W. Glenn Walker of West Blocton, Alabama

The CEAI National Educator of the Year 2006

From Engineer to Bi-Vocational Pastor & Teacher

My desire to be a teacher was evident in high school when I considered teaching as a likely career path. Some well-meaning counselors, teachers and family members talked me out of that career, saying with my grades and abilities, I should go for a higher paying, more lucrative career.

Following my love for space travel and astronomy, I elected to become an aerospace engineer. Secretly I hoped one day to become an astronaut like my heroes John Glenn and Neil Armstrong. I knew that was a long-shot given my nearsightedness, but still I could dream.

Engineering proved to be an exciting and prestigious career. The power to make important decisions, the VIPs you meet, the places you travel, and of course, the money you made…all made for a wonderful profession. Throughout my fifteen years in engineering, I remained active in church. During this time, I probably served in about every lay office available at one time or another. My best and most enjoyable service was in teaching Sunday School.

I was a “Christian” in a church, doing God’s work…or so I thought.

In August 1992, I stepped out on the advice of a friend and attended an event known as “the Walk to Emmaus,” an ecumenical 72-hour retreat designed to create stronger church leaders, and to display God’s agape love in a very real way. That weekend transformed my life. I encountered the risen Christ for the first time. At age 33, I understood more completely what I had been teaching in Sunday School for years. Being a Christian means having an authentic relationship with Christ.

The Holy Spirit began to nudge me into the directions of broader ministries. Realizing finally that my strongest spiritual gifts were teaching and exhortation and wisdom, I pursued becoming a lay speaker within my church. This training allowed me to fill in for the pastor when he was away. Still God wanted more. So I went to more training and became a certified lay speaker, enabling me to travel to other churches and preach. God’s biggest demand was still ahead, however.

After fighting the Spirit for a few years, I realized God was calling me into ministry. I would wake up at night, feeling as if I was not where I was supposed to be. I was not in the job I was supposed to be in. The message came over and over again that if I wanted true contentment, I must become a teacher.

After much prayer and many miraculous interventions, God allowed me to quit my job as an Aerospace Engineer on the space program, and go to work as a teacher in the public schools where I had been trained as a child. We were able to sell our house for a profit in just three days (miracle), and move back to a rental home near my parents. That first year I thought God had made a mistake.

School had changed tremendously in the 19 years since I was a senior. It took a lot of prayer and courage to get me through that rookie year. But God began to show me the power I had to influence and change lives for the better. He gave me a love for kids who had never had the opportunities I had. I made the classroom my home away from home and have loved it ever since. Attending graduate classes at night and during the summer, I achieved my master’s degree in education within three years after becoming a teacher.

But the biggest demand? God said, “OK, you’re in the right profession on the secular side, but I also want you in the ministry – as a preacher.”

Again, I denied that calling for awhile, but finally relented after much affirmation from family and friends, and begin a candidacy process to determine the validity of my call to ministry. Being a non-seminary graduate, I had to go to United Methodist “licensing school” and enroll in a weekend format Course of Study, a program which provides 20 seminary-level classes over a five to ten year period. Due to the shortage of ministers, I was actually assigned a three-point charge (3 churches) before completing licensing school. I am currently completing my 15th class of the 20 required by the Course of Study.

In the ten years as a teacher, eight of those as a bi-vocational pastor, I have found my niche in life. More importantly, I am using my spiritual gifts in a way that is pleasing to God, and makes a difference in other’s lives. I can the see the tangible results of my efforts each day.

My biggest reward is not monetary. It is in the smiles, thanks, and feedback from former students who come back to tell me how I made a positive impact on their life. By living an authentic faith day by day, and being a role model, I can share Christ’s love and light to those who need it most. And I never once mention the Bible. I have a job I actually enjoy going to on Monday morning. Ain’t God good?!?

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Proverbs 1:7 NIV