REACHING & CONNECTING
Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” - Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)
At Open Arms, we want to encourage each other to regularly consider: "Where am I now with Jesus? What would help me to move forward with Him?" As one way to answer that second question, all of our relational efforts - which you can get connected to by clicking here! - aim to be motivated by our main mission as a church:
At Open Arms, we want to encourage each other to regularly consider: "Where am I now with Jesus? What would help me to move forward with Him?" As one way to answer that second question, all of our relational efforts - which you can get connected to by clicking here! - aim to be motivated by our main mission as a church:
MAKING JESUS KNOWN - TOGETHER.
We want to be DISCIPLE-MAKING DISCIPLES OF JESUS!
WHY? We recognize Jesus’ authority AND His assurances.
Throughout the Bible, we see that Jesus’ authority extends over everything & everyone, with authority to forgive sin, execute judgment, give eternal life, etc. Thus, there’s incredible weight behind His command to “go and make disciples” … and yet, authority isn’t the only thing that He has in abundance! The Bible is also full of His promises to be “with us always” no matter where we go! This is our motivation & our hope.
HOW? We seek public professions of faith & build intergenerational relationships that foster a responsiveness to God’s Word.
Baptism is one act of obedience to Jesus & a way for believers to affirm each other’s faith. If you haven’t yet been baptized since you trusted in Jesus as your Lord & Savior, it’d be our privilege to help you!
Within our life together as a church family, there are a few ways we seek to foster intentional relationships that help us "observe all that Jesus has commanded":
WHERE? We live ‘on mission’ within the unique spheres of influence wherever God has placed us.
‘Missions’ is not exclusive to foreign travel: it’s something that ALL believers do, wherever we find ourselves. We want to capitalize on the opportunities that God gives each one of us in our own homes, workplaces, & neighborhoods - even as we deliberately partner with a variety of ministries in our region & beyond! Click here to find out how you can get more involved in serving alongside others!
WHY? We recognize Jesus’ authority AND His assurances.
Throughout the Bible, we see that Jesus’ authority extends over everything & everyone, with authority to forgive sin, execute judgment, give eternal life, etc. Thus, there’s incredible weight behind His command to “go and make disciples” … and yet, authority isn’t the only thing that He has in abundance! The Bible is also full of His promises to be “with us always” no matter where we go! This is our motivation & our hope.
HOW? We seek public professions of faith & build intergenerational relationships that foster a responsiveness to God’s Word.
Baptism is one act of obedience to Jesus & a way for believers to affirm each other’s faith. If you haven’t yet been baptized since you trusted in Jesus as your Lord & Savior, it’d be our privilege to help you!
Within our life together as a church family, there are a few ways we seek to foster intentional relationships that help us "observe all that Jesus has commanded":
- TITUS 2 COLLECTIVE: This is a collaboration of OAC members who share a passion for intergenerational disciple-making in a variety of spheres. While we’re ALL here to help each other grow, they are particularly equipped to help us live ‘on mission’ in our own spheres of influence & connect around specific initiatives (e.g., dignity of life; biblical counsel; recovery from abuse). If you’re interested in receiving follow-up on those types of intentional connections, click here!
- INSTITUTE: These are interactive, pastor-led, large-group classes offered at certain times of the year on core topics (e.g., Fundamentals of the Faith; How to Share Jesus; How to Study the Old / New Testament) designed to help our entire church body grow in biblical insight & application.
- SPECIAL EVENTS: Throughout the year, we organize various opportunities that focus on offering practical teaching & engaging ways to help us sharpen each other. These include our Men’s Advances, Ladies’ Retreats, overnight Youth Retreats, and deliberate times for fellowship (e.g., our ‘Lunches on the Lawn').
WHERE? We live ‘on mission’ within the unique spheres of influence wherever God has placed us.
‘Missions’ is not exclusive to foreign travel: it’s something that ALL believers do, wherever we find ourselves. We want to capitalize on the opportunities that God gives each one of us in our own homes, workplaces, & neighborhoods - even as we deliberately partner with a variety of ministries in our region & beyond! Click here to find out how you can get more involved in serving alongside others!