Take the Step: Serve!

When Chris and Abbey Carl got married in 2020 and moved to Uptown Dallas, they began looking for a church where they could grow in their faith and serve together. First Baptist Dallas quickly stood out.

“Everyone at First Dallas is super friendly,” Abbey said. “We connected with the Young Married Minister, and I was invited to a Women’s Bible Study and a Sunday School class. We were plugged in almost immediately!”

Having both grown up in smaller churches, they didn’t expect such a large church to feel so small. “We weren’t just a number,” Chris said. “People reached out to us right away, said they’d remember our names, and they meant it.”

Within just a few months, the Carls became members and made serving a priority. Together, they jumped in wherever there was a need, serving at the coffee bar, helping with Young Married events, participating in Serve Dallas, and stepping up as care group leaders in their Sunday School class. Abbey also joined the choir.

Most recently, they took on leadership as Sunday School Directors for their class, Mosaic. Together, they help coordinate weekly communication, send out prayer requests, and follow up with new visitors. “We were helped so much early on,” Abbey said. “Naturally, we wanted to give back and be that for someone else.”

A servant’s heart was modeled for them early in life. “Growing up, we watched our parents give so much of their time to ministry,” Abbey said. “That’s been instilled in us, too. We knew that when we got married, we wanted to start serving together right away.”

Serving has brought deep joy and rich community to their lives. “We’ve made so many friends through volunteering,” Abbey shared. “It’s been one of the greatest gifts—just getting to do life with others.” She’s seen how even small acts of kindness can have a lasting impact. “Sometimes, just handing someone a free coffee is all it takes. You never know what someone is going through, and being a bright spot in their day matters.”

Chris agrees. “When you start volunteering with purpose, you feel more responsible. You’re not just listening and leaving, you’re contributing. You become more invested, and that changes everything.”

Abbey encourages others not to wait. “There’s a place for everyone to serve,” she said. “Whether you love talking to people or prefer working behind the scenes, your gifts matter, and the church can use them. Just take the step. If you have an interest, there’s a spot for you.”

The couple reflected on how grateful they are to have gotten involved early in their marriage. Abbey says, “It’s easy to fall out of church after leaving home, but thanks to the people who reached out to us, we now have a strong Christian community that we grow with every week. First Dallas preaches God’s Word faithfully, has so many resources available, and it’s a place where we can serve and be poured into.”