Hello. My name is Kurt and I live with my wife, Jenni, and our 4 cats in Waterloo, Iowa. Jenni and I were married in October 2004. We met while attending Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Kentucky. Jenni received a call to be the pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Ackley. IA in August of 2004 so she and I moved from Kentucky in December of 2004 to Iowa.
I am the oldest of 5 children. My brother, Tim, and I were born in Evansville, Indiana. My family moved to Paducah, Kentucky where my dad, Jack Walker, worked as a pharmaceutical sales representative for Pfizer Laboratories. My mom, Glenda, was a stay-at-home mom for a number of years, busy raising Tim, me, and the additional two brothers (Eric and Greg) and sister (Beth) that came along. My mom was very involved in the life of First Presbyterian Church in Paducah and later on became the Choir Director and Secretary for Westminster Presbyterian Church in Paducah. As I grew up in the church, I was involved in a lot of activities. I attended one of the first kindergartens in the community at First Presbyterian Church and participated in Sunday school and Choir.
My Dad died in 1992 and my mom now lives with my maternal 95-year-old grandmother, Meme, in Newburgh, Indiana.
I really like being outdoors and have found the Iowa weather during the summer to be similar to temperatures in Kentucky and Southern Indiana. I have a private pilot's license and enjoy flying over the beautiful Iowa landscape. I also enjoy fly fishing, golf, gardening and have just started the sport of cross-country bicycling (Wow, there are some great bicycle trails in Iowa!)
My first career before the ministry was in the area of early childhood development. I graduated from Western Kentucky University with a BA in Psychology and MA in Child Development and Family Living. I have worked extensively with preschool and elementary children, both children with and without disabilities. The last ten years before I entered seminary, I worked for the Commonwealth of Kentucky as a director and coordinator of various programs.
My earliest memory of God's call to me in becoming a minister was when I was 9 years old. My brothers, sister and I would sit with a friend of the family, Mrs. Kester, in the pew of the church during services while my mom sang in the choir. One Sunday, after listening to a sermon, I looked up at Mrs. Kester and said that when I grew up, I wanted to be a Presbyterian Minister.
I extend a warm invitation to come and visit us as Zion Presbyterian Church. This coming June 2008, I will have completed my third year as Pastor at Zion. I have found the people of Zion as well as the those who live in Coggon and the surrounding area to be a friendly and caring people. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are all called to serve others. Together we can truly follow the words of Jesus in the Gospel according to Matthew: "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me" and in the Gospel according to John: "Love one another, just as I have loved you."
Peace,
Kurt :}
