The word inclusion has become a loaded term in our world today. Too often, it gets tangled up in debates and controversies that divide rather than unite. But at its heart, inclusion is a simple, beautiful concept: making room for everyone, ensuring that no one is left out, and creating spaces where all people feel they belong.
That’s what church is meant to be. A place where differences fade, where love abounds, and where everyone—no matter their story or circumstance—has a seat at the table.
I remember being a kid, and feeling like I didn’t fit in anywhere. I was different. I was bullied. My ADHD brain worked differently than all the other kids. But on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights, the soft organ music, the warm smiles and handshakes, the patient and kind folks that treated me like they were my aunts and uncles. “You’re getting so tall, bud!” “Hey, I heard you play that sax on the field at halftime last week. The band sounds great this year!” At church, I was included, respected, and welcomed.
The pastor taught us in his warm Texan drawl about Jesus. Jesus welcomed sinners and made them saints. Jesus healed those who couldn’t see and those who couldn’t walk. Jesus scolded those who tried to chase away the little kids.
At church, I wasn’t called names. Even the kids that called me names at school, didn’t call me names at church. It was truly a sanctuary.
When my family moved to Bradford, we visited a couple of wonderful churches with wonderful people. But when we found Open Arms Community Church, we instantly knew we were home. We felt welcomed and embraced like we were family, from the moment we walked through the door and up the stairs.
Here’s the thing that I notice now – We walked up a set of stairs from the lower parking lot. Then we walked up another flight of stairs to get to the auditorium.But not everyone has the ability to navigate those stairs. As we move to our new location, we’re committed to removing barriers and creating a space where everyone can join us in worship.
Deeply rooted in our church’s DNA and core values are: Acceptance: Welcoming and loving all with God’s Love and Action: Sacrifical service to others. I can’t help but see not only that we need to be including others, but that we should be going out of our way to make sure that others are included.
One of the greatest joys of my time at Open Arms over the past 20 years has been worshiping with people very different from myself. I’ve had the privilege of singing with groups of individuals from Evergreen Elm, who may have an intellectual disability, but who worship with joy and enthusiasm and fill our church with love. I’ve had the joy of praying with men and women who are celebrating their first day of sobriety, starting their new life, and praying that they can get on their feet. I’ve had the honor of studying the Bible with students from Pitt Bradford, with their inquisitive and thoughtful questions. We’ve even had many people attend our church who don’t share our faith at all, but who want to explore and understand what it means to be a Christian. Each of these individuals—those overcoming addiction, students asking big questions, and those with disabilities worshipping with pure joy—has enriched our church community. They remind us of the beauty of God’s family, where every person has something to offer. We welcome them all truly, with open arms, and our deepest hope as a church is that we follow the model that Jesus set for us in welcoming all to come to the table.
That’s why this Giving Tuesday Campaign is so important to us. As we prepare to move into the heart of the city, to be even more involved into the work of investing in and making a difference in our community, we want to invite the Bradford community to help us make our new facility a church where people of all abilities can come to learn about God, to connect with other people, and to feel how valuable they are to a church family.
Together, we can build a space where every person feels seen, loved, and included. Join us this Giving Tuesday to make “A Church For All” a reality.
Please pledge your support at openarmscommunitychurch.org/churchforall
Josh Hatcher is the Communications Director at Open Arms Community Church. He is married to Pastor Zoe Hatcher, and leads the Tribe of Lions Microchurch for men. He also is the founder of Manlihood.com
