Volunteer Spotlight: Craig Swope

There are many ways to serve at Gateway Church.  One way to serve is through ushering.  You get to be the smiling face that welcomes people in as they prepare to worship God with us.  One of our ushers is Craig Swope.  See what he has to say about serving as an usher here at Gateway.

How long have you attended Gateway?...been a volunteer in Gateway’s usher ministry?

We have been attending Gateway since it started, dating back to the early 1990's during the Norcrest days. It seems like I have been ushering throughout Gateways start-up and before.

In what capacity do you volunteer?

I have volunteered in numerous positions over the years. Besides ushering, I currently am a counter. Along with my wife, Elaine, we have sub Sunday school taught for the younger classes, helped with VBS, helped serve communion, lead a middle school bible study group, and back in our earlier years served on the nursery committee and in the nursery.

Why did you initially volunteer to serve as an usher?

I initially felt led to usher because I enjoy welcoming and seeing our visitors as well as our regular attendees. I started counting as a continuation of my early banking career.

What do you enjoy most about serving?

The feeling of doing God's work by welcoming his followers.

Do you have a favorite ministry memory?

I can't think of a special ushering moment while I served, but I remember when we first attended Norcrest that the greeters/ ushers who we first met made us feel very welcomed and I want to hopefully pass along that same experience to others.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not serving at Gateway?

While ushering, I enjoy being able to listen to the praise and worship music. I have also enjoyed being able to interact with many of the youth ( MS and HS) some of which I have currently coach or have coached over the years.

What would you say to someone who has been feeling a tug to serve, but who hasn’t taken the plunge yet?

To someone who has been feeling the tug to serve, I would say to pray it up as to what area the spirit is leading you to serve in and just "jump in" even if it is just helping on an unofficial capacity to see what the serving position is about. I have no special credentials to serve, but God gives each of us special gifts and talents that he will help us use for His good.