Rev. E. Thurman Walker, Pastor

After a battle with Cancer, the Pastor of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church Rev. E. Thurman Walker has passed away early Monday morning leaving behind a legacy that will last for generations to come and a family who he loved greatly. San Antonio has lost a true leader among church's and communities alike and we were witness to a man who rather than complain like most, simply provided actions that brought about solutions.

Now I will not profess on any level to have had an intimate knowledge and relationship with Rev. Walker, nor will I say that he and I were friends that called each other and hung out. We were not and did not. What I will say is I have spent a good amount of time with him, working together in the city, talking together about church or more like me asking him questions to absorb the knowledge he had to become better in my own life on some level. I will say that when I first met him I was humbled by his efforts already and he was just getting started and I can truly say that whether he knew it or not, I considered him a mentor in many respects and am blessed to have shaken his hand, sat under his voice, and shared in the gospel with him. If Rev. Walker met you once, he knew your name the next time he saw you and that is a mark of a man who is serious about what God is doing in his life and Rev. Walker was very serious. I only wish that I could have known him that much more and learned from him, worked with him, and gained from him that much more. I wish I could have just shaken his hand one last time before he passed to say "thank you" for all you have done for me and more so for the city of San Antonio. When I heard of the news of his passing, I arose from my bed and walked to my kitchen, looked out my window at the cold, rainy weather and stood there for about 10 minutes. I stared outside watching the rain fall and I thought to myself that the angels are crying in joy because one of their own has come home. God has called one of His son's home after a journey of great works and love throughout the city in every community. What a journey it was, what a journey it was.

As I stared out the window I thought about this blog and what I wanted to say because I had to say something. A man of his accomplishments passing lit a fire under me to write for so many reasons. Watching the rain fall, all those reasons ran through my mind so fast I couldn't get them all in line and I realized I didn't have to speak on his works, they speak for themselves in a great way. I didn't have to spend a lot of time looking at the type of man he was in detail because it is obvious by all he did and stood for. What I realized is the questions we have all had I am sure at times when others pass away at a young age and who seem to be doing great works in life. Why would God take them now?

Simply? To remind us that it is not about them or the works, it is about God and what He purposed for them to do in those works. Rev. Walker realized his purpose a long time ago and took charge of that purpose and committed so many years to seeing that purpose and the vision God gave to Rev. Walker come to pass. With his passing, it begs the question of "what now" and I would submit that now, it is time for others who have been watching from the side lines for years to step up and take the lead to further the work Rev. Walker has started. The foundation is laid, now we have to build on top of that foundation. So often in life we want to gain the prize without doing any of the work. We have the opportunities to make impacts and bring about differences to the lives of so many people. The Apostle Paul wrote in his letters to the Corinth to "follow me as I follow Christ." In this passage Paul was simply saying that as he navigates thru life and deals with the obstacles and challenges he will face, to watch how he handles it and what his actions speak to. When he had to inform others of the Gospel or stand up for the Gospel in the face of adversity. When he had to make choices to further the Gospel that may not have had the vote of everyone around, he made the hard choice and impacted the lives of thousands. Rev. E. Thurman Walker walked liked Paul and those who followed saw a great example of how to act Christ like in the midst of constant challenges and nay say'ers. Rev. Walker made choices to further the work even when others didn't agree and by following God's instruction, those choices proved successful and impacted the lives of thousands. This example is the same example that we are to follow. God has instructed us all to go out and spread the Gospel to others. We get caught up on the basic meaning of that scripture and hesitate because we are too scared to go out and speak the word in to the lives of others. It is more than the words, it is your life, your examples. How you operate in life, the choices you make when it is a hard move and the way you handle it and handle others. Your life is the example of how the word is to be spread along with your voice. Rev. Walkers voice was heard all over and followed by the actions that reminded us how serious he was. Are you serious?

Rev. Walker often said "if the church is doing nothing to serve and minister to the community then we mine as well lock up the doors, close down and go home." The challenge is the church is us, not a building where you spend 4-6 hours a week in, we are the church. We are the ones he was referring to. What are we doing to carry the torch and minister to the community? Rev. Walker's passing tells us this....the time is now to step up and make a difference. Not tomorrow, now. As we watch our society become the most selfish it has been in our lifetime and as we watch our youth struggle to gain a future and the parents who forgot it is up to them to help their kids attain that future. We are in a state of emergency with our education, our youth, and our future and Rev. Walker has left us the tools to make the change happen now. Many will say he was a great man, he did a lot of great work, and many will say they will miss him. If you say this or hear someone say it and you or they really mean it, then pick up the torch and show him and God that you too, like Rev. E. Thurman Walker, are serious. Let's get going!!