Connie Rock

Meet Connie Rock! Connie has been living in Hall County for 11 years, is married, is the owner of Purchase Effect, a clothing store, on the downtown Gainesville square and is a missionary with Adventures in Missions.  “I work for Adventures in Missions and I lead international trips each year,” she said. “I’ll go early and meet my teams when they arrive. Adventures in Missions is kind enough to let me stay and then I’m able to go meet my artisans.
 
“When you go to other countries, part of the experience is talking to people and meeting the artisans and it’s awesome…I think it’s the best way to share the gospel right now with artisans. You get to sit down and talk to them about their families, how things are made and then they ask you why you’re there…it is just phenomenal.”
 
Connie was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota and was raised in Boliva where her parent were missionaries. Many of the artisans boots, bag and jewelry at the store are from Guatemala, where her parents live now. Purchase Effect also sends proceeds from sales back to the artisans.  “…I help the artisans pick the leather and fabric and help them match them, boot designs I’ll send to my guys and ask if they can work on them,” she said.  Since the Rocks have moved to Gainesville they host Bible studies in their home and attend Free Chapel when they are in the country.  “We don’t have children, we have been married for almost 24 years and so, we look at it as a blessing that the Lord knew and we say we are parents none and yet to many. So that is why we are able to travel and work with a high school program with Adventures in Missions,” she said.
 
We want to thank Connie for taking some time with us recently to tell us more about her life and love of Hall County.
Question: What was your inspiration for opening Purchase Effect?
Answer: “I was real hesitant in opening the store because the story behind the products was so important to me but then the Holy Spirit was working on me and…the Lord opened the door for this space and it’s perfect, the people here are great.”
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?
A: “I always have a list of places but right now Morocco. I think as it harder for believers to go anywhere in the world, that is how we are going to reach people and lead them to Jesus Christ.”
Q: What is the first movie that you remember seeing in the theater?
A: “Probably ‘Annie’ but my favorite movie all time is ‘Top Gun,’ I loved the Val Kilmer of the 80s.”
Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people?
A: “Go explore, it doesn’t mean you have to travel the world, but get out of the norm. Build relationships with people that you typically wouldn’t rub shoulders with.”
Q: What is your favorite thing about Hall County?
A: “When we moved here I said, ‘I don’t think we will be here long term.’ A few years ago, I said this is home, I’m going to be based here and I’m going to invest. It’s a great size, I can’t go anywhere no where I don’t know someone.”
Q: What is on your bucket list?
A: “Next year we are going to Israel and Jordan and we’ve been talking about that for 25 years, so I am excited about that.”
Q: What three words mean HOME to you?
A: “Family, peace, relationships, creating a beautiful environment for people.”
The Faces of Hall County is a project to showcase the amazing people that live in our community. If you would like to nominate an interesting person to be featured please email babernathy@gonorton.com.