By Simon Baker, student news writer, Office of University Communications
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky, –Bishop Joseph W. Walker III has accomplished much in his life, from serving as the pastor of a historic Baptist church in Nashville, Tenn., to authoring several books, serving on boards, committees, and appearing often on weekly news platforms.
He will address the Campbellsville University community at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 7 in Ransdell Chapel, 401 N. Hoskins Ave., Campbellsville, during the university’s weekly chapel service.
Bishop Joseph W. Walker III is the current senior leader of the historic Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Nashville. Walker has served as Mt. Zion Baptist’s pastor for more than 30 years. In 1992, at the age of 24, Bishop Walker began his pastorate at Mt. Zion with 175 members.
Presently, the ministry there has grown to over 30,000 and continues to grow at a rate 1,000 new people a year, according to his website.
Additionally, under the leadership of Walker, Mt. Zion has significantly expanded beyond its original location to multiple weekly services in three physical locations, as well as Mt. Zion’s virtual church location – Mt. Zion Anywhere – in addition to a weekly television broadcast that reaches 15 million viewers worldwide.
Born in Shreveport, Louisiana to Deacon Joseph and the late Mrs. Rosa Walker, Walker received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern University in Baton Rouge, La.; a Master of Divinity degree from Vanderbilt University; and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. He holds three honorary Doctorates from Meharry Medical College, Southern University and Kentucky State University.
Walker serves on the Board of Directors for Citizens Savings Bank & Trust and the Greater Nashville Chapter of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). In 2020, Dr. Michael Lomax, chief executive officer of the UNCF, appointed Walker to serve as a member of the UNCF President’s National Faith and Education Initiative Advisory Council.
In 2016, he was appointed by former Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam to serve as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Tennessee State University, and just three years later, in 2019, he was unanimously re-elected.
Dr. Walker is a best-selling author of fourteen books. His latest book, “Leadership and Loneliness,” describes to readers ways to understand, manage and find opportunities in the moments of loneliness that also touches and connects on the importance of leadership. He and his wife, Dr. Stephaine Hale Walker, also co-authored a book together – “Becoming A Couple of Destiny.”
Bishop Walker has appeared as a guest on the Rickey Smiley Radio Show, CNN, Politics Nation with Al Sharpton on MSNBC, The CBS Morning News, CBN, the 700 Club, Sister Circle, The Roland Martin Show and is author of “Reset,” a quarterly Op-Ed in the Tennessee Tribune.
He is married to the former Dr. Stephaine M. Hale, a health and beauty entrepreneur who recently retired as an assistant professor of pediatrics and neonatology at Vanderbilt University. Both agree that their most joyous accomplishment to date has been the birth of their daughter, Jovanni Willow, and their son, Joseph Warren Walker IV.
Chapel is designed to provide opportunities for corporate worship and exposure through a variety of informative speakers and presentations.
Chapels can be viewed on YouTube by searching “Camp-bellsville University Chapel Playlist.”
Chapels can also be found on the Campbellsville University Facebook page.
Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university that offers over 100 programs including doctoral, master, bachelor, associate and certificate programs. The website for complete information is www.campbellsville.edu.