The Orchard Group

On September 18, 2005, North Shore Christian Church was started in Riverhead, Long Island, New York. The eastern end of Long Island is a very different culture from New York City and the rest of the NY metropolitan area. However, it is rapidly growing and there are very few churches in the region.

Jerry and Kristen Halpin are working with the congregation. Kristen is a Long Island native, and Jerry and Kristen most recently served in youth ministry with the Nesconset Christian Church.

The congregation had significant difficulties in its first year of life, with strong opposition and legal activity trying to prohibit them from meeting in a public school building for weekend worship. All decisions were in the favor of the church, and the church has been able to take a positive attitude toward serving its community. The congregation was running about 70 in attendance on the first anniversary of its launch.

Orchard Group does not directly oversee this new church, but provides donor management and payroll services for the church.