The Power of a Handshake

Twice every Sunday after finishing sermons at two campuses, Jeremiah Campbell, lead pastor of Connection Church in Snohomish County, Washington, heads straight to the lobbies. His mission is simple but vital - greet as many people as possible. Why?  

“I take time to shake hands, and greet people by name,” says Campbell, 43. “There’s something deep and significant when a pastor takes time to connect with people face-to-face. It allows me to speak into their lives. They feel valued and seen - and the church has grown because of it.”

Campbell and his wife Marjorie, connections pastor, joined the church in September 2020 after returning to the U.S. from Boliva where they served as AGWM missionaries for 10 years.

Uncertain of their next step, they spent time praying for direction while working temporary teaching jobs at local public schools.

In 2021 they joined the church staff part-time; Jeremiah as family life pastor and Majorie as kids pastor

After 33 years of faithful leadership, former Lead Pastor David Brakke and his wife Sherry, drafted a succession plan for a healthy transition. In September 2022, the congregation voted Campbell as the new lead pastor.

Like many churches during COVID-19, attendance dropped significantly from about 650 to 250. The Campbells leaned into building relationships and strengthening community ties, two things that God would use to reignite a season of growth.

Jeremiah serves on the Monroe school board, and Marjorie has been involved in the local PTA. They both have focused on connection – inside and outside the church. Through community events, small groups, and intentional relationships, the church has steadily continued to rebuild thanks to the Cambells’ community involvement and the intentionality of building relationships with congregants and visitors. Today, average Sunday attendance across the Maltby and Monroe campuses hovers around 400.

The two communities are less than 35 miles from Seattle. Campbell preaches at Maltby at 9:00 am and then Monroe at 10:30 am, an easy 10-minute drive between campuses. What makes this dual-campus pastorate successful is the hard-working team of volunteers who give of themselves each week.

Both services are bathed in prayer during the welcome team huddles in the lobbies, 45 minutes before each service. Pastoral team members – greeters, security team members, welcome desk staff, the coffee team, and ushers circle up reviewing morning activities and praying together.

“Every person we meet is so important to the Lord,” stresses Donovon Follette, a veteran greeter and board member. “Knowing their names is also important.”

Follette loads names into his mobile phone so he can welcome them the next time by name.

“Connecting people to Christ and helping them grow as disciples is at the heart of everything we do,” Campbell says. “This is Jesus’ church, not ours." 

Max Michel shouldered deep questions about God for a long time, until a police friend had invited him and his wife to attend Connection Church in January 2026.

The former fleet marine force corpsman (medic) had witnessed horrible scenes in Iraq during the battle of Ramadi in 2005. A U.S marine friend died in his arms and he could not save seven other marines he was close to.

Max was also a police officer for 16 years and saw the worst of humanity. He questioned why God allows such pain?

Within his first experience at the church, he felt welcomed. “The worship songs really touched us,” Max, 48, says. “Especially There’s Something About that Name, (Jesus) (copyright, 1970 William J. Gaither).”

He recalls the first time he met the pastor; “Pastor Jeremiah shook my hand and asked me questions. He was genuine.”

Shortly thereafter, Campbell sat down with Max one-on-one for several hours answering questions about his doubts. Campbell continues sending him relevant scriptures.

Anticipating getting baptized on April 25, Max says, “Jesus means everything to me now and accepts my flaws.”

Alexa Dessert, 34, tells another tale of Connection Church’s welcoming DNA. A friend suggested that she explore Christianity and attend the Maltby campus, a radical idea for her. Previously, Alexa had never attended any religious service, except two funerals, even though she knew God existed.

Nevertheless, she would drive by the Maltby campus frequently on the way to her usual food market. Somewhat nervous and fearful, she finally stepped into the church with her husband, Bren, in October 2024. “I felt peace then and everyone was super friendly,” she says.

Reading the Bible and hearing Campbell’s clear and understandable sermons slowly moved her to faith in accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord.

Alexa and her husband were baptized last fall.

Campbell sees the Holy Spirit moving in powerful and edifying ways. “As our church has grown, we have implemented pastoral discernment so prophetic words are shared in an orderly, biblical way consistent with Corinthians 14,” he emphasizes.

“For many in our congregation, especially those new to Pentecostal worship, it has been a powerful reminder that the Holy Spirit is still speaking to His church today.”

More exciting opportunities share the horizon for Connection Church says Don Ross, superintendent of the Northwest Ministry Network.  

“Pastor Jeremiah is a strategic thinker, planning well for the near-term and long-term futures,” Ross says, referring to the impact of nearly 200 new family townhouses being built across from the Maltby campus – an example of the growing mission field outside the church’s doors.

The Campbells believe it all comes back to simple faithful connection. And sometimes, it starts just with a simple handshake.

Peter K. Johnson

Peter K. Johnson is a freelance writer living in Saranac Lake, New York. More than 500 of his articles and short stories have appeared in Christian and mainstream magazines and newspapers, including the Pentecostal Evangel,Charisma, the Saturday Evening Post, Guideposts, and Decision. He also serves as a consultant and contributing editor to a scientific journal.