I’m Randy Overbey. Here’s how God’s enabling me to live deeply as a CSPC greeter. 

“She had a baby in one arm, a diaper bag in the other, a cup of coffee in her hand, and two kids walking alongside her. It was 7:45 on a Sunday morning. She had gotten up early, gotten everyone fed and dressed, gotten bows in the girls’ hair- and she was making her way through that nursery door. And I thought: ‘The least I can do is open that door for her and give her a good, warm Good Morning.’ That’s what I get to do. I currently serve as a greeter at the nursery door during CSPC’s first hour service. I’ve been at it for well over a decade (my wife Carol says she can’t remember when I DIDN’T greet!), and I just delight in seeing those young families come through. And I’ll tell you – the more personal you can make it, the more it becomes something neither of you will forget. A few years ago, at a different door, a couple came through for probably two years. Then, one Sunday, the husband stopped and told me, ‘My wife is having knee surgery. Could you possibly pray for her?’ From that one moment, we became friends. He eventually joined a Bible study I was teaching. And when they built their house, they wanted me to come see it. All of that from a consistent, genuine hello as they walked into church week after week. Another couple told me something I will never forget. They looked at me and said: ‘You greeted us week after week and called us by name, and that was a big part of our decision to join the church: because you took the time to know our names.’ I knew them only as a greeter. And today, they are faithfully serving in our church. I’m not sharing any of this because it’s about me. It isn’t. God gets the thanks and all the credit. I’m just trying to serve our people. But I believe with everything in me that we greeters, ushers, and parking team are the first line of welcome – and God can powerfully use that welcome, offered sincerely and personally, beyond what we can imagine. It can be the reason someone connects, the reason someone stays, the reason someone belongs. I never take that lightly.

I would’ve missed out on so much if God hadn’t called me to be a greeter. Case in point: A young man started coming through the door where I was greeting- alone at first. Then with a young lady. Then they were holding hands. Over the months, they got engaged. And now they have small children and are deeply faithful to our church. I got to watch an entire family come together and become part of our church family- just by being present at a door, week after week. Not long ago, another young couple with a brand new baby, maybe three months old, came through to the nursery. The husband stopped and said, ‘Here’s my name, here’s my wife’s name, and here’s our baby’s name.’ During the week I made it my mission to hold onto all three. The next Sunday when they came through, I called each of them by name. He stopped, took off his glove, shook my hand, and said, ‘You remembered all of us- even the baby.’ Now, every time I see them, there’s that instant connection. I don’t always succeed at this, by the way! That same morning, I tried to remember another man’s name and got it wrong. Called him David. He said, ‘No – my name is actually Paul.’ Oops. We had a good laugh, and he introduced me to two of his friends. Even that moment was rich. I was recently asked to speak briefly to encourage our greeters, ushers, and parking lot volunteers, and here’s what I wanted to impress upon them: ‘You are the first face of CSPC – and sometimes the first face of Christ – that a person will ever see. Whether they’ve walked with Jesus for 40 years or it’s their first Sunday, they need to feel welcomed. Scripture says we are ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). That calling doesn’t belong only to pastors and elders. It belongs to every one of us at every door and in every parking lot. Pastor James prays nearly every Sunday for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Well, I know firsthand the Spirit moves afresh in exactly those moments of genuine welcome. Even a few words. Even just opening a door. Let us always take it that seriously.’” 

NOTE: Next week, Randy will share how God’s also enabling him to live deeply through teaching His Word.