In 1833 a group of Christians began meeting together for Bible study and worship.  This body of believers was called the Clarkson Baptist Society, and they would soon become Walker Baptist Church.  The congregation at Walker has been through many things in it ‘s 178 year history; fire, thefts, damaging storms, relocation, joining with and parting from the American Baptist Convention.  Our Church has seen many pastors in that time, some for as short as 6 months, and some faithful for close to 30 years.

This month will mark the completion of my second year as pastor of the congregation at Walker.  God has greatly blessed our ministry in the last year.  Many souls were saved, and the baptistry waters were stirred and many followed the Lord in believers baptism.  This year we continue our efforts to see Souls Saved, Lives Changed, and the Saviour Served.  Our theme for the year is Abounding in Hope from Romans 15:13.  We have no greater Hope than Jesus Christ!  If our Lord tarries his return, my prayer is 178 years from now, those who come behind us will find us faithful in serving Jesus Christ.

The AV1611 Bible is our final authority in all matters of faith and practice.  I am very excited about the Bible Study Fellowships that we are doing on Wednesday Evenings to strenghen our position in the word of God.  I would dare say that much has changed in 178 years.  One thing has not changed, God’s word, the Holy Bible.  It is our continued desire to magnify the Lord and proclaim his word to a lost and dying world.  Jesus said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”

Throughout the course of history there have been difficult and challenging times, and there lies, no doubt, more of those times ahead of us.  As someone once said, “What lies behind us, and what lies before us, pales in comparison to what lies within us.”

I am glad I serve a risen Saviour, and am honored to serve him with the good people of Walker Bible Baptist Church.  Let us count the cost and serve the Lord with our whole heart!  Happy Anniversary, Walker Bible Baptist Church!

I’ve been there and maybe you have too.  For me it was February 16,1993 when a drunk driver crossed the center line and we met head on one snowy afternoon on Ridge road in Clarkson.  I was laying under the guard rail  in the snow, beginning to go into shock when the ambulance arrived.  They began to cut my clothes and put me on a wooden stretcher as we headed for the hospital.  Lakeside Memorial diverted us to Strong and 3 weeks later I was home recovering from, what was for me, one of the scariest moments of my life.

I am thankful for the people that gave their time, who used their talents and abilities to help me when I was in a place where I could not help myself.  If not for the ambulance crew that picked me up and got me on an IV drip and delivered me to a specialty medical center in remarkable time, I would have slipped into eternity that bitter winter day.

Civil servants are people like you and me, who have dedicated their life to a cause bigger than themselves, others.  Each one has their own reasons perhaps of why they do what they do, or why they chose their particular field of service.  I for one am thankful for each and every one of them.

When I think of how Jesus Christ gave his life for me I am also humbled and deeply grateful.  The Scriptures tell us that “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

What if Christians were to follow the example of Jesus?  What if we were to give our lives for others?  We would differ only slightly from the firefighter, or policeman, or EMS responder.  These labor to save the lives of those around them.  So also we should labor to save the lives of those around us… for eternity is at steak.

Thank you for your service.

Phillip J Huber

Pastor