Open Arms Christian Fellowship and Prayer Line

Open Arms Christian Fellowship and Prayer Line Outreach effort serving God and His people in Montgomery County, Maryland. Most differences between the groups involve the role and writings of Ellen G. White.

Our mission is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, introduce others to the Lord, teach them to obey His Word, and nurture spiritual growth in all believers.

‣ What are the differences between Church of God (Seventh Day) and the Seventh-day Adventist Church? Both of these church organizations began in the mid-1800’s as outgrowths of the William Miller Adventist movement. The two share several

major teachings in common, including these:
•We both believe that the whole Bible, Old and New Testaments, is the Word of God.
•We both believe that salvation is by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ.
•We both believe that all of the Ten Commandments are standards for God’s people today and that the seventh-day Sabbath is to be observed on Saturday.
•We both believe there is no consciousness for humans between death and resurrection.
•We both believe that Jesus Christ will soon return physically to the earth.
•We both believe that the wicked will finally be annihilated, not suffer eternal torment in hell. Mrs. White was a founder of the SDA Church and is regarded by it as a true prophetess. The Church of God (Seventh Day) considers Mrs. White as it would any other writer since the completion of the biblical canon: Her “truth” is mixed with error. It regards neither Mrs. White nor her writings to be an expression of the “Spirit of Prophecy.” This is the fundamental difference between the two churches. Beyond this basic difference, here are some teachings of the Church of God (Seventh Day) that are not endorsed by Seventh-day Adventists:
•We believe that the year 1844 has no special significance in Bible prophecy. We believe that provision for salvation was completed when Jesus died, rose from the dead, and returned to heaven — not in 1844. Therefore, we believe that SDA teachings about the cleansing of the sanctuary and the investigative judgment are invalid.
•We believe that the earth will be inhabited by the saints — not desolate — during the 1,000-year reign of Christ.
•We believe that the entombment of Christ was for three full days and nights, from Wednesday evening until Sabbath evening.
•We believe that the common celebrations of Christmas and Easter are seen as a compromise with pagan customs and should not be practiced by the Church.

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02/15/2026

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Eleven years ago the world watched in horror as members of the Islamic State brutally beheaded 21 Christians on a beach in Libya.

Images from the 2015 executions of 21 “people of the cross” on a beach in Libya are seared into the memory of millions. The victims, 20 Coptic Christians from Egypt and one Christian from Ghana, were hailed as martyrs and heroes. The video captured some of them saying, in the final seconds of their earthly lives, “Jesus, help me.” They could have saved their lives by accepting Islam, but knowing what awaited them, they chose the way of Christ. Christians around the world continue to draw inspiration from their courageous faith.

We remember them by name today, 11 years later, so that their bravery and conviction will never be forgotten.

• Bishoy Adel Khalaf
• Samuel Alhoam Wilson
• Hany Abdel-Masih Salib
• Melad Mackeen Zaki
• Abanoub Ayad Attia
• Ezzat Bushra Nassif
• Yousef Shokry Younan
• Kirillos Shukry Fawzy
• Majed Suleiman Shehata
• Samuel Stéphanos Kamel
• Malak Ibrahim Siniot
• Bishoy Stéphanos Kamel
• Mena Fayez Aziz
• Girgis Melad Sniout
• Tawadros Youssef Tawadros
• Essam Badr Samir
• Luke Ngati
• Jaber Mounir Adly
• Malak F***j Abram
• Sameh Salah Farouk
• Matthew Ayariga

Heavenly Father, the world doesn’t know why these 21 men were able to stand so firm on their convictions. Their bravery makes no sense to them, and yet believers in Jesus need look no further than the cross to see how these 21 men were able to do what they did. Your son Jesus is our ultimate example of laying down one’s life for the sake of truth. In remembering these brave martyrs of the faith we harken back to the day, 2,000 years ago, when your son laid down his life for the sake of the world. Thank you Father for not leaving us on earth to fend for ourselves but sending your son to show us the way that we are to live and, yes, the way we are to die. Thank you for the example of these 21 men and we lift up their families today on the 11th anniversary of their martyrdom. May the humility and strength of Jesus be our guide today, as it was for these men 11 years ago. In the powerful name of Jesus, the risen savior, Amen!

“And being found in the fashion of a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death—even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:8

01/13/2026

DUISBURG, Germany – Poisoned land, government opposition and even a police assault against the pastor have not prevented a unique German Church called Wera F...

01/06/2026

A church becomes cult-like when it shifts from healthy community to excessive control, centering around an authoritarian leader who discourages questions, isolates members from outside views, demands unquestioning loyalty, and uses manipulative tactics to maintain power, often by claiming unique spiritual insight and creating an "us vs. them" mentality that ostracizes dissenters. Key signs include veneration of the leader, lack of accountability, spiritual elitism, controlling members' lives, and stifling critical thinking or doubt.

Key Indicators a Church is Becoming a Cult:
-Charismatic/Authoritarian Leader: A single leader (or small group) holds absolute power, is protected from criticism, and demands devotion above God or scripture.
-Lack of Accountability: The leadership is not answerable to any higher authority or oversight, allowing them to stray from established doctrine without correction.
Control & Isolation: Members are discouraged from interacting with outsiders (including family), and their social circles shrink to only the group, creating dependency.
-Suppression of Dissent: Questions, doubts, or opposing views are seen as spiritual attacks, rebellion, or signs of spiritual immaturity, leading to shaming or ostracization.
-Exclusive Revelation & Jargon: The group claims special, unique insights beyond scripture, uses insider language, and promotes an "us vs. them" mentality, viewing themselves as spiritually superior.
-Excessive Demands & Legalism: Beyond biblical teachings, strict rules are imposed (e.g., on clothing, media, finances) and leaving the group carries severe consequences.
-Leader Worship Over God: Loyalty to the pastor becomes more important than loyalty to God or biblical principles, as noted in this Facebook post.

Healthy vs. Cult-Like Churches:
-Healthy: Welcomes questions, encourages critical thinking, prioritizes members' well-being (even if they leave), and remains accountable to scripture and broader Christian traditions.
-Cult-Like: Stifles inquiry, demands unquestioning obedience, threatens or shames those who question, and prioritizes the group's or leader's agenda over individual spiritual health.

10/22/2025
09/29/2025
09/20/2025
What a celebration!
09/05/2025

What a celebration!

When our team set out for West Virginia, revival broke out before we even arrived — 27 souls baptized along the way. But on the grounds of the West Virginia ...

09/02/2025

Address

9031 Howser Lane
Lanham, MD
20706

Opening Hours

Wednesday 7:30pm - 8pm
Saturday 8:45am - 5pm
Sunday 6pm - 7:30pm

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