Addy, a young girl at First Baptist Church, Garland, gave me the best church welcome, ever.

In the 24 years I’ve served with Dallas Baptist Association, I am sure I have worshiped with more than 100 different churches. Most of our churches are great at welcoming guests; some not so much. Yes, once I was actually told that I was sitting in someone’s seat. I have spent entire mornings with several churches where no one ever spoke to me.

But Addy made up for those sub-par experiences. I visited her church recently to celebrate Pastor Greg Ammons’ 15th anniversary as their pastor. The sanctuary was packed, but I looked around and spotted a seat next to a girl who looked to be about 8 or 9 years old. She was sitting with her grandmother. The service had just begun, and she smiled at me when I sat down. As soon as the worship time concluded, Addy turned to me and said, “I’m Addy. Will you sit with me again when you come to church?”  I told Addy that I was just visiting, and it might be a while before I came back. “Well,” she said. “Please sit by me when you come. I really like it when people come to my church.”

I believe you, Addy. You want me to be there. The next time I visit your church, I know where I’m going to sit.