A Church Born from a College Student's Request
Walnut Hills Baptist Church began in the early 1960s as a request from a student at the College of William & Mary. The first meeting gathered eighteen charter members in an old schoolhouse near the present site in April 1963. By September 1964 the fellowship had grown to ninety-eight members and was constituted as a church. The young congregation outgrew its original space and moved to its current site on Jamestown Road in 1969, when Reverend Jerry Haywood was called as pastor. A larger sanctuary and church offices were added and dedicated in November 1987.
Dr. Haywood retired in 2004 after thirty-five years of service. After a period of interim leadership and a visioning process called Pursuing Missional Faithfulness under Reverend Dr. Tony Neal, Walnut Hills called Reverend Dr. James Hunter II as Senior Pastor in June 2017. Today the church serves the historic colonial City of Williamsburg and the wider community with ministries for preschoolers, children, youth, college students, adults and older adults.
What to Expect on Sunday Morning
Worship services are held Sundays at 10:30 AM, both in person and online. Adult Bible Study and Sunday School for all ages begin at 9:15 AM. The worship service typically runs about an hour, supported by a choir and traditional music. Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of every month, with the deacons serving the elements to each worshiper.
The livestream reaches worshipers at home on the church's stream page, on Facebook, YouTube and Vimeo, and by telephone for those without internet access. Closed captioning is provided on Facebook. Anyone joining online is welcome to text "family" or "self" to 757-760-3270 so the pastors know they have joined.
Dress runs the full range. The I'm New page notes that "many people dress in business attire though you'll find a variety of dress. Some men wear coats and ties while others wear a golf shirt and khakis. Many women wear slacks while others prefer dresses." The invitation is to wear whatever makes you comfortable.
Two driveways lead into the parking areas. Visitors can park in front, on the right side near the columned main entrance, or in the larger lots toward the back of the main building. Accessible parking spaces and accessible entrances are available in both front and rear lots. Welcome Stations are staffed at the main entrance and at the doors of the children and youth ministry building.
Every Sunday morning, except during the summer months, the Hospitality Center hosts Coffee Connection immediately after worship, a casual reception with light refreshments, cool beverages and fellowship that the church describes as "the perfect time for us to introduce ourselves and meet your family." Nursery care for infants through pre-kindergarten and a children's worship program for elementary-aged kids run alongside the service.
A Baptist Congregation with an Ecumenical Spirit
Walnut Hills identifies as both Baptist and ecumenical in spirit. The Who We Are page explains: "We are both Baptist and ecumenical in spirit - Baptist in our commitment to freedom and ecumenical in our recognition of the vast diversity created and allowed by God's grace." Members honor one another's gifts, respect one another's opinions and care for one another's needs, and seek to embody the spirit of Jesus who came "not to be served but to serve."
The church formally left the Southern Baptist Convention in 2001. Today each giver decides what the missions portion of their gift supports: Virginia Missions only, Virginia Missions and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, or Virginia Missions and the Southern Baptist Convention. Two associational relationships are supported through the budget: the Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV), an umbrella organization of more than 1,360 autonomous Baptist churches in Virginia and beyond, and the Peninsula Baptist Association (PBA), a network of churches in Hampton, Poquoson, Gloucester, Newport News, Williamsburg and the surrounding areas.
Core Values drawn from the church constitution center on belief in one God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - the inspiration of Scripture, salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, believer's baptism by immersion, the resurrection of Christ, the church as the body of Christ, and the active participation of all believers in a local church. Both men and women serve in leadership positions across discipleship classes, the deacon body, education programs, and ministry and mission organizations.
The Walnut Hills Learning Center
The Walnut Hills Baptist Church Learning Center is a nonprofit ministry that has served families for many years. It is a non-denominational Christian preschool for children ages two and a half through five, with programs following the school year and a Christ-centered focus that distinguishes the program. The dedicated staff nurture faith, social, emotional, physical, mental, aesthetic and academic development in each child, building self-esteem, teaching children how to get along with others, and preparing them for kindergarten.
The Learning Center follows the rhythm of the church year, with a chapel time each Wednesday in the sanctuary that is open to all, and family events such as the annual Hot Dog Picnic and Spring Art Show and Bike Day woven through the calendar.
Children: Sunday School, Big House and TeamKID
Sunday morning children's ministry runs from 9:15 to 10:15 AM with Sunday School for nursery through elementary in the Learning Center. Children join their families in the 10:30 AM sanctuary worship and are dismissed partway through to Big House, a worship time held in the Learning Center. Parents greet them after the service in the Hospitality Center for Coffee Connection. Children's Choir rehearses Sunday evenings from 5:00 to 7:00 PM in the Agape Classroom and presents musicals each spring and at Christmas.
TeamKID - Kids in Discipleship - is the Wednesday afternoon program for children in Kindergarten through fifth grade. Meeting in the Learning Center, TeamKID pairs Bible stories, mission activities, life application and recreational games to help children know Jesus Christ and grow in relationship with Him. The children also participate in numerous mission projects throughout the year.
Vacation Bible School fills two weeks each summer with class teachers and helpers, food providers, decorators and many more volunteers, while year-round offerings like the Learning Center Bike Day and Hot Dog Picnic bring families together.
Youth: CONNECT and Beyond
Youth ministry at Walnut Hills meets youth where they are. On Sunday mornings, students gather at 9:15 AM for doughnuts, then Bible Study at 9:30 AM, and join the 10:30 AM worship. They also help lead Big House Children's Worship. On Sunday evenings from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, the youth meet in the Youth Center for CONNECT - dinner, fellowship, games and worship.
Throughout the year, youth take part in retreats, including Spring Break at the Garden City Retreat Center in Garden City Beach, South Carolina, and a summer mission trip with Fuge Camps. Past trips have taken the group to Philadelphia. A Wednesday evening Summer Youth program runs from 5:30 to 7:00 PM in the summer.
Students: William & Mary and Beyond
Student ministry welcomes college students attending area schools, offering affiliate memberships. Students sing in the choir, help in youth and children's ministries and participate fully in the life of the church. The ministry partners church members with college students through an adoptive family model, providing support and shared social outings. The church also works closely with Baptist Collegiate Ministries at William & Mary, coordinating meals, snacks and a presence on campus, and stays connected with members who have moved on to other campuses via social media, care packages and exam-time notes.
Adult Discipleship: Sunday School and More
Sunday School and Bible Study classes for all ages meet at 9:15 AM on Sunday mornings. Adult classes include:
- Agape - couples and singles in their sixties to eighties, using Formations curriculum, meeting in the Agape Classroom in the Hospitality Center.
- Discovering the Bible - couples and singles across a wide age range, using Formations and book studies, in room B4.
- Fusion - adults in their twenties to forties, many parents of preschool and elementary children, using FaithWeaver, meeting in the Learning Center.
- Mitch - couples and singles in their sixties to seventies, Formations curriculum, in the Hospitality Center.
- New Day - couples and singles from their fifties to eighties, Formations curriculum, in the Choir Room.
- Mulligan's Wanderers - couples and singles in their fifties to seventies, Formations and book studies, in room B7.
- Seekers - couples and singles, mostly in their sixties, using Explore the Bible, in the Church Library.
On Tuesdays, Women at the Well gathers ladies of all backgrounds at 9:30 to 11:30 AM in the Agape Classroom for Bible study, with DVD and workbook study. Tuesday evenings also bring Bible Study Fellowship classes, with men's classes in rooms B2 and B3 and women's classes in the Choir Room and Library, from 6:55 to 8:30 PM.
Wednesday mornings at 10:30 AM, Reverend Linda Ward leads a women's Bible study by Zoom, often working through a book of the Bible or a discipleship study. Thursday mornings at 8:00 AM, a men's Bible study meets by Zoom. On Wednesdays at 9:00 AM, the Pete Fowler Men's Prayer Meeting gathers in the Agape Classroom.
Wednesday Fellowship Supper
From September through May, Wednesday evenings turn into a community gathering. Supper is served in the Hospitality Center from 5:30 to 6:00 PM, with reservations placed through the church office. Children's activities follow from 6:10 to 7:00 PM in the Learning Center. Middle and high school girls meet for Bible study from 6:00 to 7:00 PM in the Youth Center. Prayer time, Bible study and a video series run from 6:00 to 6:35 PM in the Hospitality Center. Music ensembles rehearse from 6:30 to 6:45 PM and the Adult Choir rehearses from 6:45 to 8:00 PM in the choir loft.
A Music Program for Every Age
Music is woven into the worship life of the church. The Adult Choir leads worship weekly through traditional music and ministers through seasonal services at Christmas and Easter with a chamber orchestra. Rehearsals are held Wednesdays from 6:45 to 8:00 PM in the choir loft, and new singers are always welcome. The Adult Handbell Choir rehearses Tuesdays at 5:00 PM in the sanctuary under the direction of Glenda Wade, who welcomes new ringers with or without prior experience.
Men's, Ladies' and Mixed Ensembles rehearse on alternate Wednesday evenings at 6:30 PM. The Children's Choir, kindergarten through grade five, rehearses on Sunday evenings and presents musicals at Christmas and in the spring. The Youth Ensemble, grades six through twelve, occasionally sings in worship and participates in the children's musical. Pianist Beverly Holmes collaborates with Minister of Music and Media John Thompson to support the comprehensive music program.
Senior Adults at Walnut Hills
The Senior Adult Ministry focuses on people who are fifty and older. Activities center on building stronger relationships, fostering fellowship and fun, growing spiritually, and reaching out to serve others. Senior Adults take part in Sunday morning Bible Study at 9:15 AM and gather for special outings such as the Senior Lunch Bunch, with programs in the Hospitality Center. Those looking for ways to use their gifts can connect with Senior Adult leaders or a minister to find mission opportunities.
GriefShare Support
GriefShare is a thirteen-week, biblical and Christ-centered support group for those who have lost a spouse, child, family member or friend. The program combines teaching on grief topics, group sharing and a personal workbook. Two thirteen-week sessions are offered each year, with a Surviving the Holidays seminar for the holiday season. Sessions meet in room B3.
Missions and Local Outreach
The Missions and Evangelism Council coordinates church-wide missions and evangelism activities. Summer Meals for Kids (SMFK) is one of its flagship ministries. Now in its eighth year of service, SMFK supports students from local public schools who receive free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch during the school year. Walnut Hills joins Williamsburg Baptist Church, Williamsburg Community Chapel and Williamsburg Presbyterian Church each Wednesday from mid-June through mid-August to prepare and assemble lunches, feeding approximately 300 children a summer. The church's team leader organizes the work and problem solving on Wednesday mornings at WISC, while church women bake cookies and brownies for inclusion in snack bags and bento boxes.
On the first Sunday of every month, the Pete Fowler Wednesday Men's Prayer Group sponsors a food drive to support the Salvation Army Food Pantry. A collection box sits in a designated spot for donations. The church also supports a Mobile Food Pantry at St. Bede (House of Mercy), helps Lackey Free Clinic, supports FISH and Faith in Action, partners with Hospice House, and supports prison ministry at GraceInside and the Fluvanna Women's Correctional Center. Other partners include From His Hands, Good News Jail and Prison Ministry, the American Red Cross (which hosts blood drives at the church), the W&M Baptist Collegiate Ministries, Norge Elementary School Bright Beginnings program, Latisha's House, Alma Hunt, BGAV Disaster Relief, Peninsula Rescue Mission and the Salvation Army. Standing Rock and other mission trips in the United States and abroad round out the church's mission reach.
Women on Mission, a long-standing WMU of Virginia ministry at Walnut Hills, meets in Hearts and Prayers gatherings and other settings. Acteens is a WMU mission organization for girls in grades seven through twelve. Girls-in-Action (GAs) is a WMU mission organization for girls in grades one through six. Adult Women on Mission groups provide a relational and dynamic way for women to grow in Christ through Bible study, prayer, devotions, mission projects and outreach.
Staff, Deacons and Governance
Reverend Dr. James Hunter II has served as Senior Pastor since June 2017, following pastorates in Kentucky and Virginia. He is a graduate of Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, and the Baptist Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia. Graham Cheek has served as Minister to Youth and Children since May 1998, with prior service in Richmond and South Carolina. John Thompson has served as Minister of Music and Media since January 1998, directing the Adult Choir and overseeing broadcast and communications, and is a graduate of William Carey University, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and the College of William & Mary. Pianist Beverly Holmes has been with the church since January 2005, collaborating with the Minister of Music.
Eighteen women and men currently serve as active deacons. Each cares for a family list of about ten households, encouraging them in worship, service and stewardship and supporting them through the seasons of life. Deacons serve communion on the first Sunday of every month. The deacon body's qualifications are guided by Acts 6 and 1 Timothy 3.
Giving and the Endowment Fund
Online giving is available through the church's giving page and the TouchPoint mobile app, supporting one-time and recurring gifts. Beyond the General Budget fund, gifts can be designated toward specific ministries and projects, including annual Easter, Christmas and Staff Love Offerings. The Endowment Fund of Walnut Hills Baptist Church provides a perpetual source of funds to strengthen the mission and ministry of the church; contributions remain in the fund in perpetuity, with earnings providing income distributions to ministries and capital improvements.