Our Mission: Follow Christ!
Walnut Park Baptist Church exists to glorify God by multiplying followers of Christ who are growing in Christ.
Christ commanded us in Matthew 28:19-20 to "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
A disciple is a believer in Jesus Christ who has a growing relationship with Him. He takes purposeful steps to follow Christ as Lord and Savior. Christ challenges every disciple to continue to grow.
Discipleship incorporates interaction, one life influencing another life. As a church family we help each other take the next steps by faith to live out the gospel and become more like Christ.
At Walnut Park, this mission is best displayed in our gathering as a community in an atmosphere of grace where we regularly have the chance of living out the Gospel for the glory of God.
OUR BELIEFS
The Bible- We believe the Bible is divinely inspired by God, and it is complete and accurate. The Word of God is the sole authority for one's life. ll Timothy 3:16-17
God- We believe there is one living, eternal, true God Who created all things. In the unity of the Godhead, there is the Trinity which consists of three persons: God the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. While They are three in Persons, They are one in Essence. I Corinthians 8:6
Holy Spirit- We believe the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person equal with God the Father and Jesus Christ. He convicts the believers of sin and permanently indwells us at the moment of salvation. John 14:26; Ephesians 1:13,14
Jesus Christ- We believe Jesus Christ is both God and man, conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life on earth teaching the truths of the Kingdom of God and died on the cross as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. His bodily resurrection occurred three days later and He now sits at the right hand of the Father as our High Priest interceding for us. John 1:1-3, 14; Hebrews 4:14-16
Creation- We believe in the Biblical six literal day account of the creation of the physical universe and man. This account is a literal, historical account of the direct, immediate creative acts of God without any evolutionary process. Genesis 1 & 2, Revelation 4:11
Man- We believe man was originally created by a direct work of God and not from previously existing forms of life. Man was created perfect and in the image of God, having emotion, intellect and will, but fell into sin. Man's ultimate end, apart from Christ, is eternal punishment and separation from God. Genesis 1:26, 27; Romans 6:23
Salvation- We believe salvation is the work of God. It is a free gift which takes place by faith alone in Christ alone. By it God delivers those who are in Christ from the penalty and power of sin and gives them eternal life. John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8, 9
Future Events- The next event on God's prophetic calendar is the imminent return of Christ for the saints. The world will then endure seven years of the Divine judgment known as the Tribulation. At the end of the seven years, we believe Christ will literally return to Earth, destroy His enemies and rule for one thousand years called the Millennial Reign. After the Millennium, and a final conflict, Christ will judge Satan and all the unbelievers and will cast them into the eternal lake of fire. A new Heaven and new Earth will be created for all eternity. I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20 & 21
Our Staff
Lead Pastor - David Wood
Pastor Dave was blessed to grow up in a pastor’s home. He has invested his life in that same calling as a youth pastor and senior pastor. In the spring of 2016, God called Pastor Dave to Walnut Park as its lead Pastor.
Dave has a gift for communicating the Bible in practical and understandable ways. Walnut Park is known for its excellence in preaching and teaching. Sunday mornings here are never dull!
Pastor Dave is often found connecting with a friend over coffee for discipleship and he is passionate about influencing others for the gospel.
Dave is known for saying things like, “The most important thing you can know is that God loves you!” Or, “I can’t wait to see what God is going to do with this situation!” Or, “God can do that!” Or, “Read your Bible, pray every day, and don’t do anything stupid!”
Dave and his wife Lori have four adult daughters, four sons-in-law, and eleven grandchildren.
Pastor of Youth - Jordan Allen
Pastor Jordan also grew up in a pastor’s home. He became a follower of Christ as a young boy, but it wasn’t until he was eighteen years old that he felt the call to pastoral ministry himself. Since then, he has traveled on a church ministry team, completed two pastoral internship programs, and completed a M.A. in Theological Studies. God led Jordan and his family to become a pastor at Walnut Park in January of 2022.
Jordan and his wife, Shannon, were happily married in 2015 and have three kids, Jubilee, Carsten, and Justice, who make life interesting every day! Besides spending time with his family on walks and at playgrounds, Jordan enjoys music, sports, and a good cup of coffee with a theological book to read.
The Allens are thrilled to be a part of Walnut Park Baptist Church and what God is doing in Muscatine.