1st G Church
Staff & Leaders

T. Vaughn Walker

Dr. T. Vaughn Walker is a native of Heathsville, Virginia where he was reared in a Christian family. He accepted Christ at the age of 8 and was active in his home church, the Macedonia Baptist Church, throughout his childhood years. Dr. Walker married his college sweetheart, Cheryl D. Jackson. They have three children, David, Mary and Eryn. Dr. Walker is presently Senior Pastor of First Gethsemane Baptist Church, Louisville, KY. The church has grown in spirit, ministry, love and number during his ministry. Additionally, Dr. Walker is Professor of Black Church Studies, WMU Professor of Christian Ministries (endowed chair), and Director of the Black Church Leadership Doctor of Ministry and Black Church Studies Ph.D programs at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY. In the over 150-year history of the seminary, he is the first African American to be tenured and to obtain the rank of Full Professor. Dr. Walker holds the Ph.D degree from Oregon State University; the Master of Divinity/Christian Education degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; the Master of Science degree from Eastern Illinois University; and the Bachelor of Science degree from Hampton University. Dr. Walker is the author of numerous professional writings in the Journal of African American Southern Baptist History, the Southern Baptist Journal of Theology, The Review and Expositor, Challenge of the Great Commission, Faith and Family Values, Human Services and Social Change: An African American Church Perspective, The Ministers Manual and several others. Dr. Walker has traveled and preached with the Foreign Mission Board of the National Baptist Convention, USA, INC; taught and preached in the National Congress of Christian Education NBC USA, INC., National Missionary Baptist Convention of America, Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention, Progressive National Baptist Convention, National Baptist Convention of America, and delivered lectures at a number of colleges, seminaries and universities. Dr. Walker formerly served as Senior Pastor of the Log Providence Baptist Church, Columbia, MO. He has served as Vice-Moderator of the Mt. Carmel District Association (Missouri), as Moderator of the Central District Baptist Association (Louisville, KY); Dean of the Bluegrass State Baptist Convention; President of the Interdenominational Ministerial Coalition (KY). Dr. Walker serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of Simmons College of Kentucky. He formerly served on the Board of Advisors of The Academy of Preachers, The Louisville Christian Foundation and eight years on the Board of Trustees of Georgetown College. Dr. Walker was licensed and ordained by the Second Baptist Church, Columbia, MO, under the leadership of Rev. Jewell D. Jones, Sr. Dr. Cheryl D. Walker is a licensed and ordained minister of the Gospel of the First Gethsemane Baptist Church. She is the Director of Investigations and Compliance for the Jefferson County Public School System. She holds a B.S degree from Hampton University, a M.Ed from the University of Louisville, and the Ed.D from Spalding University (Louisville).