Open Door Fellowship has gathered on the north side of Phoenix at 8301 N 19th Avenue since a small group of friends first met in founding pastor Bill Thrall's living room in 1973. More than fifty years later, the same conviction that started that first meeting still shapes the church: that grace is a way of life, not a rule to keep, and that whoever walks through the door belongs.
Sundays at 9:00 and 10:30
Two identical Sunday services are held each week at 9:00am and 10:30am, both in person in the main sanctuary and online. The services are contemporary in style, with a full worship team led by Worship Director Mike Quinn, prayer, and Bible teaching from Lead Pastor Caleb Lynch. There is no dress code and no membership requirement. A coffee cart in the courtyard serves complimentary drinks, and a Connect Table in the same space welcomes anyone new to the church. Those who arrive early find a relaxed atmosphere where first-time guests, longtime members, and curious neighbors mix together without pressure to perform or pretend.
Sermons are livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel and made available afterward on the Open Door app. Past series can also be watched there or on the YouTube archive, so anyone who misses a Sunday can catch up at their own pace.
A Statement of Faith Rooted in Grace
Open Door Fellowship holds to an evangelical statement of faith that centers on the Bible as the inspired, authoritative Word of God; the Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; the full deity and humanity of Jesus Christ; salvation by grace through faith in his death and resurrection; and the sure return of Christ. The church teaches that believers are eternally secure in Christ, sealed with the Holy Spirit, and freed to love others as Christ loved them. Leadership is structured around the New Testament pattern of elders who shepherd the congregation and deacons who serve its practical needs, with male and female staff and ministry directors rounding out the team.
Beyond the formal statement, the church has long been known for what it calls a culture of grace. Visitors are told plainly that no experience is required, no partisan preference is expected, and no one will be rushed ahead of where they are. Healing, discovery, and the slow work of finding the path God has for each person are given room to breathe.
Kids: Infants Through Sixth Grade
Children's Pastor Lisa Poppen oversees the Open Door Kids ministry, which provides classes for children from infancy through sixth grade during services. Poppen, who came to the role with a background in public school education, summer camps, and missions, leads a team that introduces children to the love and saving grace of God and seeks to cultivate a growing relationship with Jesus. A secure child check-in system is used to keep kids safe, and the Kids Zone is open during Sunday services. During the summer, classes for kids from infancy through sixth grade are offered during the first service, with the normal schedule resuming after Labor Day.
Students: Middle School, High School, and Young Adults
Student ministry at Open Door Fellowship gathers in a building affectionately called "the Pines." Middle school students meet on Sunday mornings at 9:00am for worship, fellowship, and a Bible lesson, then return on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30pm for games, teaching, and small groups. High schoolers meet on Sunday mornings at 10:30am and join the same Wednesday evening gathering.
Youth Pastor Johnathon Tews, who grew up outside Chicago and now calls Phoenix home, leads the ministry. Tews is known for building relationships one-on-one, often over coffee or pastries, and uses a dedicated text line to keep parents and students updated on schedule changes and events.
Caleb Smith, Associate Pastor and Young Adults Pastor, oversees two monthly gatherings for those beyond high school. The Middy meets on the first and third Tuesday of the month from 6:30 to 9:00pm for college-age young adults, and The Post meets on the fourth Tuesday from 7:00 to 9:00pm for post-college young adults. Both groups blend worship, teaching, and authentic community.
Adults: Men, Women, Marriage, and Open Home Communities
Open Door offers several adult ministries built around relationships and Scripture.
Women's Ministry, led by Marcia Kuyper, includes weekly morning and evening Bible studies throughout the year. A dedicated women's YouTube channel hosts recordings of recent studies so anyone who misses a session can watch on their own schedule.
Men's Ministry gathers around three ongoing groups. A Thursday night Bible study meets in the sanctuary from 6:00 to 8:00pm during the school year, open to all men of the church. A Wednesday morning study meets at 6:00am in the auditorium, with Zoom access for those who cannot make it to campus. REVIVE40, a Bible-based support group for men struggling with sexual sin, meets on Monday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30pm in classroom E-2 and welcomes newcomers at any time.
Marriage and Family Ministry is led by Tom and Marcia Kuyper. The couple offers marriage, family, and individual biblical counseling and hosts several retreats each year at a cabin in Munds Park, including themed weekends such as Marriage Madness and Marriage Intensives for couples in crisis.
Open Home Communities is the church's small-group effort, deliberately modeled on the living-room gathering that started the church in 1973. Each month on the first Sunday, households around the Phoenix valley open their homes to a handful of Open Door attendees for a shared meal, time in Scripture, and unhurried fellowship. It is presented as the best way to get connected into the wider life of the church.
The Glory Project
On the fourth Sunday of every month at 7:00pm, the Open Door Auditorium hosts The Glory Project, a dedicated night of extended worship. Open to anyone, it is a chance to step away from the regular teaching rhythm and simply lift praise together. Anyone interested in serving on the worship team is invited to reach out to Mike Quinn.
Caring for One Another
Pastoral counseling is offered through a team of trained biblical counselors and through the Kuypers, who handle marriage, family, and individual issues including addiction, depression, anxiety, grief, and life skills. When needs go beyond the scope of the church's team, referrals are made to licensed professional counselors. A downloadable counseling referral form is available for those who want to begin the process.
Prayer is woven into the life of the church in two regular rhythms. Two or More is a weekly prayer gathering held every Tuesday night from 6:30 to 7:30pm in room E-2, where requests can be shared openly or kept between one person and the group. The Prayer Chain is an email-based network of facilitators who commit to praying for submitted requests confidentially.
Family Promise and the Food Bank
Two ongoing outreach efforts shape the church's life beyond its walls. Through a partnership with Family Promise, Open Door Fellowship hosts families experiencing homelessness on its campus three times a year, providing evening meals, overnight accommodations, conversation, and activities. Hosting weeks in the coming rotation are listed on the church's calendar, and the church welcomes volunteers in nearly a dozen roles, from set-up and welcome team to dinner hosts, overnight hosts, and laundry. Many positions require a brief training class and signed code of conduct before serving.
The ODF Food Bank is open to the public on the second and fourth Saturday of every month from 8:30 to 11:00am. Boxes typically include canned vegetables, soup, meat, fruit, peanut butter, pasta, rice, sauce, cereal, and pinto beans, with fresh vegetables and bread added when available. Nonperishable donations and new volunteers are always welcome. The food bank is funded through the Open Door Fellowship Benevolence Fund, a separate not-for-profit that also extends financial help to those in need within the church and surrounding community.
Missions Beyond Phoenix
Open Door Fellowship supports a handful of missionaries and global partners. Workers include Mark K with Frontiers Ministries, who helps American churches send long-term disciple-making teams to unreached people groups; medical missionaries serving in Southeast Asia; Pastor Mladen Tomičić of the Evangelical Church of Breza in Bosnia and Herzegovina, who has hosted short-term teams from Open Door for many years; and Pastor Simon Nziramakenga of Good Shepherd Community Church in Kigali, Rwanda, who leads a church, a primary school, and a network of leaders across the country. The church also partners with Family of God Christian Fellowship in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico, where short-term teams assist with a November medical mission trip and a Day of the Child event each April.
The Benevolence Fund and outreach efforts are supported through regular giving as well as creative funding options, including Arizona's Qualifying Charitable Organization tax credit and the Fry's grocery rewards program. The church is registered as a Qualifying Charitable Organization under code 20568.
Partnering Ministries
Several ministries were born out of relationships that began at Open Door Fellowship. Trueface, founded by Bill Thrall and shaped by long-time teaching pastor John Lynch, is a global movement that teaches people how to trust God and others with themselves through books, study guides, events, podcasts, and group education. The Neighborhood Christian Clinic, which provides medical and dental care to uninsured residents in the Phoenix area, was co-founded by a core group of Open Door leaders and continues to be financially supported by the church. Mountain Meadow Ranch provides a camp setting where children and youth experience intentional mentoring in God's Word. John Lynch Speaks carries the message of grace to audiences around the world.
Leadership and Staff
Caleb Lynch, who grew up at Open Door Fellowship alongside his wife Kali (the two met in the church's nursery, according to the church's account), became Lead Pastor in March 2019. He is supported by an elder board and a deacon team that handles practical needs. The pastoral staff includes Lisa Poppen as Children's Pastor, Johnathon Tews as Youth Pastor, Caleb Smith as Associate Pastor and Young Adults Pastor, Tom Kuyper as Marriage and Family Pastor, Marcia Kuyper as Marriage and Family Pastor and Women's Ministry Director, and Mike Quinn as Worship Director.
Getting Connected
Anyone new to Open Door Fellowship is encouraged to fill out a Connect form or simply show up on a Sunday morning. The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00am to 4:00pm and can be reached at (602) 242-4414 or info@odfchurch.org. The Open Door app, available for both Apple and Android, serves as a central hub for sermons, event registration, giving, and the church directory. Whether someone is stepping into a Phoenix church for the first time or has been walking with God for decades, the door is open.