Christopher James Walker

Christopher James Walker was born in High Point, North Carolina, on December 12, 1961 to Peggy Greene Walker and the late Jimmie Walker, and has one brother, Mark, of Archdale, North Carolina. He is survived by his wife Christine and his four daughters, Rachel of Lynchburg, VA, Katie, FaithAnne, and Hannah all of Easley. He attributed his salvation and spiritual formation to the ministries of the Oak Grove Baptist Church and Gospel Baptist Church in his hometown of High Point. Chris graduated from Trinity High School in Trinity, North Carolina in 1980. After graduation, he attended Liberty University where he was a member of the SMITE (Student Mission Intern Training for Evangelism) missions team. While serving with SMITE, he traveled throughout the US, Brazil, and South Africa. Chris graduated Magna Cum Laude from Liberty in 1984, and went on to receive his Master's degree from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in 1987.
Chris met his wife Christine at Liberty University, when he cut in-front of her in the registration line on her 18th birthday. He wrote her letters throughout their courtship, which began in 1987. They got married on March 5, 1988, and lived in Memphis, TN, where Chris served as the interim pastor of Berclair Baptist Church. It was here that God confirmed in Chris' heart the calling to full-time pastoring.
In over 25 years of ministry, Chris pastored at four amazing churches. His full-time ministry began at Douglas Chapel Baptist Church in Alma, Georgia. He shepherded there for seven years and his first two daughters, Rachel and Katie, were born. In 1998, Chris was called to pastor Hamilton Baptist Church in Northern Virginia. It was there that God blessed him with two more daughters, FaithAnne and Hannah. In 2009, Chris and his family transitioned to Rileyville Baptist Church in Rileyville, Virginia, where he pastored for five years. Heeding the call of the Lord and the South, the Walkers moved to Easley, South Carolina, to minister at Georges Creek Baptist Church where he continued to serve full-time until the Lord called him home.
Chris was passionate about studying the Word of God, preaching, teaching, and living a life of service to the Lord. As a pastor, he led by example and people often expressed their admiration of his humility, transparency, and ability to preach the Gospel in a meaningful and relevant way. His honest illustrations of his family life inspired others to live in a way that honored God in their day-to-day lives. He wasn't a pastor that just sat behind the desk and worked on sermons, but rather lived a one-on-one ministry with the body of Christ. In his free-time, Chris enjoyed hunting, fishing, and reading – both the writings of the Puritans and mental vacations with a good spy novel.
When Chris was initially diagnosed with cancer in July of 2016, he shared Romans 15:13 with his family and explained that hope for his healing was not in doctors and medication, but rather the God of Hope. Throughout the course of his treatment, he continued to live a life of service as he ministered to the medical staff and fellow-patients at hospitals and centers where he received care. Chris encouraged family and friends not to mourn his death, but rather to celebrate his homecoming in Heaven and continue to live spirit-filled lives in service to the Lord.