Share this article:

In the spring of 2020 when all churches went online, my husband Ken and I started watching a few different services. Ken always enjoyed Pastor Colin on the radio, so we started watching the Arlington Heights and Barrington services where we saw great teaching from the pastors. We sensed it was time to make a move to a more biblically centered church, so we started to consider The Orchard our new church.



In the spring of 2021, Ken was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma and was advised by his doctors to stay away from crowds because he was on chemotherapy and immunocompromised. So, we continued to watch from home. During that time, my bible study sisters of 25 years had started to attend the Barrington campus.


In July 2022 Ken lost his battle with cancer and I found myself in the predicament of not being a member of a church to hold his service. We hadn’t attended our previous church in 2 years and no longer felt part of that community.

We also had not attended in person at The Orchard but felt it was our new congregation and where I wanted to have Ken’s service. I reached out to the staff and was greeted warmly by Marilyn, Pastor Trey, and Pastor Tom. They told me not to worry and of course The Orchard would perform Ken’s funeral. Marilyn helped me coordinate the details, Pastor Tom gave encouragement and Pastor Trey created a beautiful service to honor my husband, a man he had never met. I was really blown away by their kindness. I felt that I had so much love and support. I couldn’t have felt more blessed by God from the support of my Orchard family. After Ken's death I was able to start attending in person and be surrounded by my two best friends, now also attending the Orchard.


Ken’s death increased my faith. I also feel it helped me fix my eyes toward my heavenly home, because I was so focused on what Ken and I would do in retirement and the serving we would do for the Lord. With that dream now gone, it has really helped me to focus on what God has planned for me in the time I have remaining on this earth. Shortly after Ken’s death I checked the church’s website and saw that there was a grief support group starting soon, called GriefShare. I started attending the class and it has really shown me how to hang on to God for comfort and peace. Scriptures that I have read for many years now have new meaning, words of comfort, lament, love and peace. As the funeral service was held after the start of GriefShare, I was amazed that one of the leaders came to the funeral to be of support. It meant a lot to me that the church reached out to me in my time of need. There is love and care here in this church, I was showered with it from the moment I set foot in the door, and I am so happy to be calling The Orchard my new church home.

Connect with Us:

Vince Massei's Testimony | Itasca

May 16, 2025
Vince shared with the staff at The Orchard Itasca how God has been moving in his life, and how Vince's life has been turned around through faithful obedience. Coming to The Orchard Itasca has been one of the biggest blessings in my life. Pastors Ryan Potelicki and Ryan Coburn have been everything I’ve ever wanted in spiritual leaders and then some! Through them, God has really let Himself be known to me. Having grown up Catholic, becoming an atheist for 10 years, then rediscovering the Lord, the deep-dives into scripture during the sermons have been exactly what I felt was missing in my past. Ever since God led me to those doors on George Street in Itasca back on Mother's Day 2024, I went from reading my Bible because that’s what a “good Christian” is supposed to do, to now looking forward to

Irene Mosias | SHINE Video

May 1, 2025
Irene Mosias, an American Ukrainian, is a shining example of faith in action. Using her unique skills and unwavering compassion, she has been orchestrating the delivery of both furniture and food to Ukrainian refugees affected by the devastating war. In her efforts, Irene seeks to extend the love of Jesus to those seeking asylum and safety from war-torn countries. Through her dedicated work, she reminds us all of the call to serve and care for those in need as Christ's hands and feet. Do you, or someone you know, have a SHINE story? Let us know!

Shannon's Baptism | Barrington

March 28, 2025
At my baptism, I shared my testimony with The Orchard Barrington, and I am so excited to share a bit about my journey leading up to this moment. In middle school, I decided to come to faith at the Orchard Winter retreat. During worship service, I became so overwhelmed by the love for Jesus I felt by everyone around me and made the decision to commit my life to him. Since then, having gone through the majority of my time in High school, it has been hard balancing my faith and desire for Jesus, with the worldly ideas and attitudes I often feel so surrounded by. I have been challenged by the comparison, loneliness, and jealousy that can often seem to overshadow God's presence in my heart.