Open Arms Community Church in Bradford, PA is launching a new microchurch called Hope in Life, led by Angel Atkinson. This weekly gathering is designed to nurture the whole person—spirit, mind, and body—through faith, conversation, and hands-on learning.
Hope in Life meets every Friday evening from 5–7 p.m. Each week includes a time in the Bible, space for group discussion, and an opportunity to practice a new skill. The focus changes weekly, from cooking and sewing to self-care, cleaning, or even understanding emotions. On the fourth Friday of each month, the group hosts a shared dinner, creating an atmosphere of friendship and community.
Angel’s heart for this ministry is to provide a place where practical tools and spiritual encouragement come together. By offering both, Hope in Life helps participants grow stronger in faith while also equipping them with everyday skills that build confidence and hope.
Why Hope in Life Matters
True wholeness touches every part of life. Struggles with daily routines can often weigh down the heart, just as spiritual burdens can make even simple tasks feel overwhelming. Hope in Life creates a safe place where people can find encouragement, learn together, and discover that God cares about their entire well-being—spirit, mind, and body.
Refer Someone Who You Know
Hope in Life is not just for those who already know what they need. Sometimes the best way to help is simply to extend an invitation. Friends, neighbors, or family members may benefit from a group like this even if they would never ask for it themselves. Referrals are a vital part of this ministry—pointing someone toward a supportive community can open the door to healing, growth, and renewed hope.
Hope in Life meets every Friday from 5–7 p.m. at Open Arms Community Church in Bradford, PA, and is led by Angel Atkinson. This microchurch is committed to walking alongside people as they grow stronger spiritually, emotionally, and practically.
My wife listens to a podcast every morning by JD Walt called “The Wake-Up Call”. I have listened alongside her on occasion, and I had the privilege of briefly bumping shoulders with JD at the New Room Conference last year.
I decided to start listening for myself as I’m on a quest for a bit of a mental and spiritual reset. Too much scrolling on my phone has my dopamine levels all out of whack. The current climate on social media has turned toxic, and so my options are watching people I love argue with each other, or the “brain rot” content that occasionally makes you chuckle, but definitely doesn’t build your soul.
This morning’s episode resonated deeply with me, for a few reasons. I’ll start with the end of the podcast first. At the end of each episode JD sings a hymn. Today’s hymn was what he called “The Baptist Fight Song” and while growing up in an old fashioned Baptist Church, I’ve never heard that phrase, but before he said the title, I knew he meant “Just As I Am.”
I was driving while listening, and that song broke open my tear ducts. I’m sure I was all over the road this morning, wiping tears from my eyes as I was transported back to my childhood and teenage years, standing up at the end of sermon, listening to Mrs. Florence Sinsabaugh in her finest polyester dress, as she let the foot pedals on the organ swell, and both hands holding out the long chords, while Judy Youngblood accentuated with the piano. Pastor H.D. Youngblood would lead us in singing, waving his hand to keep the time, and between verses, he’d call us home. Rarely did anyone go up to the altar. But with every head bowed, and every eye closed, hands were raised to pledge commitment to Jesus.
We didn’t applaud much in the Baptist Church, but inside out hearts, we were cheering when Pastor would say, “I see that hand, Thank You Lord.”
We’d usually sing verses 1, 2, and 5, and there was usually an instrumental verse in there too.
1.
Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
2.
Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot;
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
3.
Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt;
Fightings within, and fears without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
4.
Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind;
Yes, all I need, in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
5.
Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
6.
Just as I am, Thy love unknown
Has broken every barrier down;
Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
And I was reminded of another very personal story, that has echoed deeply in my family lore. My maternal grandfather was a bad man. The best thing he had ever done was to abandon his family. That may sound like a bad thing, but the truth is, abandoning them was the best thing. I won’t get into telling the story that really belongs to my mother and her siblings. I’ll just say he was a bad man.
Abandoned, my grandmother turned to Jesus, and paved the way for her family. They met Jesus, many of them probably hearing Pastor Youngblood sing Just As I Am, and our family’s direction was changed.
At some point, my grandfather had stumbled into a church, probably drunk. He told the story, “If that preacher would have sang one more verse of Just As I Am, I’d have walked up to that altar.” – But of course he didn’t.
Years later, after leaving a lifetime of pain and struggle in his wake, my grandfather called my grandmother. “Deanie, I’m dying. I have cancer. Would you come out and see me?”
The story I remember is that he was found laying on the ground with a pile of cigarette butts on one side, and a pile of beer cans on the other. The cancer had eaten through most of him, and he was on his way out of this world.
My grandmother went out, and invited the rest of the family.
They didn’t go because they wanted to be with him. They went because they had a mission, to introduce Grandpa Dave to grace. To plead for his soul to be saved.
They preached the gospel, sang songs, and Uncle Mike started playing Just As I Am. When he got to the end of the song, the old man said, “Keep playing.” Grandpa Dave prayed, probably for the first time in his life. He asked for forgiveness for his sins. And in the remaining few days of his life, there was a change. Tiny fruits of the Spirit growing in the small window he had left.
Just as he was. Without a plea, except that Jesus’ blood was shed for him.
————–
The podcast episode was centered around this thought. A woman told JD in conversation, “I don’t want you to think I’m not a good person.”
JD’s response, “You’re not a good person. And I’m not a good person.”
This truth is one we need to grasp fully.
I see it echoed on the social media feed that I’m trying to ignore right now.
Virtue signalling.
Folks pointing fingers at the “evil” they see on the other side.
“Those folks are violating what the Bible clearly commands!”
“Those folks are bigots and hypocrites!”
With the inference that “I’m better.”
We post things on the internet, and say things in conversation because we want others to think we are good people.
“I’m a good person. I don’t condone sin.” “I’m a good person. I hate racism.” “I’m a good person. I love America.” “I’m a good person. I challenge broken systems!”
“I’m a good person. I want justice!” “I’m a good person. I stand with So and So!”
Don’t get me wrong, a lot of these might be good things, to stand up for the oppressed, to long for justice, to support your country, to stand for truth and righteousness.
But the thing is, none of us are good people.
That’s what’s so hard for people to accept. That’s what’s so scandalous about the gospel.
We don’t earn right standing with God by your good deeds.
We don’t deserve to be seen as heroes and martyrs and virtuous.
When Jesus delivered the sermon on the mount, and he said this:
“You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment. But I say, if you are even angry with someone,you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot,[e] you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone,[f] you are in danger of the fires of hell.” -Matthew 5
I’d encourage you to read that whole passage. If I paraphrase what he’s saying,, “You guys are missing the point. In order to earn God’s favor, you have to be better than the commands. The commands say ‘Don’t murder.’ But if you hate someone in your heart or call them an idiot, you’re just as bad. If you lust after a woman, it’s just as bad as having sex with her.”
He’s making a point and establishing his authority, and emphasizng that all of us are not good people.
Paul reiterates it:
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” – Romans 3:23
This is the beauty of it.
He paid the cost for us.
“He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.” – 1 John 2:2
We aren’t good people. We are all sinners, and all of us are short of God’s expectations. And even if we kept the commandments in practice, we’d break them in our hearts.
But thank God!
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” –Romans 5:8
He meets us just as we are, and He makes up for what we lack, so that we can be right with him.
Sometimes, we who He has redeemed forget where we came from. We forget that we’re only right with God because of what Jesus did. We’re not good people. We’re His people. He paid for us. He bought us with His suffering on the cross.
Anything good in us is because God put it there. Even before we knew Him, the good in us was the reflection of His image in us, because He made us. And now that we have surrendered to Him, the good is not because of us. It’s because of Him.
Let us never forget that.
written by
Josh Hatcher
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
At Open Arms Community Church in Bradford, PA, we recently celebrated 28 new lives in Christ through baptism. Baptism is a powerful step of faith—but it’s also a starting line, not the finish. The real question is: Now what?
That’s where our new series, Do As I Do, begins. Jesus never said, “Do as I say, not as I do.” Instead, He invited us to actually live the way He lived.
What Are You Following Right Now?
Whether we admit it or not, we’re all following something.
Culture and its shifting opinions 📺
Family and friends’ expectations 👪
Money and success 💼
Our own version of the “American dream” 🏡
But can these things really satisfy? Jesus said:
Matthew 6:24 (NIV)
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
In other words, you can’t follow both. At some point, you’ll have to decide which path you’re really on.
What Did Jesus Actually Invite People Into?
In the first century, rabbis (teachers) never pursued students. Students had to beg to follow a rabbi, like applying to an Ivy League school.
But Jesus flipped the script. He went out of His way to call people personally:
Mark 1:16–20 (NIV)
16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him. 19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
Mark 2:13–15 (NIV)
13 Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. 14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. 15 While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.
Notice—He didn’t invite them to “become Christians” (that word came later). He invited them to apprentice under Him—to learn a whole new way of living.
What Does It Mean to Follow Jesus Today?
Pastor Zoe laid out three rhythms for what it really looks like:
Be with Jesus
Become like Jesus
Do what Jesus did
This isn’t a program or a checklist. It’s a way of life. Spend time with Him, let that time transform you, and then live differently because of it.
How Do I Actually Spend Time With God?
Being with Jesus starts with simple, practical steps:
Prayer: Talking and listening.
Abiding (meno in Greek means “stay”): Staying close to Him, like a loyal friend or even a lapdog at your feet.
Contemplation: Fixing your thoughts and emotions on Him. Making Him your true home.
An old peasant once described his prayer this way: “I look at Him, He looks at me, and we are happy.” That kind of relationship is what Jesus invites you into.
How Do I Become More Like Jesus?
Being with Him naturally leads to becoming like Him. That happens through:
Teaching: Reading Scripture, hearing preaching, listening for God’s voice.
Practice: Engaging in rhythms like Sabbath, prayer, fasting, solitude, generosity, and service.
Community: Real transformation happens with others, not in isolation. God Himself exists in community (Father, Son, Holy Spirit).
And there’s one clear test: Am I becoming more loving? Ask yourself—and even better, ask the people around you. If love is growing, you’re on the right track.
Why Does Following Jesus Involve Struggle?
Becoming like Jesus is not instant—it takes time, surrender, and yes, even suffering.
Matthew 10:24–25 (NLT)
24 Students are not greater than their teacher, and slaves are not greater than their master. 25 Students are to be like their teacher, and slaves are to be like their master. And since I, the master of the household, have been called the prince of demons, the members of my household will be called by even worse names!
Matthew 10:24–25 (MSG)
A student doesn’t get a better desk than her teacher. A laborer doesn’t make more money than his boss. Be content—pleased, even—when you, my students, my harvest hands, get the same treatment I get. If they call me, the Master, ‘Dungface,’ what can the workers expect?
If Jesus suffered, why would we think we get out of it? Hardship is often where real growth happens.
But here’s the encouragement: change doesn’t come from our willpower—it comes from surrender to the Holy Spirit.
What’s More Important: My Resume or My Legacy?
When life is over, people won’t remember us for our accomplishments as much as how we loved them. Are you living for your résumé, or your eulogy?
Funerals remind us of this truth: people share stories not of achievements, but of kindness, love, and presence. That’s what lasts.
What Did Jesus Actually Do?
We don’t just be with Him and become like Him for ourselves—we do it so we can do what He did.
Hospitality: Making people feel welcome.
Preaching the Gospel: Sharing good news with our words.
Demonstrating the Gospel: Showing God’s love through miracles, healing, justice, and compassion.
The end goal? To grow into the kind of person who can say and do the things Jesus said and did.
Am I Ready to Follow Jesus?
Following Jesus isn’t about trying harder—it’s about training with Him as your coach. Like preparing for a 10K, it takes small steps, consistency, and daily commitment.
As St. Augustine said: “Without God, we cannot. Without us, God will not.”
The same Spirit who empowered Jesus is available to empower you today. But discipleship means counting the cost:
Luke 14:25–33 (MSG)
One day when large groups of people were walking along with him, Jesus turned and told them, “Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one’s own self!—can’t be my disciple. Anyone who won’t shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can’t be my disciple. … Simply put, if you’re not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can’t be my disciple.”
It sounds harsh, but Jesus is honest: following Him means leaving behind competing loves. Are you ready?
What Do You Really Want?
In John’s gospel, Jesus asked a life-changing question:
John 1:35–39 (NIV)
35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” 37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” 39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”
Jesus still asks the same today: What do you want?
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you’ve been chasing culture, money, or success and still feel empty, Jesus is inviting you into a better way.
➡️ You can watch this full message on our Open Arms YouTube channel. 🙌 Or better yet, join us in person Sunday mornings at 71 Congress Street in Bradford, PA. Find service times and plan your visit here.
At Open Arms Community Church in Bradford, PA, you’ll find a community where hope, healing, and purpose are waiting for you.
