Embracing a Wealthy and Non-Religious Community

Planting Point Church in a movie theater on Long Island, a suburb near New York City known for its tony affluence and hardened spiritual ground, exposed a long stretch of faith for Todd and Mary Bishop. Nassau and Suffolk counties, which make up Long Island, only have about 100,000 evangelical Christians according to the Association of Religion Data Archives out of a population close to three million. The couple also faced a sad legacy of unfruitful AG church plants in the previous 20 years.   

Listening to the Holy Spirit in 2008, Bishop resigned a rewarding nine-year position as youth pastor of Bethlehem Assembly of God in Valley Stream, New York.  

"God touched our hearts about Long Island as one of the least Christian areas that needed the gospel," he says.

Bishop's faith was confirmed when Steven Milazzo, Bethlehem AG's lead pastor, gave his blessing for launching Point Church and graciously released Bethlehem AG families to attend the new church. In addition, the AG's Church Multiplication Network provided seed funding.   

Services began with around 70 congregants, half of them from Bethlehem AG. While the new ministry grew, it was tested financially. But God provided, and within two years the congregation increased to 150, requiring larger facilities.

In 2010, Point Church purchased its first building in Hicksville, New York, from a nondenominational group for $225,000, far below the original asking price of $864,000. Within three years the congregation soared to an average attendance of 600. Last year, the 25-year mortgage was satisfied.

Point Church serves a multiethnic community with five full-time staff and a membership of younger families, senior citizens, and professionals, representing an average age of 32. The church conducts four Sunday services in Hicksville and nearby Deer Park in movie theaters. By word of mouth and TV commercials, about 15 new guests arrive every Sunday.

"We are growing by building up people and encouraging relationships with Christ," Bishop says. "In 2014, we recorded 250 decisions for Christ."

Schoolteacher John Dolan set foot in Point Church reluctantly during 2013 at the urging of his wife. The Dolans were still searching for meaningful spiritual depth and help with family hardships. They found peace, forgiveness, and hope and were baptized last year. The Dolans now are active in several ministries.

The next step of faith for Point Church is purchasing a 20,000 square-foot former Jewish synagogue on two acres, with a seating capacity of 700 for $1.85 million. The new facility will have a special needs children's ministry and a coffeehouse.

An incident last August on a typical Long Island sweltering Saturday sums up Bishop's commitment. Thirsty and sweating from trekking door-to-door with his daughter distributing church invitation fliers, he was surprised by a child running out of a house with bottles of water. The girl's father stepped outside declaring, "Thanks for not giving up on our city."   

Peter K. Johnson

Peter K. Johnson is a freelance writer living in Saranac Lake, New York. More than 500 of his articles and short stories have appeared in Christian and mainstream magazines and newspapers, including the Pentecostal Evangel,Charisma, the Saturday Evening Post, Guideposts, and Decision. He also serves as a consultant and contributing editor to a scientific journal.