Every Church Needs A Hazel

In February 2019, we moved from Pensacola to a small Alabama town east of Birmingham, so that my husband could continue his long career with the power company.

We spoke many prayers prior to our move and were absolutely certain God was directing our steps. God and His church are important in our lives, so after settling into our new home we began a church search.

First and foremost, we are Jesus followers, but we're partial to the southern Baptist church. Our previous church had a congregation of 3,500, give or take. Here, small churches are on nearly every corner. We took the time to visit a number of the Baptist ones.

We decided on ’Hazel's’ church.

Hazel is a church greeter. On our first visit, she took my hand, looked directly into my eyes and unabashedly said, "Hello, my name is Hazel. Jesus loves you and I love you, too."

She didn't know we had just lost our grandson, who was born early, at about 20 weeks.

I was hurting, especially for my daughter and son in love. My grief was deep and wide, and I felt alone in that grief, intensified by our move to a new town.

In that brief encounter, that church greeter became a powerful voice, the face of that church. She beautifully reflected God's love for me. Through her hand, I felt my Father's touch. Her simple message reassured me that I was not alone. God was with me.

We would not visit again for months, but when we went back, Hazel was there to greet me. Again, she reminded me that Jesus loved me.

On that day, the pastor announced that the church theme for the new year was "Home," inspired by John 14:23. "Jesus answered and said unto Him, if a man love me, He will keep my words and my Father will love him and we will come unto Him, and make our abode with Him."

It became our church home until God moved us on.

While we were there, Hazel faithfully continued to encourage me and others with the good news that Jesus loved them. Her simple message of God’s love for me, her love for me, never got old. Heaven only knows how many lives she touched.

She's a great reminder that every church needs a Hazel, more than one, in fact. We all need someone to remind us that God loves us - especially in our sadness.

Hello, my name is Pam. Jesus loves you and I love you, too.

"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of service, but the same Lord. And there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. " 2 Cor. 12: 4-6

"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.... For the body does not consist of one member but of many." 2 Cor. 12: 12, 14