Am I Welcome?

Yes. You are welcome here.

Whoever you are, wherever you’ve been, whatever questions you carry ... you are welcome at Third Baptist Church.

We know that walking into a church can feel intimidating. Maybe you’ve been hurt before. Maybe you’ve felt judged, excluded, or just unsure if you’d be accepted. We want you to know: you don’t have to fit a mold to belong here. We believe in a God whose grace is bigger than boxes, and whose love reaches every person - no exceptions.

If you’re wondering whether you are welcome, let us say clearly:

You are welcome if…

• You’re divorced. Or remarried.
  Your story doesn’t disqualify you from grace. You won’t be shamed or sidelined here.
• You’ve made mistakes, or carry regrets you don’t know how to let go of.
  We believe God meets us in our real lives - not in our edited ones.
• You’re struggling with addiction, or walking the hard road of recovery.
  You are not alone. This is a community where honesty is welcome and healing is honored.
• You live with mental illness.
  Whether you manage depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, or something else - your struggles are real, and your presence matters deeply to us.
• You are neurodivergent in any way.
  Whether you live with ADHD, autism, OCD, or any other form of neurodiversity - your way of thinking and being is valid and valued here.
• You’re disabled or have limited mobility.
  We want to remove barriers, not create them. You deserve full access - to the building, and to belonging.
• You’re an immigrant, whether or not English is your first language.
  You are our neighbor. We’re glad you’re here.
• You have a criminal record or a history you’re not proud of.
  Your past doesn’t define your worth. Grace goes deeper than shame.
• You’re living paycheck to paycheck, or don’t have a lot to give.
  Your presence is more important than your pocketbook. You are not your bank balance.
• You’re grieving something big or small.
  Whether fresh or buried, your grief matters to God - and to us.
  
  

You are welcome if…

• You’re a Republican.
  Your convictions don’t cancel your welcome. We want to know you - not just your politics.
• You’re a Democrat.
  You don’t need to hide your views to find belonging here.
• You’re unemployed.
  Work or no work, your life has worth.
• You’re not married.
  You are whole as you are - not missing a piece.
• You don’t have children.
  Family comes in many forms. You are not an outsider here.
• You’re a young, single mother.
  We see your strength. We admire your courage. We’ll walk with you.
• You’re LGBTQIA+.
  You are beloved. Your identity does not put you outside the reach of God's love or our community.
• You’re not a Baptist.
  You don’t have to match the label on the sign to find welcome in the pew.
• You’re not a believer.
  Faith takes time. So does trust. You can belong here even while you wrestle.
• You’re not sure what you believe.
  Questions don’t scare us. We think they’re holy.
• You’re not even sure why you’re here.
  That’s okay. Many of us started the same way.

You are welcome if…

• You’ve never been to church before.
  There’s no dress code, no secret handshake. Just come.
• You have deep questions.
  We believe God welcomes seekers. So do we.
• You doubt a lot of things.
  Faith and doubt often travel together. You don’t have to hide one to have the other.
• You’ve been hurt by church, or wounded by Christians.
  We’re sorry. Truly. We want to be part of your healing, not another source of pain.
• You’re recovering from spiritual trauma.
  We will honor your pace, your boundaries, and your voice.
  
• You don’t know the Bible, or don’t own one.
  No one is keeping score. We’re all learning together.
• You come from another faith, or no faith at all.
  You are welcome to explore, to question, to listen - or just to rest.
• You’re just curious.
  Curiosity is a good reason to come.
• You don’t have nice church clothes.
  Come in what you have. Jesus never required a wardrobe change before calling someone in.
• You’re homeless, or insecure about where you’ll sleep tonight.
  You still deserve to be treated with dignity, to be fed, and to be seen.
• You’re a woman called to lead and wonder if there’s a place for your gifts.
  There is. We affirm women in every role of church life - including the pulpit.

There is room here.
For your story. For your questions. For your becoming.

At Third Baptist, we trust in a God who meets us as we are and never leaves us there. We’re not perfect - and we’re not pretending to be - but we are trying to walk together in love, honesty, and grace.

So come as you are.
You don’t have to believe everything to belong.
You don’t have to have it all together to take a step toward God.

We’ll be glad to meet you at the door.