Paul Carter had been called to pastor a church in Waverly, Virginia, when he visited the state Baptist offices in Richmond one August day in 1950 to pay a courtesy call on the Executive Secretary, James R. Bryant. Secretary Bryant had another idea in mind for his visitor.  For three years, he had been looking without success for someone to plant a church in South Arlington, in particular a fifteen block square area with a population of 10,000.  The Secretary believed he had the right man in Paul Carter and God would lay on Reverend Carter’s heart the need for this ministry.  A gracious Waverly congregation gave him leave and Paul Carter would begin what would become the first pastorate of Greenbrier Baptist Church. 

            The Church first met at 5222 Columbia Pike in a house which served double duty as a parsonage for the pastor and his wife, Lois.  Neighborhood visitation over five and a half weeks by the Pastor led to the first worship service held on Sunday morning, October 15th.  All Hail the Power of Jesus Name would be the first hymn sung and Reverend Carter brought the message What Is A Church? Forty-one attendees were recorded in the Sunday School, twenty-four in morning worship, and five in evening worship.

            On the afternoon of Sunday, January 13, 1952, an organization service under the auspices of the Potomac Baptist Association was held at the Columbia Pike location and the Greenbrier Baptist Church formally came into existence.  Fifty-seven men and women would become charter members.  One month later the Church elected its first deacons – F. Athey  DeVall, Dennis P. Doss, W. Ashley Fry, T. Howard Warren, and Charles A. Turner.

            It would not be long before Greenbrier would locate property and establish its permanent home.