Buddy Osborn is the Senior Pastor of The Rock-Calvary Chapel of Kensington and founder of Rock Ministries of Philadelphia.

Buddy was born and raised by a single mom in Kensington, a tough working-class neighborhood, with 8 siblings. He became acquainted with the street life early on, and by the time he was a young teen had, in his words, “seen things the human eye shouldn’t see.” At 13, Buddy was taken to a boxing gym, and by the time he was 16, had honed his craft and was considered one of the best young fighters in Philadelphia, a city rich with boxing history. After winning the Pennsylvania Golden Gloves, Buddy traveled the country and abroad competing on the USA National Boxing Team.  At 22, Buddy retired from boxing, and would soon realize that boxing wasn’t enough to supply what was really missing inside him.

At 28 years old, this “Kensington success story” and champion boxer was facing life in prison. His boyhood attraction to the street life had grown up with him and he was arrested on numerous racketeering charges. Buddy would ultimately be sentenced to 8 years in federal prison and would not be released until the early 90’s.

After returning back home to Philadelphia, a friend began witnessing to Buddy about Jesus. On December 31 at 8:30 at night, on the phone with that friend, Buddy gave his life to Christ! Buddy began attending Calvary Chapel of Philadelphia. For 12 years he sat under the teaching of Pastor Joe Focht. As Buddy recalls, one day Pastor Joe said to him, “Perhaps one day you’ll go back to Kensington to preach the Gospel, “ never realizing that would be exactly where God would call him.  Encouraged by his pastor, Buddy traveled to far eastern Russia on a church mission trip, ministering to young men in prison camps. This mission trip would be one of several critical experiences for Buddy. Another came when he was invited to give bible studies to juvenile inmates, sentenced with serious crimes, at Philadelphia’s House of Corrections.

During one of his bible studies at The House of Corrections, a young man walked in who had been charged with murder. It was a chilling moment for Buddy. He knew this young man. He had coached him to compete for a national title. Like a thunderbolt hitting his heart, Buddy realized that although he coached him as a boxer, he did not share his faith with him. At that moment, God confirmed Buddy’s calling to reach kids on the city block, before they ended up on the prison block!

With much prayer and no money, but with lots of favor from the LORD, Rock Ministries was launched, to reach Kensington kids with the Gospel of Jesus Christ through boxing.

At 45, Buddy returned to Kensington with his old gym bag; but this time he had a bible in it. Since that moment, thousands of kids have come through the doors of the Rock, and countless have made a decision for Christ.

Buddy is quick to say that behind every good man there is a terrific woman. Buddy is married to Lucille, who is his partner in everything he sets out to accomplish for the Lord’s work. Together, with their daughter, Leigha, the Osborn family serves the Kensington community.

From the beginning, God put on Buddy’s heart the desire to reach “one kid at a time.” As God continues to miraculously grow the many outreaches and ministries at Rock, it has now become  “one family at a time” and “one block at a time”.

Each day, Buddy sees God working this out through one of his favorite verses:

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
- Romans 8:28

Joe Wardle is a graduate of America’s Keswick Addiction Recovery Program.  He came to the Rock as our first Intern and has been with us ever since.  During his time here he met Lizzie and they married in 2016.  Joe is an elder and the Worship Leader.  He also teaches our Addiction Bible Study, oversees our Intern Program, and Prison Ministry.  Lizzie is a bible teacher for our Women’s Ministry and works with the children in the community.  Along with their daughters Sarah and Hannah, and their dog Collins, they are sold out to serve the community for Jesus' sake hoping to save a few.

For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.  
- 2 Corinthians 4:11

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?
- 1 John 3:16-17

Kevin and Jess Fluharty first came to the Rock in 2009.  They had no idea what the Lord was doing by bringing them to a city that was only 45 minutes from where they had both grown up.  They had been sure God was going to send them to serve Him in a foreign country somewhere!  After a few visits to the Wednesday night Bible Study, they knew this was where they were supposed to be.  They started commuting into the city from the suburbs a number of times each week to serve, and little by little, God put it on their hearts to pursue ministry full time.  A little over 4 years ago, they moved from Bucks County to East Elkhart Street in Kensington to be closer to the Rock and to be a part of the neighborhood.  They, and their 3 young boys, Elijah, Isaiah, and Noah, are now full time missionaries at the Rock and are so blessed to be a part of what the Lord is doing in Kensington.  Kevin coaches the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Team, serves as an Elder for the church, and helps coordinate security for Sunday services and weekly events.  Jess helps with the children’s ministry and serves in the administration office.  Together, they raise their three boys, homeschool, and daily seek to be a light on their block.

Looking forward, they anticipate the opening of the Nehemiah House for young men, of which Kevin will be the overseer. They are so excited to see how the Lord is going to use this home for young men to impact the neighborhood.

“ ‘Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent?  Just as it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things'.”
-Romans 10:13-15

 “For the LORD will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard”
- Isaiah 52:12b

I have prayed for, loved and supported Rock Ministries for years. In the fall of 2015 I moved back to the Philadelphia area to start a job as a Nurse Midwife in a local hospital. Soon after I received a copy of a documentary on the Rock in the mail. Months later while recovering from an accident, I finally watched the full documentary. I was brought to tears and was so drawn to helping the lost through this ministry, I prayed and asked the Lord how I could become involved. I wan’t sure what volunteering would look like, but at the very least I could start by being a friend to the women in need, and share the love of Jesus to those who were hurting. In January 2017, I spoke to a Rock missionary about helping a friend who wanted to go into recovery. When our conversation ended she said, “The Lord put it on my heart to ask you to join us as a volunteer at The Lost Coin." I responded, “I don’t think I need to pray about it because the Lord has been putting in my heart to come down and volunteer!"  

Over the next next few weeks I was helping at the Women's Breakfast, escorting women to doctors appointments, and participating in the Tuesday night Women's Bible Study. During this time I was in process of house hunting, and soon the Lord put it on my heart to move to Kensington as a missionary. I met with Pastor Buddy and Lucille, and we agreed to pray and ask God for guidance. Almost one year after the Lord impressed this on my heart I moved to Kensington, a few blocks from The Rock. Like most areas in Kensington, the neighborhood is filled with drug activity, but despite the surroundings I’m building relationships with neighbors. I am looking forward to all the Lord will be doing in my life, in the neighborhood, and at Calvary Chapel Kensington/Rock Ministries.

For years my favorite missions scripture is Joshua 1:9.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

I was 29 years old with terminal cancer and facing the possibility of decades of prison time. My past street life, with all its sin, selfishness and yet self-neglect had finally caught up with me. Laying in the cancer ward days from death, I wrestled with God. I felt I was at war with Him as he punished me for my past sins.  And then I broke…I gave myself to Him totally, accepting anything He had for me, whether life or death.

From that moment, the doctors noticed my condition – remarkably – improving.  I walked out of the hospital 2 weeks later cancer-free; but not before God had miraculously eliminated my legal problems! I was His completely.

I learned about Rock Ministries through my doctor and planned a day to come down to serve. I knew immediately this was where I was supposed to be. I never left! I am from north Philadelphia and now spend all my days ministering here at the Rock. What a privilege to be a missionary to my own city!

Very recently, I had a serious accident in which I almost drowned. The hospital claimed people in my condition rarely survived. Three days later, I walked out of yet another hospital! I can see very clearly now that in my brushes with death, God never intended to take my life; He was actually giving it back to me renewed, knowing what he wanted me to do with it.

“Here I am! Send me.”
– Isaiah 6:8

Michelle Beachy serves at The Rock in a multitude of roles. She began her service here as an intern and returned to serve full-time shortly after completing her internship. She plays a large roll in helping with The Rock’s youth program, Generation Next. Whether attending a weekend retreat or serving at the weekly Friday game nights, she provides a faithful and steadfast example of Christ to the kids. She also helps with the food pantry ministry as they distribute food weekly. She is a willing servant and always enthusiastic to do whatever is asked of her.

Hi! My name is Katie Breen - I’m from the Shenandoah Valley in Harrisonburg Virginia and have been serving at the Rock since August of 2021. During my internship in the fall of 2021, the Lord very clearly confirmed my calling to stay long-term as a missionary at the Rock, and there’s nowhere I’d rather be than right where the Lord has me. Growing up, I’ve always had a burden for missions and just continued to pray where the Lord would take me, and though I thought it’d be somewhere out of the country, He’s called me to this inner-city hood. My passion to reach the community in Kensington with the gospel and love of Christ continues to deepen, and it’s honestly such an honor and privilege to be any part of what the Lord’s doing here through the Rock. He faithfully reminds me that our time here on earth is only temporary, and we don’t know how long it is, whether He returns (which would be so awesome) or if we die and go to be in eternity with Him. James 4:14 says, “You do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” So, with whatever time the Lord chooses to grace me here on earth, I want to follow His leading, spread the gospel, and share about the living hope we have in Jesus.

I serve in several different areas of the ministry, some of the main ones include the chaplaincy, the drop-in station for the addicted looking for help, and several of the youth ministries and outreaches on the streets or with the kids at the park. I live with two wonderful ladies in a missionary home on a very renowned drug corner, and the Lord’s definitely shown me that part of being a missionary here is simply being a good neighbor and ministering to the families on the block. I am so overjoyed to be serving here, and can’t wait to see how God continues to push me out of my comfort zone to grow more in my personal relationship with Him and to make Him known in Kensington.

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” - 1 Corinthians 15:58