In Memoriam Robert M. Bock

On March 1, 1969 The Reverend Robert M. Bock began his ministry as Senior Pastor of the First Christian Church of North Hollywood. His creative and dynamic ministry spanned a remarkable 52 years, ending with his death on Good Friday, April 2, 2021.

During the ministry of “Pastor Bob,” First Christian Church of North Hollywood flourished.

Bob’s encouragement of creative ideas and his empowerment of the dreams of his people was a key to the church’s growing and dynamic ministry.

• In 1981 the Advent Theatre was founded with a six-month run of Godspell, featuring the original Broadway cast.
• In 1982 the Christmas Tree Lot was founded. In the past thirty-six years it has donated over half a million dollars to church and non-profit agencies who serve the needs of children and youth.
• In 1984 the Interfaith Food Pantry, founded by five congregations (two Jewish and three Christian) began an ambitious ministry to feed the hungry. Today thirteen congregations work together to feed hundreds of homeless, poor and under-employed people every week.
• In 1985 Operation Santa Claus was started to meet the needs of the clients of the Food pantry with gift giving at Christmas time.
• The most recent outreach ministry, founded in the early 2000’s, is the Park Ministry. Every second Sunday home-made food is cooked and served to the homeless in North Hollywood Park. They also distribute clothing, blankets, shoes and socks to the homeless during the Sunday Noon meal.

Bob’s passion for outreach ministries continues to inspire FCCNH as a denominational leader in outreach giving. His great love for children and youth has spearheaded the establishment of education as a major priority in church life. His dream is for the church to provide children and youth with a spiritually based faith that will keep them strong through the many changes they will face during their lifetime. Part of that faith is the appreciation of art, music, literature and theater, bringing a part of Christianity alive that is often ignored. As a result of that passion Bob organized and found talented directors and faculty to staff seven summer day camps. These camps are usually filled to capacity before the first one begins.

Bob had a passion for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of which he was a fourth generation member. He served on the Board of Christian Church Foundation, the National City Christian Church, as well as the Board of Disciples Seminary Foundation. He also served on the Committee on Ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Pacific Southwest Region.

The people of First Christian Church of North Hollywood hold the memory of Pastor Bob in our hearts, with deep gratitude for his years of service and devotion to us, to the community, to the Disciples of Christ, and to God’s wonderful world.