An American Baptist Congregation in Royersford
Royersford Baptist Church gathers each Sunday morning at 452 South Lewis Road in Royersford, Pennsylvania, in a building designed to welcome every age and every stage of faith. The congregation identifies itself plainly on its front door as an American Baptist congregation, and what sets it apart in the wider landscape of Baptist life is its clear, public commitment to welcome and affirm every person who walks through its doors, regardless of sex, gender, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or nationality. RBC is a member of the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists and is rated on Church Clarity, both of which give explicit visibility to the welcome that has long been practiced at the church.
The congregation's reach extends well beyond its own walls. Its members include current and former missionaries who have served both within the United States and abroad, and the church actively supports local ministries such as Project Outreach, St. Mary's Shelter, PFLAG, and the Montgomery County Anti-Human Trafficking Coalition, alongside denominational mission efforts through the American Baptist Home Mission Societies, International Ministries, and One Great Hour of Sharing.
The Four Fragile Freedoms and a Covenant, Not a Creed
American Baptists are a non-creedal people, meaning they do not corporately profess any particular creed or set of beliefs. RBC lives instead by a written covenant that grounds the congregation in the historic Baptist tradition of the Four Fragile Freedoms, described by Walter Shurden in The Baptist Identity: Four Fragile Freedoms (1993):
- Bible Freedom. The Bible is central in the life of the church and the individual, and Christians, with the best and most scholarly tools of inquiry, are both free and obligated to study and obey Scripture.
- Soul Freedom. Every person has the right and responsibility to deal with God without the imposition of creed, the interference of clergy, or the intervention of government.
- Church Freedom. Local churches are free to determine their membership and leadership, to order their worship and work, to ordain whom they perceive as gifted for ministry, and to participate in the larger body of Christ.
- Religious Freedom. Freedom of religion, freedom for religion, and freedom from religion, holding that Caesar is not Christ and Christ is not Caesar.
Together, RBC seeks to follow Jesus Christ in all it does, knowing it falls short at times and practicing grace and forgiveness when it does. Jesus' command to love the neighbor is taken seriously and serves as the basis for everything the church does. Members and leaders do not shy away from hard topics; they value questions and curiosity, and they study the Bible and theology together even when they do not always agree.
Sunday Worship at 9:30, In Person and Online
Sunday worship at RBC happens at 9:30 a.m., both in the church's sanctuary on South Lewis Road and through a livestream that allows remote members of the congregation to participate in real time. Services are recorded and posted to an extensive video archive, with worship videos going back several years organized by series, by season, and by special Sundays.
The worship style is a deliberate mix of traditional and contemporary. Some people dress up, and many dress casually. There is time for singing, time devoted to children, scripture readings, and a sermon - and sometimes the service takes a different shape altogether, with a couch up front or a table around which the congregation gathers to talk about faith together. The congregation believes there are many ways to worship God and enjoys being creative in its worship experiences.
From September through June (approximately), worship takes place in the church's sanctuary, which is equipped with movable seats that make it accessible to all. In the warmer months, the congregation moves to the air-conditioned fellowship hall at the opposite end of the building. Both spaces can be easily accessed from any door in the building, and the church has gender neutral and accessible bathrooms throughout.
An Eclectic Mix of Music
Music at RBC is eclectic. Minister of Music Alex Cifelli works closely with the worship staff to create meaningful, engaging music experiences for the congregation. An adult choir provides music on many Sundays throughout the year, and anyone is welcome to join; the church office can share the most up-to-date rehearsal schedule. A children's choir sings periodically during worship as well, and the music ministry draws on a variety of instrumentalists. Those attending in person or watching the livestream may catch Pastor Sarah playing the marimba. Worship Coordinator Lara Cifelli helps shape the varied elements of worship into unified themes for each service and can connect anyone interested in participating in worship teams, special music, bell choir, and many other opportunities.
Alex earned his Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the Catholic University of America and his Master of Science in Educational Leadership from St. Joseph's University; he also teaches seventh-grade music and directs high school musicals and men's choir in the Spring-Ford School District. Lara earned her Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Immaculata University and her Master of Science in Educational Leadership from St. Joseph's University; she teaches instrumental music in two Quakertown elementary schools.
Children, Youth, and the Prayground
Children are always welcomed and embraced in worship at RBC. The sanctuary includes a prayground where young children and their caretakers can color, do puzzles, and play with quiet toys as they engage in worship in ways that are meaningful to them. Children typically leave the service midway through to attend RBC Kids classes, but if they prefer to stay that is fine too. Wiggles and giggles of children small and big do not bother anyone here. Nursery care is provided during the service, as is Children's Sunday School.
Ryan Seckman serves as Minister of Children and Youth, leading a creative ministry that engages children and youth both from the congregation and the community. Ryan's open personality and understanding of youth culture bring together healthy relational skills and a love of connecting young people with Jesus. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Youth Ministry with a minor in Biblical Studies from Eastern University, has been doing youth ministry for over ten years, and always welcomes new faces at RBC Kids and Youth Group.
Annual rhythms give shape to the work with young people. Vacation Bible School is a regular feature of the church's outreach. Youth Sunday, when the youth of the congregation take leading roles in worship, is celebrated each summer, and the broader RBC Kids program is woven into the rhythm of Sunday mornings throughout the program year.
Mission at Home and Around the World
RBC has a long history of actively supporting mission projects locally and internationally. Within the congregation there are many current and former missionaries who have served both within the United States and across the globe, and guest interviews with missionaries are a regular feature of Sunday worship, with sermons like "Interview with a Missionary!" appearing in the recent worship archive. Mission teams are commissioned in worship before they depart, and the church supports mission work through denominational partners including the American Baptist Home Mission Societies, International Ministries, and One Great Hour of Sharing.
On the local level, RBC supports Project Outreach, St. Mary's Shelter, PFLAG, and the Montgomery County Anti-Human Trafficking Coalition, along with other local projects throughout the greater Royersford area. Inside the congregation, members practice mission and ministry through groups such as the Green Team, which works to help the church be good stewards of the Earth, and the Diversity Working Group, which helps the church be good allies in the fight for justice. Other groups emerge as needs are seen and members feel called to that work.
Creation Justice and Caring for the Earth
RBC is a Creation Justice Congregation of the American Baptist Churches USA and is deeply committed to creation justice and caring for the Earth. The congregation believes it is called to care for all of creation and to seek to be good stewards of the Earth and the resources with which it has been entrusted. This commitment shapes preaching, the Green Team's ongoing work, and the church's participation in the wider ABC USA creation justice network. Pastor Sarah's own Master of Divinity work included a certificate in Ethics and Social Justice, and that emphasis runs through the church's approach to the world around it.
Five Commitments for the Journey of Faith
The congregation has written a mission statement that names five commitments that shape its life together. The people of RBC seek to be a diverse, Christ-centered community where grace is abundant, growth is encouraged, and their love of God leads them to serve wherever they are called. That vision works itself out in five directions:
- Worship God in relevant, refreshing services. Worship at RBC is a blend of traditional and contemporary styles, offering a variety of spiritual experiences that allow people of different generations, backgrounds, and worship traditions to be at home and to grow in worship.
- Build Relationships within a diverse community of faith. The church is committed to welcome and accept one another for the people they are, believing that God's family is inclusive and that no one should be excluded because of race, economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental abilities, background, life experiences, or for any other reason. Children, youth, and adults worship, work, play, and pray together.
- Study Scripture in order to grow closer to God and each other. RBC is a theologically diverse group of people from a variety of religious backgrounds who find hope and direction as they learn from God's word how to live with purpose and passion in God's world.
- Serve Christ in local and international contexts. The church seeks to make tangible connections between the faith it professes and the lives it lives, from Vacation Bible School to environmental concerns to international cross-cultural mission trips.
- Undergo Transformation by the power of the Holy Spirit. RBC wants to help each believer find opportunities to use their talents and spiritual gifts, walking with them wherever they are on their journey of faith.
The Pastoral Team
Pastor Sarah Strosahl-Kagi (she/her/hers) describes her life and ministry as "delightfully unexpected, with notes of whimsy and urgency," a quality that comes through in the way she preaches and in the variety of her commitments. She holds degrees in music education and international affairs from the University of New Hampshire, certificates in Latin American Studies and Spanish, and a Master of Divinity from Andover Newton Theological School with certificates in Ethics and Social Justice and Religion and Conflict Transformation. Before coming to RBC, she worked at the American Baptist Home Mission Societies, at International Ministries, and as a preschool teacher. Her joy in ministry occurs at the intersections of creativity, justice, and relationships, and she is passionate about creating safe and brave spaces where all feel truly welcome. She also serves as volunteer chaplain to the Royersford Fire Department and is active with Young Clergy Women International and International Ministries.
Sarah lives with her husband Josh and their children Asher and Ellie, along with a small menagerie that includes guinea pigs Peaches and Thor, a rescued cat named Janet, and a rescued dog named Stout. Joshua Kagi serves as Technology Coordinator for the church. He is a communications professional with a background in journalism, and he is the senior producer of the PBS documentary series Grown-Up Dad as well as What Did You Drag Me Into? The Flamy Grant Story. For the 2026-2027 Biennium, Josh will serve as President of the American Baptist Churches USA.
The Church Year
The church year at RBC moves through the seasons of the wider Christian calendar. Advent and Christmas bring Christmas Eve services, cantata presentations (including Joseph M. Martin's Appalachian Winter and Mary McDonald's Festival of Christmas in recent years), and sermon series that engage the themes of waiting, hope, and incarnation. Holy Week includes both Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday services, with sermon series during Lent that have explored themes like Turning Over Tables, walking through Revelation, Repent, Disrupt, Cultivate, and Illuminate.
Special Sundays dot the calendar throughout the year: Youth Sunday, Pride Sunday, Safety Sunday, Mission Team Commissioning, and guest preachers who come to share the pulpit from time to time. Worship also makes room for the occasional interview or conversation, and past services have included a "Conversation About Baptists" as well as Adult Selective offerings such as Pastor Sarah's Holy Land Recap.
A Building Made for Worship and Welcome
The church's home on South Lewis Road is laid out to serve both Sunday morning worship and the wider life of the congregation. The sanctuary, with its movable seating, can be reconfigured for traditional worship and for gatherings that need a more informal setting, while the fellowship hall provides a comfortable space for meals and events, especially in the warmer months when the congregation moves its worship there. Gender neutral and accessible bathrooms serve both worship spaces, and the building can be accessed easily from any door. The worship livestream is broadcast from the same building, allowing remote members of the congregation to participate in real time.
Office hours are kept on Monday and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Wednesday from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., with Pastor Sarah available by appointment. Online giving is available through a dedicated giving page, and the church's voice on social media includes Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, where worship services are also archived.
Just down the road from RBC sits Cypress Place at Royersford, a separate nonprofit with which the church maintains a relationship. The Royersford Baptist Church building itself remains the central gathering place for a congregation that has spent years learning to do life together, asking questions, telling stories, and watching the Spirit move in both traditional and unexpected ways.