welcome statement

Welcome to Big Rapids First United Methodist Church!

We don’t just welcome you - we affirm you, celebrate you, and stand with you.

Whoever you are, whoever you love, however you identify, wherever you come from, whatever your story, whether your faith is strong, struggling, complicated, or still unfolding - you have a place here.

We are a church that believes God’s love is expansive, not exclusive. We are openly and intentionally inclusive of LGBTQIA2S+ people, people of all races and ethnicities, people with disabilities, neurodivergent people, people across economic realities, and those with different theological or political perspectives—so long as we’re all committed to living in love, speaking with grace, and honoring the sacred worth of every person.

We welcome those who are single, married, divorced, separated, partnered, or somewhere in between.

We welcome crying newborns, teenagers growing up too fast, and older adults who still haven’t grown up.

We welcome skeptics, seekers, doubters, spiritual wanderers, and lifelong churchgoers.

We welcome the overworked, the unemployed, the addicted, the overwhelmed, the underappreciated, and the just plain tired.

We welcome you if you’re vegetarian or a junk-food lover, a tree hugger or a NASCAR fan, a tattoo artist or a latte sipper.

We welcome those who’ve been forced to make difficult choices, carry regrets, hold secrets, or bring questions too big to name.

We welcome you if church has hurt you, if religion was used against you, or if you swore you’d never walk through church doors again.

Yes, we mean you.

We know the church has often done harm—through exclusion, silence, and judgment. We don’t take that lightly. That’s why we are not just committed to doing better, we’re committed to repenting out loud by living differently. We choose inclusion over exclusion, affirmation over shame, and love over fear. We strive to reflect the radically inclusive love of Christ in all we say and do.

This is a place for healing, for belonging, for justice, and for joy. Our space may be traditional, but our hearts are open, our minds are curious, and our table always has room.

You are not just welcome here - you are wanted here!