There’s a moment, somewhere between turning into the parking lot and walking through the front doors, when a Sunday morning either starts to feel like home or it doesn’t. For a lot of people at Immanuel’s Williamsburg Campus, Allen is the reason it feels like the former. He’s out there before the first song plays, waving cars in with a smile and setting the tone for the whole service before anyone’s even found a seat.
Allen leads the parking lot team at Williamsburg, which puts him at the very beginning of the Sunday experience. He and his wife Shawnda also serve together on the coffee ministry, where they keep the area running smoothly and, by Allen’s own admission, engage in an ongoing friendly debate about whose pot of coffee is better. But it’s the parking lot where he’s most visible, standing in the elements and greeting people with the kind of warmth that makes a big church feel a little smaller.
“What I enjoy most is creating an environment where people can feel welcomed, loved, and connected to God,” he says. That sentence sounds simple, but it carries the weight of everything Allen does on a Sunday morning.
“What I enjoy most is creating an environment where people can feel welcomed, loved, and connected to God.”
A Small Moment That Stuck
Allen has been around church ministry most of his life, shaped early by the idea that serving others is a calling, not just a volunteer activity. That conviction shows up in the small moments just as much as the big ones.
Not long ago, Allen was working his usual spot on the coffee team when a visitor came in. He greeted him the way he greets everyone, introduced himself, made conversation. Then it hit him: this man had been a teacher at Allen’s high school. They spent a few minutes reminiscing, reconnecting across years and distance. It was a brief interaction, but it stuck. That visitor has since become a regular at the Williamsburg Campus.
“That experience reminded me how important even simple acts of welcoming and serving can be, and how God can use small interactions to impact people.”
“Because Immanuel is a larger church, we do not always have the opportunity to personally connect and have conversations with everyone who walks through the doors,” Allen reflects. That’s exactly what makes those moments matter. He doesn’t point to anything he did as special. He just showed up, smiled, and said hello.
Just Take the Step
Serving about two to three times a month, Allen has found a rhythm that keeps him rooted without overwhelming the rest of his life. He’s clear that the consistency isn’t just logistical. Showing up regularly keeps his faith sharp and his relationships at the Williamsburg Campus alive and growing.
For anyone sitting on the fence about getting involved, Allen doesn’t overthink his advice: “I would encourage them to take the step and get involved, even if they feel unsure or feel like they do not have much to offer. God can use anyone who is willing to serve.”
“God can use anyone who is willing to serve.”
He means it. He’s the proof. Most Sunday mornings, you’ll find him in the parking lot before the service begins, doing something that looks simple from the outside but means everything to the person pulling in for the first time.