Cornerstone Christian Church is a nondenominational, Christ-centered church at 495 Wyckoff Ave., on the corners of Wyckoff and Russell avenues in Wyckoff, Bergen County. Its mission is expressed as “build. invest. serve.” The church seeks to build a community centered on Jesus Christ, invest in the next generation, and generously serve a world in need. Cornerstone is known for contemporary worship with Bible-based sermons, year-round children's programming, ministries across multiple generations, and support for more than 45 missionaries around the world.
Two Sunday Gatherings at the MMC
Sunday worship is offered at 9:00 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. in the main building, the McGuill Ministry Center, or MMC. Both gatherings combine contemporary worship with Bible-based preaching and are led within the church's pastoral and worship teams. Lead Pastor Rev. Dr. Fred Provencher, Worship Coordinator Noreen Abdon and the congregation gather around the mission of loving God and serving neighbors.
Children have age-appropriate programming at both services. Nursery care is provided for infants and toddlers through age 2, while Kids Church serves children ages 2 through 5th grade. Kids Church includes singing, Bible lessons, themed activities and opportunities to play with other children. On Big Church Sundays, children in second grade and up join the main gathering so that families can worship together across generations. These messages are designed for adults and children, often incorporating humor, illustrations and a somewhat shorter format.
The sermon audio also has an assisted listening option. Cornerstone uses a wireless system that can connect to Auracast-enabled hearing aids, earbuds or smartphones. Visitors who do not have a compatible device can obtain a listening pack with headphones at the Registration Desk, where staff and volunteers are available to help set it up.
Making a First Sunday Morning Simple
There is no particular dress code at Cornerstone. Some people wear Sunday best, while others dress casually, and the church invites guests to come in whatever feels comfortable. Arriving a few minutes before either gathering allows time to find a seat. Families using the nursery or Kids Church, especially on a first visit, need additional time for check-in and drop-off.
There is parking throughout the church property, with entrances on both sides of the MMC. The main entrance includes a drive-through portico for convenient drop-off and pickup. If the campus spaces are full, drivers can cross through the driveway opposite the playground and use the connected Community Park lot next door. Gatherings take place in the MMC rather than at the church's other buildings.
A welcome form provides a coordinated first-visit experience. It allows the greeting team to anticipate a guest, answer questions, register children for Kids Church or nursery care, arrange a facility tour and provide a welcome gift. After the form is submitted, a member of the welcome team connects with the visitor to coordinate the visit. The welcome form is part of Cornerstone's broader effort to make an unfamiliar church gathering feel personal and unhurried.
Children from Nursery Through Elementary School
Cornerstone Kids focuses on child discipleship, family discipleship and outreach to families. Its goal is to prepare young people to live and serve in their own communities. Director of Early Education Lauren Kirk oversees programs from birth through first grade and supports elementary ministries, while Director of Elementary Education Kiara Gary leads the Kids Church ministry for older elementary children.
Nursery and Kids Church classes through first grade meet in the lower level of the MMC. Children in second through fifth grades meet in the upper MMC youth center. This age-based arrangement places younger children near their families while giving older students a distinct space for interactive Bible lessons, songs, creative activities and peer interaction.
AWANA adds a Sunday-evening program for children ages 3 through 5th grade. It runs from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. throughout the school year and uses games, worship songs and Bible stories to build a biblical foundation. Kiddies & Coffee meets from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursdays in the MMC. Children from birth through kindergarten attend with a parent, grandparent or other caregiver for coffee, snacks, toys, music and stories.
Wyckoff Christian Preschool & Kindergarten is an educational ministry at 485 Wyckoff Ave., in the lower level of the MMC. It has been part of the Cornerstone campus since 1995 and serves children from ages 2 1/2 through 5. With more than 20 staff members and an enrollment of approximately 150 children each school year, the school emphasizes academic, physical, developmental and spiritual growth. Its seven classrooms, creative learning materials and indoor and outdoor playgrounds create an environment where God's Word is the foundation of truth and God's love is the model for life. The school is licensed by the State of New Jersey and complies with state child care regulations.
Youth Built Around Bible Literacy and Belonging
Cornerstone Youth serves middle and high school students who want to grow in faith and become active members of the local church. On Youth Sunday, middle school students meet during the 9:00 and 10:45 a.m. gatherings on the second, third and fourth Sundays. High school students meet at 9:00 a.m. on the second and fourth Sundays. The program emphasizes meaningful friendships, Bible literacy, an understanding of Jesus and navigating adolescence through a faith lens.
Weeknight youth groups run throughout the school year. Students in grades 6 through 8 meet Tuesdays from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., while grades 9 through 12 meet Thursdays during the same hours. Both groups include time with friends, games, live music, a relevant message and small-group conversations about real-life questions. Luke Osterhus oversees high school ministry, and Garrett Arters leads middle school programming and Youth Sunday.
The youth space also opens on the first Wednesday of each month from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Students can complete homework, play games, spend time with friends and have cafe-style refreshments in an informal after-school setting. The recurring gathering is designed for students who are already part of Cornerstone as well as those simply looking for a place to spend time after school.
Each youth gathering includes Bible reading and teaching intended to equip students to understand Jesus and salvation. Each Life Group has two or three adult leaders who seek to build relationships with students. Cornerstone Youth also encourages teenagers to participate more broadly in the church, where they can meet adult role models, discover spiritual gifts and serve alongside people of different ages.
Every Life Matters at the 9:00 Gathering
Cornerstone's Special Needs Ministry welcomes children and families into an inclusive community. During the 9:00 a.m. Kids Church program, trained adult buddies provide individualized one-on-one support for children through fifth grade. These helpers assist with sensory needs, offer comfort and attention, and help children participate safely alongside their peers in Bible lessons and activities.
A dedicated respite room serves individuals with support needs through age 22. Trained team members provide caring supervision in a quiet setting while parents or caregivers attend the worship service. Families complete a special needs information form before a first visit so the team can understand the child's needs and arrange appropriate support.
Doing Life Together in Life Groups
Life Groups are Cornerstone's primary small communities for spiritual growth and relationship. Rooted in Acts 2:42, the groups provide places to share life, study Scripture and pray. They meet throughout the week and welcome people to learn, be challenged, embrace differences, offer encouragement and remain centered on Jesus. Pastor Jonathan Frank oversees adult ministries, while Alina Castellanos directs Life Groups and Mentoring.
Women's ministry seeks to help women know Jesus more deeply and support one another through different seasons. Its groups and events emphasize prayer, relationships, Bible study and service. Women of all ages and stages are welcome in Bible studies and Gather & Grow gatherings, with child care available for children ages 6 months to 5 years in the Tuesday studies. Cornerstone Men, also called Rooted, offers Life Groups, yearly gatherings and local or global service opportunities for men to deepen their faith, share the message of Jesus and build friendships.
College & Career welcomes people ages 18 through 26 who are studying, entering the workforce or moving between those stages of life. Its gatherings explore biblical principles, relationships, career choices, personal growth and purpose. The Seniors Ministry offers luncheons, worship gatherings and other opportunities for retired adults and seniors to build relationships and remain connected. These ministries recognize that adulthood contains many seasons rather than treating everyone as part of one generic stage.
Mentoring, Membership and Baptism
The Cornerstone Mentoring Program pairs interested people with seasoned, vetted and trained followers of Jesus. Mentors can walk alongside mentees through faith, family, finances, friendships and professional decisions. The program treats mentoring as a form of discipleship based on mutual care, shared wisdom and relationships modeled in Scripture.
Pastor Jack Hein leads faith education, and Cornerstone offers classes for people who are new to faith, new to the church or seeking deeper discipleship. Family discipleship includes gatherings such as Take Back Your Family, which focuses on building a multigenerational family team, establishing a family mission and developing practices that support flourishing. Membership classes explore biblical truths, core beliefs and the responsibilities of serving and being served within the church family.
Cornerstone continues the practice of baptism by immersion and offers opportunities multiple times each year, along with classes for those considering baptism. The church believes public baptism follows a person's decision to trust Jesus Christ as Savior and follow him. These teachings stand alongside its practice of celebrating Communion, or the Lord's Supper, and opening it to all believers regardless of church membership.
Care Through Illness, Injury and Loss
Cornerstone's pastoral team provides care and counseling for individuals, couples and families. Its ministries include hospital and home visitation, funeral support, bereavement care, post-injury or surgery care, senior care and celebrations surrounding births, adoptions and weddings. People facing emotional, mental, spiritual or substance-related challenges can receive pastoral support, resources and professional referrals through the church's care ministry.
Several support groups address particular seasons. Celebrate Recovery uses a biblically balanced approach to help people seeking healing from hurt, pain, addiction and other struggles. GriefShare accompanies people who have lost a spouse, child, relative or friend. DivorceCare offers a Christ-centered environment for those working through separation or divorce, and a professionally led mental health support group provides a safe setting for discussing recovery strategies, self-care and continuing support.
The care team also coordinates meals for families dealing with illness, injury, a new baby or recovery from surgery. On the first Sunday of each month, Cornerstone collects a special Benevolence Offering for people in the church community facing acute financial needs. The Benevolent Fund, administered by the elders, provides short-term assistance with needs such as food, shelter, clothing, transportation, healthcare and counseling. The fund is administered with documented requests and oversight, and it is not intended to provide long-term financial assistance.
A Monthly Rhythm of Neighbor Service
Cornerstone supports more than 45 missionaries serving in South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Pastor John Oostdyk also serves as executive director of Servant's Heart Ministry, which builds homes and churches. The church provides financial support, prayerful encouragement and, when possible, participation alongside missionaries. Short-term mission trips are another way for congregants to learn about culture and poverty while learning to communicate their faith through personal experience.
Local service follows a recurring monthly rhythm. Cornerstone partners with Lighthouse PRC on the first Tuesday, New Hope on the second Saturday, Camp Shiloh on the third Saturday and City Relief on the fourth Saturday. Volunteers assist with food service, ESL classes, childcare, donation sorting, maintenance and physical projects such as splitting firewood. These opportunities welcome different abilities and allow regular volunteers to serve neighbors throughout Bergen County and nearby communities.
Other mission-minded ministries include a garden that grows food to help feed people who are hungry and support for the Wyckoff Christian Preschool and Kindergarten. The church also gives toward urgent international and local needs. Outreach Coordinator Daniel Murphy helps coordinate service opportunities, connecting the congregation with practical work that extends beyond the church campus.
Giving That Supports Formation and Relief
Giving is described as an act of worship and an acknowledgment that everything belongs to God. It supports the Kids Ministry and its curriculum, youth discipleship, Life Groups, faith education, the preschool, local ministry partners, international missions, food grown in the garden, Servant's Heart and urgent relief. Twenty percent of weekly giving goes directly to more than 45 missionary partners. These commitments reflect the mission to build, invest and serve.
One-time and recurring gifts can be made through secure online giving. Contributions can also be placed in a giving box in the Gallery on Sundays or brought to the church office during regular business hours. Planned giving options include estate gifts, stocks, bonds, life insurance designations and other long-term commitments.
Cornerstone is an accredited member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. Its ECFA accreditation covers financial accountability, transparency, board governance and ethical fundraising through the organization's Seven Standards of Responsible Stewardship. This accountability provides a framework for the elders and financial leaders who oversee church funds.
The Cornerstone Endowment Fund was established by the elder board in early 2020 for planned and legacy gifts, memorials and honorariums. Its purpose is to preserve principal while using investment income to support the church's ministries, staffing, facilities and operational needs over time. The fund allows thank-you gifts to continue supporting Cornerstone beyond an individual donor's lifetime.
The Bible, Trinity and Salvation
Cornerstone believes the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in its original writings. The 66 books of the Old and New Testaments are the final authority for Christian faith and practice, understood through the work of the Holy Spirit. God is confessed as one God in three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Human beings are image bearers created to serve, care for creation and live in relationship with God and one another.
Jesus Christ is affirmed as fully God and fully man. Cornerstone believes he was born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for sin, rose bodily from the grave and reigns with the Father. The church teaches that salvation is freely offered through Jesus Christ alone, with repentance and faith as the response to God's gift. Forgiveness, eternal life and peace come through trusting him. The Holy Spirit indwells believers, assures them that they are children of God, teaches them and equips them for service.
Cornerstone looks forward to Jesus' return, when sin and injustice will end and creation will be restored. Its understanding of the church includes all people with personal faith in Jesus as Savior, expressed locally through worship, service, the spread of the Gospel and fellowship. It holds that true spiritual growth involves relationships, mentoring and mutual care rather than following Jesus alone.
Ordinances, Marriage and Pastoral Love
The church celebrates Communion and believer's baptism by immersion as central practices that remind congregants of salvation, their place in God's kingdom and their membership in the worldwide family of believers. Communion is open to all believers, while baptism is intended for those who have accepted Jesus as Savior and seek to follow him.
Cornerstone holds marriage to be a covenant established by God between one man and one woman for life. At the same time, it affirms LGBTQ people as made in God's image and worthy of love, respect, dignity and pastoral support. This combination of beliefs defines both its teaching on marriage and its stated posture of care toward people whose lives do not fit that definition.
Sermons, App and Community Connection
Church Community Builder, or CCB, gives congregants one place to find groups, registration forms and ways to communicate with the church community. Members can review their groups, giving records and privacy preferences, update information they choose to share and communicate with approved participants. A video introducing CCB helps new users learn how the community system works.
The CornerstoneNJ app brings together sermon notes, event registration, archived messages and online giving in a mobile format. Sermon messages and audio are also available through Vimeo, Spotify and Apple Podcasts, allowing messages to remain accessible beyond the Sunday gathering. Together, these recurring rhythms make Cornerstone a multigenerational church whose worship extends into family education, discipleship, care, practical service and mission.