God can do a lot with a little; something that Jesus demonstrated for us during his ministry time and time again.  Open Arms had meager beginnings, with just a handful of committed hearts and a vision to work with.  They set to work right away, seeking God to send the right pastor, one who would take hold of the mission, and work to bring lost souls to this fledgling church family.

Before worship gatherings had even started at the Wayne County Fair Grounds, construction was already underway on the facility.  Originally started as Bethlehem Lutheran Church, loans had been secured to purchase land and start construction on the facility that would house the Open Arms Child Development Center, a ministry central to the mission of the church.

On Easter in 2003, the new facility was dedicated with a celebration worship service.  A little over a month later, the first family received daycare in the pastor's own house, because the facility was not up and running yet.  Bethlehem was renamed Open Arms Lutheran Church to avoid confusion, and the ministry grew quickly.  By 2004, enrollment and interest in the child care center made it necessary to expand the brand new building.  Two additional wings were added with eight classrooms, adding to the original four.

Many families in the child care responded to the invitation to join the new church, and remain members today.  Many others were instrumental to God in getting Open Arms started, and have since been called to new places.  The mission remains the same.  Open Arms will always be committed to the mission of serving the people of our community, sharing Jesus' unconditional love, and equipping and sending our members to make following Jesus our Savior a desire of all who we meet.

Why Do We Have Guest Services?

The Purpose of Open Arms' Guest Services is to present a warm and hospitable first impression to guests, members, and regular attendees. It is a vital ministry of Open Arms Lutheran Church, helping to build the foundation for the Sunday morning worship experience.

The Guest Services Team is filled with friendly, sincere servant leaders who are intent on helping others for God's glory. Serving on the Guest Services Team is an honor. Our smiles and positive attitudes exemplify our desire to love God as we lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.

Three Goals of Guest Services Team

We Welcome Guests!
Whether greeting guests with a hand shake, a smile, walking them in under an umbrella when it's raining, handing them a worship folder, or serving them refreshments, the Guest Services Team is always there to make our guests feel welcome. Our guest first impression will be a lasting one, and Open Arms will always hold the door open wide for guests.

We Welcome Members and Regular Attendees!
It's important to let our family and community know we are glad they are with us. We greet them with the same warmth and sincerity we show to our guests.

We Provide Information and Assistance!
Our volunteers know where everything is located, from the nursery to the restrooms, and who is on staff that can help them with questions. Our Welcome Center has a variety of brochures that can offer help and/or answer questions, from meals for seniors to substance abuse and domestic violence help.

What Are My Options?

• Greeter Team: Our greeters stand outside and in the entrance, ready to warmly welcome guests and members alike into our facility.
• Usher Team: Our ushers stand at the entrance to the worship center, ready to provide a worship folder and Bible. Their presence also helps keep people from feeling out of place if they arrive late, and helps to minimize distractions once the service has started.
• Hospitality Team: The Hospitality Team provides and serves refreshments before and after each service (on a rotating basis).
• Welcome Center Team: These volunteers sit at the welcome center, located near the building entrance, ready to provide information and assistance. They can help guests find informational brochures on a wide variety of topics.

Are You Interested In Being A Part Of Our Guest Services Team?

• Let us know if you are interested and/or have questions about the Guest Services Team. You can contact Brenda Bucholz at (734)358-6223or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
• Read and agree to our greeter/welcome center guidelines. These are simple; common sense approaches to making people feel welcome.

Open Arms is a growing congregation located in Belleville, Michigan. We are diligently seeking to fulfill our mission of Serving people, Sharing Jesus, Sending Servants who make disciples in Belleville and beyond.

As a church and as individuals, we are not perfect. First and foremost - guests and newcomers should understand that we live in the grace of Jesus, letting the Holy Spirit grow us and this place into what he desires. We won't always get everything right. God has done a mighty work in our church, establishing a family of believers that is a true community. Only he can bring about the growth we have seen, and he has worked hard to assemble the building blocks of a truly relevant and impactful church. We still have much to do - but God is moving us, and we urgently seek to fulfill Jesus' command to Go and make disciples by Serving People, Sharing Jesus, and Sending Servants who make disciples in Belleville and beyond.

Take some time to read through the pages on the site to learn more about us, our people, and our ministries. The Spirit is alive in our hearts as we live, learn, and serve as followers of Jesus.