Staff

Helping people who are far from God become fully developed worshipers and servants of Christ.

Paul Atwater, Senior Pastor

Paul Atwater was our founding pastor when North River was launched in 1989 and continues to serve as our Senior Pastor. After growing up on the South Shore, he graduated from Wheaton College in Illinois, and Denver Seminary in Colorado. Paul is an avid reader, regularly diving into books on leadership, church history, and military history. He has a passion for communicating God’s grace and love to people who did not grow up with strong church connections. Paul and Susan have been married since 1981, with two grown daughters. He also teaches each month at the Thursday Morning Men’s Breakfast at the Union Club in Boston, and serves on the steering team for Greater Things for Greater Boston, a group of urban and suburban church leaders who are committed to changing how our community sees and talks about the church. Formerly, Paul served as a contributing editor for Leadership Journal, and was a member of Wheaton College’s Leadership Council. Paul can be reached by phone at 781-826-0722 ext. 104 .

Todd Szymczak, Executive Pastor

Todd grew up on the South Shore, and is a graduate of Duxbury High School. He graduated from Gordon College in Wenham, MA, with a degree in Youth Ministries, and holds a Master’s degree from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. Todd has faithfully served in ministry for over twenty years in various churches throughout New England. He is gifted in leadership development, intentional shepherding, team building and teaching.

Kristie Peck, NextGen Pastor

Kristie Peck first came to North River Community Church as a Student Ministries Intern during the summer of 2002 under, then Student Ministries Pastor, Todd Szymczak. She graduated in 2004 from Gordon College with a major in Youth Ministry and a minor in Biblical Studies. She is delighted to be serving at NRCC, and cannot wait to see what God is going to do through the Next Generation on the South Shore.

Kristie’s ministry experiences have taken her from camps in the rolling Berkshire Hills of Western MA, to the daffodil fields in Wales, Great Britain, from the seacoast of Maine to the heart of bustling Manhattan. Her heart for teenagers is clearly seen in her dedication to the foster care system, where she and her husband, Rich, have opened their home to more than a fifteen teenagers and children over the span of eight years.

Kristie and Rich have two absolutely amazing, biological children, Mackenzie and Braeden. They are about to add an equally amazing teenager to their family. They live in Duxbury and can often be found hiking in the town forest or enjoy the waves at Duxbury Beach.

Kristie can be reached by phone at 781-826-0722 x 105.

Krystiana McGovern, Interim Children’s Ministry Coordinator

Krystiana grew up here in Pembroke, MA. She has years of experience working with children of all ages. She was an English and Math Tutor and ran the junior program for ages 3-5 at the Kumon Learning Centers in Kingston and Hanover. Krystiana has also worked as a children’s caregiver for several families around the South Shore. Most recently, Krystiana was a Teacher at South Shore Christian Academy in Weymouth, where she developed and implemented a Character Education curriculum for children in Kindergarten through 5th grade. She is completing a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bridgewater State University, with expected graduation next fall. Krystiana has an amazing husband Pat, and they reside in Plymouth.

Krystiana is passionate about teaching children how to have a personal relationship with God and is excited to see where He takes North River Children’s Ministry!