served as Pastor of Evangelism at Moody Church in Chicago. Roy also is the interim leader of Shaar Adonai Congregation on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

Jay Green was born April 18,1950 in Chicago, Illinois.  He was brought up in a Jewish home.  He had his Bar Mitzvah (age of responsibility or becoming a man in the eyes of the Jewish community) at the age of thirteen and was confirmed at the age of sixteen.

Jay went to Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1968 where the seed for salvation was planted.  He graduated from Roosevelt University in 1986 with a bachelor's degree in marketing and is currently employed in sales full time.

In 1974, while attending a local church, Jay accepted Yeshua Hamashiach (Jesus the Messiah) as his Savior.  Seeking an environment where his spiritual needs would be met, Jay began attending a Messianic congregation in Chicago's northwest suburbs.  There he began to be discipled under the guidance of the congregational leadership.  Jay co-lead a monthly evangelistic Bible study in the southern Chicago suburbs, sponsored by Life in Messiah International which provided a place where Jewish people would hear the Gospel message sensitively presented with a Jewish context.  The Lord led him to a place of service within the congregation, as well, serving on the music team until his current responsibility as an Elder.  Jay has also been involved in leadership development and occasionally participates in a teaching role.

My family and I came to The Rock of Israel in 1991. At that time, I had been working as a Commodities Broker/Trader at the Chicago Board of Trade since 1973. I started Leadership Training at The Rock in 1997 and was involved in leadership until 2001, when I was raised up as an Elder. I was offered the position of Associate Pastor in 2004, which I accepted.  I retired from the CBOT in 2005 and later that year started work part time at Lakeside Transportation as a bus driver. Two years later I was offered the position of Payroll/Billing clerk and worked there until 2019, at which time I retired. 

My wife Marla and I have been married for 42 years and have 3 grown children and 1 grandson.