About Us
 

 
 
 
Open Arms, a United Pentecostal Community, is a new daughter work congregation of Wood River United Pentecostal Church in Wood River, Illinois.  Open Arms is located in Ballwin, Missouri in West St. Louis County. 
 
On May 12, 2007, Open Arms met for the very first time at Parkway Southwest Middle School for a very unique, timely and ultimately successful experimental service.  But first, the back story that brought us to this landmark moment. 
 
On March 25, 2001, my wife and I were told by a developmental pediatrician that our two-year old daughter had autism.  Crushed beyond words, we began a journey that would take us through the hills and valleys of faith, prayer, dedication, education, advocation, many doctors, therapies and other challenges too numerous to mention.  Orchestrated by God alone, we became immersed into a community of families who were facing the same challenges.
 
Over the next few years it became evident to us that there were many moms and dads with special needs children who would love to attend a church service together, knowing their children were being taught in a safe environment which was specifically designed to minister to each their child or children.  Not being able to resist any longer to what God was already putting into motion, in February 2007 we began to receive calls and e-mails from some of the most loving, giving people from area churches who would become our first volunteers for Jericho Kids.  The support we have received from our Pastor, Rev. Lee Jackson, and the other St. Louis area Pastors has been outstanding!  Our first few runs of Jericho Kids were a tremendous success! 
 
In July 2007 we learned that our request to utilize the facilities of an area church had been approved and on September 19th we signed the lease agreement.  We met for our first service at our new location, the Taiwanese Presbyterian Church of Greater St. Louis, on September 29, 2007!  Only God could have brought everything together so beautifully!  We are thrilled with all that has transpired, but we are even more excited about what God has planned for the future. 
 
Pastor Scott Grissom
 
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