News

By: Daniel Robinson, Missions Coordinator, Open Arms Community Church

In today’s fast-paced and often isolating world, many people crave a sense of belonging, a place to connect, and a community to call home. For centuries, churches have served as havens for spiritual nourishment and community-building. But how accessible are these spaces to everyone, really?

For too long, the doors of many churches have been metaphorically — and sometimes literally — closed to those with disabilities, those from diverse cultural or linguistic backgrounds, or even those simply unfamiliar with the traditions of organized religion. Making churches truly accessible is not just a moral imperative; it’s a benefit to everyone, fostering inclusion, diversity, and community strength.

The core teachings of most faiths emphasize compassion, inclusion, and love. For Christians, this is exemplified in Jesus’ ministry, which centered on embracing those marginalized by society. Churches, as the hands and feet of such teachings, must reflect this ethos by breaking down barriers that prevent full participation. Whether it’s a lack of ramps for wheelchair users, the absence of sign language interpreters, or services held in inaccessible formats, these barriers send an implicit message: “This isn’t a space for you.” Creating an accessible church means more than meeting legal obligations; it’s about extending the invitation of community to everyone. When someone who is blind can follow along because of braille hymnals, or when a family with a nonverbal child feels welcomed because of sensory-friendly services, it deepens the ties of fellowship. This inclusivity also strengthens the entire community. People of all abilities and backgrounds bring unique perspectives and gifts. By making church accessible, the congregation becomes richer, more vibrant, and more reflective of the world it aims to serve.

Accessibility often gets framed as something that’s “just” for people with disabilities, but the truth is, everyone gains from it. Ramps aren’t only useful for those in wheelchairs; parents with strollers and older adults with mobility challenges appreciate them, too. Captioning on screens doesn’t just help the hard-of-hearing; it benefits those in the back row or anyone trying to follow a dense sermon. Moreover, investing in technology like livestreamed services or multilingual resources opens the doors to those who might never have stepped into a sanctuary before, from the curious seeker to the homebound parishioner.

Making churches accessible takes effort and resources, but it’s an investment in people — and what better cause is there? That’s exactly the vision driving Open Arms Community Church as they prepare to launch their Church for All: Building Community and Accessibility capital campaign. With their move to a new location in downtown Bradford, the church is seizing the opportunity to create a space that embodies their commitment to inclusivity and hospitality. The campaign aims to fund critical improvements such as wheelchair-accessible entrances, updated restrooms, sensory-friendly worship spaces, and technology enhancements like hearing assistance devices and livestream capabilities. By prioritizing accessibility, Open Arms hopes to transform their new location into a welcoming haven for everyone in the community, no matter their abilities or background.

When churches commit to accessibility, they embody the universal message of love and acceptance. They become more than just buildings; they become places where anyone and everyone can find family, belonging, and purpose. And isn’t that what church should be? A place where the doors are always open — figuratively and literally — to all who seek refuge, connection, and hope.

This Giving Tuesday, join Open Arms Community Church in building a Church for All — a space where everyone, regardless of ability or background, can feel welcomed, valued, and included. Your generosity can help fund wheelchair-accessible entrances, sensory-friendly worship spaces, and other critical improvements that will open our doors even wider to the entire community.

Make a difference today and give the gift of inclusion at openarmscommunitychurch.org/churchforall. Together, we can create a church where everyone truly belongs.

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