Rev. Robert Merrill Brock

Rev. Robert Merrill Brock, 82, of New Castle, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday afternoon, December 3, 2023. Bob was a Missionary Statesman, a gifted Bible teacher and preacher, a prayer warrior, a spiritual hero to many, and a light to all who knew him. He was born on August 13, 1941, in Columbus, Ohio, a son of the late Robert Champ and Vivian Louise (Weigand) Brock. Bob’s parents brought him to church when he was three weeks old. You could count on one hand the number of Sunday services he has missed in his entire life. His home church, Hilltop Community Church in Columbus, Ohio, was a strong supporter of The Oriental Missionary Society, and from an early age Bob felt called to serve in foreign missions. He was a 1959 graduate of West High School in Columbus, Ohio. In 1961, he entered the US Air Force, serving in Intercept Radio Communications with top-secret clearance, serving in Turkey and the Philippines. Following his honorable discharge from the USAF, Bob enrolled at God’s Bible School and College and Missionary Training Home in Cincinnati, Ohio. While at GBS, he met the love of his life, Barbara Lee Hopkins. They were married on August 19, 1967. Bob graduated from God's Bible School in 1969 with a BA in Bible. He was encouraged by R.G. Flexon, the greatest hero in his life, to oversee GBS's City Missions Outreach for the following year. R.G. Flexon was the camp meeting evangelist at GBS in 1969. Before he was to preach the evening service, Bob was sanctified in R.G. Flexon’s car in the parking lot, which was a great turning point in Bob’s life. Beginning In 1970, Bob and Barb served as missionaries in Papua New Guinea for 21 years. They brought the message of Salvation and heart Holiness to the people deep in remote villages in “the bush.” In addition to preaching, their ministry focused on literacy, teaching the people to read and write in their national language of Melanesian Pidgin English. Their four children were raised in Papua New Guinea. In 1972, Bob established Tambul Baibel Skul (Bible School) to train national pastors to minister to their own people. Today, over 2,000 graduates are preaching in almost every province of Papua New Guinea. He served as the president of the Bible School and taught there full-time for 17 years. For the past six years he has taught online Bible classes for Tambul Bible School and Pacific Bible College. He authored the book Holines Long Bikpela (Holiness Unto the Lord). In addition to serving in PNG, Bob ministered in South Dakota to the Sioux Indians, Grenada, Mexico, Haiti, Belize, Turkey, and the Philippines. Bob and Barb returned to visit PNG several times over the years, most recently in 2015. They were invited by the National Church to be present at the ceremony as the authorized 1611 first edition of the King James Bible was presented to Papua New Guinea and accepted by the Prime Minister. It was placed in the Chamber of Parliament as a national treasure to guide the affairs and the decision making of Papua New Guinea. Bob’s life was a living testimony. He ministered to thousands of people and led many to Christ. The years spent in Papua New Guinea were the most fulfilling years of his life. In 1992, Bob and his family returned to God's Bible School in Cincinnati, where he supervised the Student Work Program. In 1996, they moved to New Castle, Indiana, to be close to family. Bob worked for Sproles Church Building Corporation where he played a large role in constructing over 50 new church building projects in his 22 years of service for the company. He was a current member of the New Castle Pilgrim Holiness Church, where he had taught the Adult Sunday School Class and served on the Board of Trustees. Bob loved fixing things. He was detail-oriented, an organizer, an artist, a gardener, a model train enthusiast, and a coin collector. Bob's love for trains stemmed from his early childhood as his father worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad. They would take trips via train to California to visit family. Most importantly, he was an intentional grandpa who spent much time with his grandchildren, whom he dearly loved. Bob spent endless hours reading and studying his Bible and praying for his family. He will always be known for fervently praying for his country, for “lost souls,” and for his missionary endeavors in PNG. The message of heart Holiness and Godly living were distinct trademarks of his life and ministry. Those left to cherish Bob’s memory include his loving wife of 56 years, Barb Brock; four children, Julie (John Mark) Sproles of New Castle, Janie (Carl) Eisenhart of Loveland, Ohio, Rob (Tricia) Brock of Ft. Myers, FL, and Rick (Lisa) Brock of Columbus, OH; 13 grandchildren, Evan, Katelyn, Brooklyn and Brayden Sproles, Caleb, Abby (Ryan) Susan, Ella and Isaac Eisenhart, Taylor, Robert “Bug” and Evelyn Brock, Elaina and Ethan Brock; a sister, Karen Scalzi of Danville, CA; an aunt, Faith Bell of Olathe, Kansas, several nieces and nephews, his missionary family, and a great host of Christians all across Papua New Guinea who will be viewing online the funeral of their missionary hero. In addition to his parents, Bob was preceded in death by his brother, Brian Champ Brock. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, December 9, 2023, at Sproles Family Funeral Home with Pastor Don Raines officiating. Burial will follow in South Mound Cemetery West Lawn Addition with military funeral honors conducted by the US Air Force, American Legion, and VFW. You may view the funeral service via live stream by Clicking Here. Friends may call from 4 – 8 pm Friday and one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be offered to the Tambul Bible School by Clicking Here. You may send the family a personal condolence at www.sprolesfamilycares.com. The family of Robert Brock would like to say a special thank you to the medical staff of Ball Memorial Hospital, especially to Amber and Brandon, for their exceptional care during Bob’s final hours. The loving care shown by our church family during this time will never be forgotten. The Sproles family and staff are honored to serve the family of Rev. Robert Merrill Brock.

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Rev. Robert Merrill Brock

August 13, 1941 - December 3, 2023