Pastor John Kenreich was born in Troy, NY and grew up in Long Island City, New York. In 1965 he graduated from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. After his ordination, he served at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (an all-Black congregation) in Fort Wayne, Indiana for three years, and Our Saviour Lutheran Church (also an all-Black congregation) in Indianapolis, Indiana for eight years. In 1976he received a call to Christ Our Saviour Church in Hampton Bays, NY.
In 2025 he is celebrating his 60th year of ministry thanks to God’s grace and mercy. Pastor John is the father of three surviving children, seven grandchildren, and one great grandchild. Having led the Alpha program 36 times, he is also the creator of Morris the Mouse who has been witnessing to the children in the Vacation Bible School (VBS) program for 49 years.
He does not have a “life verse” but rather considers Romans 3, 4, and 5 to be the essence of the expression of the basis for the faith of a Christian and deeply meaningful for him personally. First Corinthians 15 is also profoundly important. Pastor John has taught a scholarly Bible study every week for 60 years. A day at a time, he has been in recovery for 41 years.