Know, Grow, Go on Montauk Highway
Eastport Bible Church sits on Montauk Highway in the small Long Island hamlet of Eastport, just inland from Moriches Bay. The congregation describes itself as a non-denominational, Bible-believing church with a vision of being "a multigenerational church that is courageously multiplying followers of Christ." Every program, classroom, and small group rolls up under a simple three-word motto: KNOW. GROW. GO.
Sunday mornings are the heart of the week. From October through June, services run at 9:00 and 10:30 a.m., with nursery and EBC Kids offered at both. During July, August, and September the two services combine into one outdoor gathering at 10:00 a.m. behind the church building, weather permitting, with rain moving everything indoors. Live streaming on YouTube continues year-round for those who prefer to worship from home.
What to Expect on a Sunday Morning
Worship blends traditional hymns with newer songs, with the goal of turning hearts toward God rather than toward any particular style. Lead Pastor Kaleb Kemper opens the Scriptures and applies them to daily life. Visitors are told, plainly, that no one is expected to bring a dollar, and that shorts or a tie, a dress or a t-shirt, are all equally welcome.
Nursery care is available from six months through age two for the entire service, including worship. Children in Pre-K through fifth grade begin in the sanctuary with their families, sing during the worship set, and are dismissed before the sermon to age-appropriate classrooms in the church basement. At the 9:00 a.m. service the children stay together as one group led by Miss Nicole; at 10:30 they divide into PreK-first and second-fifth grade groups for the Bible story before rejoining for craft time. A Middle School Connect option for sixth through eighth graders meets on the first, second, and fifth Sundays at 10:30.
EBC Kids and the Buddy Ministry
Samantha Scaturro serves as EBC Kids Director, overseeing the Sunday morning children's ministry along with Vacation Bible School. Her vision is to create "a safe, Christ-centered environment where every child has a sense of belonging and the opportunity to learn, grow, and participate," with extra attention to children who learn differently.
That attention shows up in the Buddy Ministry, which pairs children with disabilities one-on-one alongside their peers during Kids Church. A calm corner offers sensory items like fidgets, weighted blankets, and stuffed animals. Families register their child once for the year, and the team works with parents to determine the right level of support before the first visit. All volunteers in children's ministry undergo background checks and safety training, and the program structure intentionally reflects New York State OCFS guidelines on group size and supervision.
Hangtime, Pioneer Girls, Stockade Boys, and VBS Kids Camp
Children's ministry extends well beyond Sunday. Hangtime, the church's after-school program for students in kindergarten through sixth grade, runs Wednesdays from 3:15 to 5:15 p.m. The screen-free, activity-based program is led by Children's Outreach Director Laura Herr and reaches out to kids in local schools and their families.
Two mid-week clubs give the program a gender-specific track: Pioneer Girls for third through sixth grade girls and Stockade Boys for third through sixth grade boys, both meeting Tuesday evenings during the school year. Vacation Bible School, branded VBS Kids Camp, is a free week-long summer experience for children entering first through seventh grade. The 2026 camp was themed "Rainforest Falls," with the 2027 registration opening in May.
EBCYG and the Living Room
Eastport's youth ministry, EBCYG, walks with students in grades 7 through 12 under the leadership of Pastor Jeremy Herr, who has served the church for eighteen years. The weekly rhythm during the school year includes a Thursday night gathering from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. with games, hanging out, and worship, and a smaller Sunday night meeting called the Living Room that meets at the Herr home from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Good Times Tuesdays, a student-led event, rounds out the week. Families can subscribe to text updates by messaging EBCYG to 833-627-3336.
The group also attends NTS Camp each summer and stays active online through Instagram (@ebcyg) and a Facebook group for parents.
Food Pantry, Shoeboxes, and Outdoor Church
Reaching out beyond the church walls is a steady part of EBC's identity. A community food pantry opens its doors every Tuesday from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. and every Friday from noon to 1:30 p.m., serving Eastport and surrounding neighborhoods. The pantry is part of a broader effort to meet practical needs alongside spiritual ones.
Each November the church serves as an Operation Christmas Child relay center in partnership with Samaritan's Purse. Empty shoeboxes are available at the church throughout the fall, and a week-long collection drive in mid-November gathers filled boxes headed for children around the world.
From July through September the Sunday service moves outdoors to the grass and shade behind the building, an intentionally relaxed setting that makes room for friends, extra kids, and a little more elbow room. Nursery and EBC Kids run as usual during the outdoor season.
Small Groups, Prayer, and the Five Cs
The congregation has organized its ministry around a discipleship model called the Five Cs: Community, Crowd, Congregation, Committed, and Core. The goal is to help people take next steps from a casual connection to a fully invested leadership role.
Small groups and Bible studies are one of the primary ways members move along that path. Current offerings include a Monday afternoon Fiber Arts Group, two Tuesday Men's Small Groups (one at Moriches Bay Diner at 7:30 a.m. and one at the church at 5:00 p.m.), a Tuesday evening Moms of Teens and Young Adults group, a Wednesday morning Prayer Gathering at 9:00 a.m., and a Friday morning Women's Bible Study on the Book of Acts. Disciple Makers groups provide a deeper track for those wanting to grow in their walk and help others do the same.
Prayer is woven into the life of the church. In addition to the Wednesday morning gathering, two congregants pray during every Sunday service for the pastors, worship team, and ministries in motion. An email prayer chain and a tear-off prayer card in the Sunday bulletin allow members to share requests privately or with the wider body.
What EBC Believes
Eastport Bible Church holds to a written statement of core beliefs rooted in classic evangelical Christianity. Members affirm that the Bible is the verbally inspired, error-free Word of God and the supreme authority for faith and life; that there is one God eternally existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and that Jesus Christ, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, is fully God. Salvation is by grace through faith in the perfect work of Christ, is eternal in duration, and is sealed by the baptism of the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer.
The church affirms the one true Church as the Body of Christ, the personal and imminent return of Jesus to rapture His church, everlasting salvation for believers, everlasting condemnation for the lost, and a shared responsibility among all followers of Christ to live honoring lives and to share their faith in word and deed.
The values that shape daily ministry follow the same thread: the Bible, people, salvation, prayer, the family of God, Christ-centered living, transformed lives, outreach, and service.
Staff and Leadership
Kaleb Kemper has been Lead Pastor since 2018. He and his wife Amber have four children and are known for a teaching style that aims to make the Bible practical for everyday decisions. Pastor Jeremy Herr leads youth and discipleship, bringing nearly two decades of experience.
Brenda Tuttle serves as Family Life Director, supporting families and individuals throughout the church. Laura Herr oversees children's outreach, including the Hangtime after-school program. Samantha Scaturro directs EBC Kids on Sunday mornings and VBS Kids Camp during the summer. Jane Stanzini, the administrative assistant, keeps the office running and leads the Friday Women's Bible Study.
Affiliations and a Building for the Mission
Although EBC is an autonomous, independent church and not part of a denomination, it is voluntarily joined with the Grace Gospel Fellowship, a network of like-minded churches across the country. The church also partners with Grace Christian University for higher education, and supports worldwide missions through Grace Ministries International and Things to Come Mission.
The congregation is currently in a season of building. A New Building campaign frames the project with a question: "What if the future God sees has even greater impact than is happening now?" Members can support the effort with one-time or repeat gifts, and a three-year commitment form is available for those who want to plan their giving. The dream, as the campaign puts it, is a building "not for us, but for God and His mission in our community and beyond."