Pastor has passion for the pulpit

The Rev. Rocky Polito's excitement for preaching the word of God is powerful.

As a person who admits to being bored easily, he describes his passion for the Bible and relating it in a useful message as his ideal sermon.

"I try to make messages relevant," Polito said. "I want the message to have something in it the people can take home with them.

"I love people and the word of God. I love preaching it and telling people about it."

Polito is pastor of The Connection Church in Dayton, which held its first service in September 2004. The church began with a core of 15 members who met in home groups.

"It's been a great 18 months. We've moved to two services on Sunday. The first service in this building was a real encouragement to the core group."

The Connection is part of the Assembly of God churches. There are 450 facilities in Northern California and Nevada.

Polito begins his Sunday services with song, then he preaches.

"We hold communion once a month, offer an altar call, then we'll make announcements. Sometimes, we'll do the morning schedule differently, change it up."

Polito has been in the ministry for 11 years. His devotion to Christ began when he was a senior in high school and grew while he served in the U.S. Navy as a submariner. He was enlisted from 1986 to 1992, and served in communications aboard the USS La Jolla (SSN 701).

Polito said the church body wants to reach the community. They donate to Safe Grad Night and are finding other areas to reach the needs of the community.

"We don't want to be just a group that meets on Sundays," Polito said.

Polito is married to Debbie. Their children are Andrew, 9, and Rachel, 6. They moved to Dayton in August 2002.

He attended and graduated from Kirkland Bible College in Washington and was a youth pastor working with teens in Wittier, Calif., before moving to Dayton. He and Debbie are originally from Ohio.

"We love it here," Polito said about Nevada.

Polito plays the drums and is part of the church's music ministry. There are also two guitarists and three singers.

But "They don't let me sing," he said with a chuckle.

The church offers services at 8:30 and 10 a.m. Sundays; women's group at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday; men's group at 6:30 p.m. Monday and teens' group at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. It meets at 801 Overland Loop, No. 208 (behind the county offices).

-- Contact Rhonda Costa-Landers at rcosta-landers@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.

If you go

WHAT: The Connection Church

WHEN: 8:30 and 10 a.m. Sundays; men's group 6:30 p.m. Mondays; women's group 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays; teens' group 5:30 p.m. Thursdays

WHERE: 801 Overland Loop, No. 208 (west side of building). From Highway 50, go north on Occidental Drive, first left onto Overland Loop

ON THE WEB: www.tcofdayton.com