Who are the Greeters, and what exactly do they do at Williams? As it turns out, they do a lot more than just greet folks.
Ruth Voss and Stephanie Maddox elaborate on the genesis of the Greeters Ministry. “Ruth had done a lot of research. She had the idea of two people at every door to welcome new faces,” Stephanie said.
Ruth researched ways to welcome people and quickly implemented her ideas: greeters are ready 30 minutes before service starts, they wear name tags so visitors know who to approach with questions, and ultimately they strive to leave a positive first impression. “Members or visitors, I want them to feel welcomed and have a smiling face – joy – passed unto them,” Ruth said.
The Greeters’ service does not begin and end at the door, however; Stephanie even sends a piece of Williams directly to you. “I’m old school, so I write handwritten letters. I just think they are important. It connects you with people,” Stephanie said.
Visitors leave their names and addresses on visitation cards at the entrance, and Stephanie reviews them to reach out with a personal letter. “It’s very important to me that people be noticed, and people are talked to,” Stephanie said.
Volunteering at events also forms a large part of a Greeter’s role. They attend events wearing their signature red lanyards so attendees know exactly who to ask for help. Williams also partners with Arkansas schools’ Bright Futures initiative which includes programs like Lunch Buddies and Page Turners. Greeters even lead guided tours of Williams. If you want a tour, simply ask at the front desk. The team gladly shows new visitors around.
The Greeters meet people where they are in life. “We don’t push our beliefs on anybody,” Stephanie notes. They welcome everyone to Williams with an open mind and an open heart. “We ask. We follow up,” Stephanie said.
Because they understand that new visitors might feel too shy to ask questions right away, Stephanie proactively reaches out: “I’ll say: Hi, my name’s Stephanie and we enjoyed your time at Williams. If you have any questions, here is my phone number.”
Launched around May of 2025, the Greeters Ministry currently includes about 25 members. They actively seek new people to expand their roster of friendly faces. “We’d like anybody to volunteer,” Ruth said. “You don’t need to be a member.”
Joining the Greeters embeds you into the community at Williams and throughout Texarkana. If you want to become a Williams greeter, fill out this Google form or visit the welcome desk to join the Greeters Ministry. Become a part of Williams today and help spread joy to others. “When you work together, you play together, you stick together,” Ruth said. Join the Williams church family and discover why so many people call this place home.