In July 1999, a local couple, after listening to a taped sermon from Eastern Hills Bible Church (EHBC), began attending church services there. Word spread about the quality of services at EHBC and by the spring of 2000 many more families were traveling the hour to Manlius, NY to attend the services.

Eventually, under the direction and ministry philosophy of EHBC, the idea of beginning a church in Utica was born. Our first service was held at Hamilton College on June 11, 2000. The main purpose of the service was to determine if there was enough interest in pursuing this vision. The service was standing room only with over 100 people in attendance.

By January 2001 it was determined that regular Sunday evening services needed to begin. The members of Norwich Corners Church graciously allowed us to use their building on Sunday nights. Being fully committed to the new church, a pastoral search committee was created in September of 2000. Additionally, a building committee was formed to locate a more permanent place for worship.

In April of 2001 the search committee unanimously voted to hire Leon Hayduchok as Pastor upon his graduation from Dallas Theological Seminary. With subsequent approval from the EHBC pastoral staff, Elder Board, and church members, Leon was made a formal offer to serve as Pastor. Leon and his wife, Anne-Marie, moved to Utica in August of 2001.

Shortly after hiring Leon, we took on the name Cornerstone Community Church and continued to search for a building to hold services. On November 19, 2001 the New York Mills Community Center, a former church built in 1873, was found to be available. Immediately, we began pursuing the purchase of the property. The closing took place on May 6, 2002, and after much renovation work, we held our first public church service on September 8, 2002.

Cornerstone continues to exist under the legal and spiritual authority of EHBC, functioning under the By-laws of EHBC and observing the EHBC Statement of Faith (see Doctrinal Statement on page 29). Cornerstone is in the process of establishing its own formal structure and will continue to do so as time progresses. Once the appropriate organizational and leadership structure is in place, it is the intention of EHBC to incorporate Cornerstone Community Church as an independent entity.

Since that time we have hired Mike Ballman. Mike is also a Dallas Theological Seminary grad and also serves Cornerstone as Pastor. Kelly Hildreth holds the position of Children's Ministry Director. She has a Masters Degree in Reading and is currently teaching in the public school system. More recently we hired Chris Weber, a graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary, to serve as a Pastoral Assistant and Administrator.