About Us
Who we are
Wading River Congregational Church is a faith community that welcomes everyone.
Our Pastor
John Brock Evans
John Brock Evans became the Senior Minister of Wading River Congregational Church by a unanimous vote on June 18, 2023. John was raised primarily in the Midwest by loving parents and grandparents who introduced him to the gospel at an early age. He was ordained to the ministry in April of 2008 and has served in pastoral ministry since September of 2000.
John graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biblical Theology in 2006 and is currently finishing a Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. His theology is best represented by the Westminster Confession of Faith to which he adheres. John enjoys reading theology, traveling, playing sports, and listening to all kinds of music.
Our Administrator and Accompanist
Diane Hanwick
Diane Hanwick has served as the part-time Office Administrator at WRCC since September of 2021. She graduated from Dowling College in 2000 with a BS in Business Administration & Management, and previously served as the Administrator at Cornell University’s Long Island Horticultural Research & Extension Center in Riverhead for 19 years. She retired from Cornell in 2019.
Diane, who started taking piano lessons at 5 years old, has been playing the organ/piano at WRCC since 1976 – that’s over 45 years! Diane enjoys playing classical music pieces but has developed an interest in Praise & Worship music.
In addition to her work at WRCC, Diane is also the current Executive Secretary & Treasurer of the Long Island Flower Growers Association.
The Word Of God
Must Shape And Define
Everything We Do As A Church
Mission Statement
Wading River Congregational Church invites people of all ages and backgrounds to come hear the good news of Jesus, experience His grace, and develop a relationship with the living God. We are seeking to live Gospel-centered lives by building a loving community and helping each other in concrete ways, as we glorify God and demonstrate God’s love in action.
Statement Of Faith
WRCC Statement of Faith As a church we reaffirm what Christians throughout history and around the world have proclaimed as the foundation of our faith, summarized in the Apostles’ Creed:
We believe in God the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. We believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.
This creed is one of the oldest summaries of the message of Jesus. It is contained in the Bible, the inspired Word of God, our source of authority, doctrine and direction in all areas of faith and life. We affirm with Christians around the world that it teaches:
- That the only true God has revealed himself to be one God in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, a Trinity.
- That he created everything that exists, including humanity, who he created in his own image to know and worship him.
- But we sinned by rejecting him and choosing to be our own gods. As a result, we have separated ourselves from him and cut ourselves off from his life.
- But God, in his great love and mercy, did not leave us to our own fate but sent his Son to save us.
- Jesus is the eternal Son of God. He became a real person, like us, but without sin. He came and lived a life of perfect love and faithfulness, proclaiming reconciliation to God. But he was rejected and killed.
- In death, Jesus became our sacrifice, facing the death we deserve, and freeing us from sin and guilt.
- By the infinite power of God, Jesus overcame sin and death and rose from the dead, bringing new life into this world.
- Jesus now offers this life freely to anyone who will receive it by trusting him as Savior and Lord, and promises to come again and make everything new.