We’re kicking off Super Summer Bash weekend with something special just for the little ones — it’s Creation Camp, and it’s going to be an absolute blast!
Join us on Friday, August 1 from 4–8PM at Open Arms Community Church for a free, fun-filled night designed for kids ages 3 to 11. It’s hosted by our amazing Thrive Kids Ministryteam and packed with activities your kids will love:
🎨 Games & Crafts
🍝 Spaghetti Dinner
📖 Bible Lesson on Creation
🍦 Ice Cream Social at 7PM (for Parents AND Kids!)
This night is all about faith, fun, and friendship—helping kids connect with God and each other in a way that’s exciting, hands-on, and unforgettable.
And that’s just the beginning! The fun continues on Saturday with our big Community Block Party—inflatables, music, food, games, giveaways, and more.
Ready to soak up the last bit of summer with your friends and family? The Super Summer Bash is bringing the party to 71 Congress Street—and you’re invited!
Join us Saturday, August 2 from 12–4PM for an unforgettable Community Block Party hosted by Open Arms Community Church. This free event is packed with everything you need for a day full of smiles and good vibes:
🎈 Inflatables for kids of all ages
🎯 Games with school supply prizes
🎤 Live Music all afternoon
💦 Dunk Tank (yes, someone’s going in!)
🌭 Free Food & Snacks
🎁 Giveaways & More
Whether you’re coming with the kids, the crew, or just want to meet some new folks, this is your chance to have a blast, enjoy the community, and make some memories.
And don’t forget—Friday night kicks off the weekend with Creation Camp for kids ages 3–11, including games, crafts, a Bible lesson, and a sweet ice cream social.
There’s just something about live music in the summer that makes everything better. That’s why we’re turning up the volume at the Super Summer Bash!
Join us Saturday, August 2 from 12–4PM for an afternoon of incredible live performances from some of our favorite local artists—Rich Dennison, Shawn Pierce, Josh Hatcher, and Caleb Combs. While the music plays, the whole block will be buzzing with activity!
Here’s what else you’ll find happening all around the church:
Giant inflatables for the kids
Games with prizes and school supplies
A dunk tank (who will YOU send in?)
Free food and giveaways
And tons of friendly faces
It’s all part of a full weekend of fun hosted by Open Arms Community Church and Thrive Kids Ministry, starting with Creation Camp for kids on Friday night and ending with a Saturday block party you’ll be talking about all year.
Restoring the Soul – Part 1: Finding Your True Identity in Christ
In Part 1 of the Restoring the Soul series at Open Arms Community Church in Bradford, PA, Misty Surine delivered a deeply personal message about identity—the kind that isn’t built on what the world says, but on what God declares to be true. This message is for anyone who’s ever felt lost, burned out, or unsure of who they really are.
Identity shapes everything. It affects how you think, how you act, how you love, and how you live. If you believe you’re broken beyond repair, you’ll stop trying. If you believe you’re not good enough, you’ll settle. If you believe people always leave, you’ll never let anyone in.
“When you catch yourself saying ‘I am…’ you should stop and ask yourself, ‘What does this say that I believe about myself?’”
Breaking Agreement with the Lies
Most of us don’t realize how many lies we’ve agreed with over the years. Words spoken by others… wounds we’ve carried… insecurities that whisper in the dark.
I’m worthless.
I’m unlovable.
I don’t belong.
I’ll never change.
These lies layer on top of each other like a twisted parfait—so familiar, we start to think they’re truth. We build our lives around them, striving, performing, pretending. But the cracks always show. We feel fragile even when we look strong.
“I was always learning, but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 3:7)
Are You a Fan or a Follower?
There’s a difference between believing in Jesus and actually following Him. It’s possible to say the right things, wear the label “Christian,” and still keep your life tucked away behind pride, fear, and control.
“I thought that saying the sinner’s prayer meant I had seen all there was to see.”
Jesus said in John 10:27:
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
Are you listening? Are you following? Or have you put the Holy Spirit in a closet and covered Him with a blanket, only pulling Him out when life falls apart?
The God Who Calls You By Name
In Exodus 3, Moses is tending sheep when something strange catches his eye—a bush on fire that doesn’t burn up. He stops what he’s doing and moves closer.
“Moses had to be curious first… had to stop working, notice something that God had put in his path, and go toward it with a question in his heart.”
God calls out: “Moses! Moses!” Moses replies: “Here I am.” But almost immediately, he questions himself:
“Who am I that I should go…?”
God’s response isn’t to pump up his confidence or recite his qualifications. He simply says:
“I will be with you.” (Exodus 3:12)
That’s it. That’s the identity shift. When God is with you, everything changes.
You Don’t Have to Be Perfect—Just Surrendered
This isn’t about self-help or behavior modification. This is about complete surrender. Not halfway. Not someday. Not when you’ve cleaned yourself up. Just… all in.
“You don’t have to untangle every thread of hurt. You only have to give Him everything—and He will take care of the rest.”
If you feel like a lump of clay filled with gravel and sand, you’re not alone. We all are. And anything we build with our own strength will be flawed and fragile. But if you ask Him to take all of you—He will begin to reshape it.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Are You Tired Yet?
Living outside of God’s truth feels like trying to swim upstream with a backpack full of rocks. Every day, the same struggle. The same arguments. The same emptiness.
“Every day I fight the same battle. Something has to change.”
Jesus is calling:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
You don’t have to keep fighting. Let go. Lift your eyes. He’s on the shore, calling you by name.
Who Does God Say You Are?
You are not your past. You are not your mistakes. You are not your diagnosis, your title, your income, your pain.
“This world didn’t give you your identity—and it can’t take it away.”
“You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14)
“I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1)
“If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)
A Planting for His Splendor
God isn’t trying to erase who you are. He wants to partner with you—to prune away what’s dead, breathe life into what’s good, and send His power through you like water from the vine into the branches.
You were meant to live rooted and strong, like a mighty oak. Storms will still come. Pain will still exist. But when you live surrendered and Spirit-filled, you’ll stand firm. Not because life is easy—but because God is close.
Take His Hand
Open your clenched fists. Let go of every lie, every label, every false identity. Stop trying to figure out where you are on the map. Just let go. Trust Him.
“Hand Him everything, and you will lose nothing—but gain more than you can imagine.”
You were made for more. You were created for wholeness. He is calling you by name.
Find Your Identity in Christ at Open Arms Community Church
If you’re searching for healing, purpose, or truth, this is your invitation. You don’t have to figure it out on your own. You don’t have to keep living in survival mode.
Join us at Open Arms Community Church in Bradford, PA as we continue the Restoring the Soul series. There is more for you—more freedom, more peace, more purpose. Come find your true identity in Christ.
📍 Sunday mornings at 71 Congress Street in Bradford, PA 👉 Plan Your Visit
This is a church where you can find healing, hope, and who you were always meant to be.
What is Freely Given is a Narcotics Anonymous group that meets at Open Arms Community Church. This group provides a safe, confidential space for recovery, healing, and support.
Looking to connect, grow in your faith, and build real friendships? Microchurches at Open Arms Community Church in Bradford, PA are where discipleship meets everyday life. This July, our microchurches are gathering all over the region — in homes, parks, shops, and our church building — to pray, learn, serve, and do life together.
Whether you’re brand new or ready to go deeper, there’s a group for you. Here’s what’s coming up:
🔥 What Are Microchurches?
Microchurches are small, disciple-making communities that meet outside Sunday services to live out the mission of Jesus together. Some groups gather around prayer and worship, others around shared interests or life stages — but all are focused on relationship, growth, and service.
Every Monday at 6 PM Location: Open Arms (71 Congress St) Go deeper in prayer and spiritual connection with others.
Promises of God
Every Wednesday at 6:30 PM 17 Vista Circle Microchurch Weekly community gathering — a consistent place to grow together.
New Believers Group
Every Thursday at 6:30 PM Location: 65 North Center Street Perfect for those new to the faith or exploring the foundations.
EmpowHer (Women’s Microchurch)
Every Thursday from 6–8 PM Location: Downstairs at Open Arms Connect with other women to grow in faith and friendship.
July 20 – Ms. Tillie’s Ice Cream Social (2 PM) Hosted by EmpowHer Microchurch — a sweet tradition honoring a beautiful legacy. Open to all.
🧔♂️ Tribe of Lions Men’s Microchurch
July 7 & 21 at 6:30 PM Gathering downstairs at Open Arms — spiritual growth and brotherhood.
July 28 – Cookout & Cornhole Location TBD — Bring a friend for food, fun, and community.
🔥 Forge Night: BBQ Skills July 14 – 6:00 to 7:30 PM Location: Callahan Park Hands-on men’s night focused on mastering the grill and building brotherhood. Hosted by Tribe of Lions.
🏍️ Least of These Riders
Faith meets freedom on two wheels. This biker-friendly microchurch combines community with a love for the open road.
July 1 – Meet at Charlie’s Cycle Shop (Minard Run) July 8 & 22 – Meet at the Robinson’s House (Lewis Run) July 15 – Men & Women meet separately (Location TBD)
July 25 – Kids & Cancer Benefit Pre-Run Party + Bike Show (6–9 PM) Location: Ace Hardware Parking Lot
July 26 – Break the Chains Festival (11 AM–8 PM) Location: Port Allegany Join us for live music, testimonies, and freedom in Christ.
👧 Youth Group
July 6 – (TBD) July 13, 20, 27 – 6:00–8:00 PM Location: Open Arms, 71 Congress St Teens gather for games, discussion, and faith.
🍽️ Sunday Dinner Night (Young Adults)
A laid-back way for 18–30-somethings to build friendships and talk about life and faith.
July 6 – Swimming & Picnic at Willow Bay (5 PM) July 13, 20, 27 – Dinner & Fire at 869 W Washington St (5 PM) July 29 – Gathering (Location TBD)
Don’t Just Go to Church — Be the Church
This summer, plug into a microchurch and experience what it means to live on mission with others. Our gatherings aren’t just meetings — they’re moments where lives are changed, chains are broken, and people become family.
July is packed with purpose, connection, and celebration at Open Arms Community Church in Bradford, PA. Whether you’re part of our church family or just curious about what’s going on, there’s something meaningful for everyone this month!
🕊️ New Sermon Series: Restoring the Soul
We all long for healing — but true healing begins deep within.
Starting this July, join us for Restoring the Soul, a brand-new four-part Sunday morning message series. Each week, we’ll explore a different element of emotional and spiritual renewal:
Identity
Repentance
Forgiveness
Freedom from fear
You’ll discover how God restores what’s been broken and leads us into emotional, spiritual, and relational wholeness. Don’t miss this powerful and practical journey into the heart of healing.
📍 Sundays at 9AM & 11AM | 71 Congress Street, Bradford, PA
🏡 July 13: Church Family Meeting
After second service on Sunday, July 13, we’re inviting our entire Open Arms family to stay for a special Family Meeting.
You’ll hear key updates on the life of our church—behind-the-scenes info, vision for the future, and how you can play a part in what God is doing in Bradford and beyond.
This is your opportunity to:
Stay informed
Get connected
Be part of the mission
Come be a voice at the table and a heart in the movement!
🍦 July 20: Ms. Tillie’s Ice Cream Social
We’re keeping a beautiful tradition alive. Join us on Saturday, July 20 for Ms. Tillie’s Ice Cream Social — a sweet celebration in honor of a truly sweet soul.
Though Ms. Tillie never liked calling it a “birthday party,” she loved gathering people for joy, laughter, and (of course) ice cream. Now, we honor her memory and legacy by continuing this beloved event.
📍 Hosted at Ms. Tillie’s home 🎉 Open to everyone who knew and loved her — or simply wants to honor her memory ❤️ Sponsored by the EmpowHer Microchurch and Ms. Tillie’s friends
Find Connection, Purpose, and Joy this July
We invite you to come as you are and experience real life-change through community, worship, and celebration. Whether you’re new to church or have been with us for years, Open Arms is a place where you can find hope, healing, and purpose.
👉 Ready to take the next step? Plan your visit today and discover what God is doing at Open Arms Community Church in Bradford, PA.
📍 Sundays at Open Arms
71 Congress Street, Bradford, PA 9AM & 11AM In-Person + Online Services
This Sunday, June 22, 2025, we are honored to welcome Bishop Dr. John Okinda and Rev. Pamela Okinda from Migori, Kenya, as our special guests at Open Arms Church in Bradford, PA.
They will be sharing during both of our Sunday services at 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM at our new location: 📍 71 Congress Street, Bradford, PA
✨ Voices of Global Impact
Bishop John and Rev. Pamela are visionary leaders whose ministry in Kenya is transforming lives. Together, they’ve built a thriving church that now serves over 800 people, an orphanage that cares for 110 children, and a school that provides life-changing education.
Bishop John currently serves as the Presiding Bishop of PEFA Church Kenya, overseeing ministry throughout the nation. Rev. Pamela leads Hope for Girls KE, a powerful initiative focused on empowering young girls with hope, love, and purpose.
Their story is one of deep faith, sacrificial service, and global mission—and now you have the chance to hear it firsthand.
🤝 Come Be Part of This Powerful Morning
This is more than a visit—it’s a reminder that God is moving all around the world. Whether you’re part of the Open Arms family or looking for a church home, this Sunday is the perfect opportunity to experience something special.
🗓️ Sunday, June 22, 2025 🕘 Services at 9:00 AM & 11:00 AM 📍 71 Congress Street, Bradford, PA
We’ve been busy these past several months—unpacking boxes, settling into our new home at 71 Congress Street, and getting out into Bradford to meet our neighbors. Now it’s time for something special. We’re throwing open the doors (and stepping outside them!) to say: come worship with us!
On Sunday, June 29 at 10:00 AM, join us right in our church parking lot for Church In Town—a joyful outdoor worship service, free community lunch, and activities for kids of all ages. Whether you’ve never been to church or haven’t been in years, this event is for you.
“The mission of Open Arms Community Church is Real People Helping People Become More Like Jesus as a Family,” says Lead Pastor Zoe Hatcher. “To help people grow in faith, we have to follow the example of Jesus—He moved into the neighborhood and met people where they were. That’s what we want to do.”
For many years, we’ve hosted Church Around Town, where we’d pack up our gear and bring church to local parks, the town square, and other spots throughout Bradford. We did it because we wanted to reach people where they were. But now, something exciting has changed: we’re already there.
Now that Open Arms is located right in the heart of the city, we don’t have to go far to bring church to town—we’re in town! So this year, we’re starting a new tradition: Church In Town—a celebration that brings our neighborhood together to worship, connect, and share a meal right here at our new home.
You’ll experience:
A down-to-earth worship service with live music and a practical, hope-filled message
A free lunch served immediately after the service
Fun activities for kids, so families can relax and enjoy the morning together
A chance to meet new people, hear God’s Word, and experience love without pressure or pretense
Pastor Dan Robinson puts it this way:
“Some people give church buildings a bad rap, like just because they don’t always attend, they may not be welcome inside the building. By inviting people to our location in the heart of the city, we are creating a welcoming environment where people can come, relax, hear God’s word, and meet a new family who is ready to welcome them with open arms—no pun intended. It’s easy to come to an outdoor event! Show up, say hi, and have a bite to eat!”
We believe church should feel like family—and family starts with connection. So come as you are. Bring your kids. Bring a friend. Grab a chair or blanket. And join us for a summer Sunday full of faith, food, and fun.
In today’s world, knowing how to protect yourself and others is more than just useful—it’s essential. That’s why Tribe of Lions, one of Open Arms Community Church’s microchurches, is hosting a special Forge Night event focused on men’s self-defense.
📅 Wednesday, June 18 🕕 6:00–7:30 PM 📍 Miller’s Kenpo Karate Dojo– 443 East Main Street, Bradford PA 💵 Suggested Donation: $10 👥 Open to all men and teen boys
This Forge Night will be led by Mike Miller, a seasoned martial arts instructor and owner of Miller’s Kenpo Karate Dojo. Participants will learn basic self-defense techniques, situational awareness, and the mindset needed to protect themselves and their loved ones.
Forge Nights are a monthly initiative by Tribe of Lions, blending practical skill-building with authentic community. While Tribe of Lions meets regularly to study scripture and grow in faith, Forge Nights create an intentional space where men can gather, learn, and build brotherhood—without pressure.
“Discipleship isn’t just about what we believe—it’s about how we live,” says Josh Hatcher, who leads Tribe of Lions. “Learning how to defend yourself is part of becoming a strong and responsible man. And doing it together is part of building strong community.”
This is one of many Forge Nights planned this year. Past events have included car maintenance basics, and upcoming nights will cover BBQ skills, first aid, and more. Each one offers a chance for men to grow—not just spiritually, but in everyday life.
