Travis Walker had big shoes to fill with the example of his late father Dann, who worked as a minister at a series of churches in California and Oregon, but he has answered that challenge by emphasizing the supremacy of God’s word.
Minister of Billy Hext Road Church of Christ, Walker cites Acts 2:38 and Romans 12:2 to say the Bible tells “about how we can have a relationship with God and the kind of life he wants us to have.
“We look forward to the promise of the life that we can have after this life is over,” said Walker, 49. “Paul told Timothy to preach the word and what I preach is what I see in the word.”
Acts 2:38 says, “And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”
And Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Born in Salem, Oregon, Walker graduated from high school in Tustin, Calif., and attended Florida College in Temple Terrace before interning with the late Minister Billy Moore at the Fulton Street Church of Christ in Butler, Mo., and earning a certificate in religious studies. He served churches in Dallas, Ore., and Brea, Calif., and preached for nine years at the Clovis, Calif., Church of Christ near Fresno, Calif., before arriving in Odessa four years ago. Walker and his wife Beth have three children. His mother’s name is Michele.
His 3451 Billy Hext Road church’s average attendance, including members who participate on Zoom, is 85-100 at 10 a.m. Sunday.
“One of the greatest commandments is to love our neighbor as we love ourselves,” Walker said. “That comes about by learning, growing and being transformed by the word, which is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. When the word is in our hearts, it’s going to change us.”
Nick Byrd of Fresno, who was a deacon at the Clovis Church of Christ when Walker was there, said he “is a man who walks around with great integrity.
“Our 20-year-old son came down with gastroparesis and then mitochondrial disease seven or eight years ago and Travis has been there consistently,” Byrd said. “He is always praying and trying to help us. He is a man of the Lord.
“His dad was an outstanding Gospel preacher and it can be hard to live up a father’s legacy. One of the things I have always admired is that Travis is never afraid to stand for the truth. He doesn’t back down. Oftentimes preachers preach over your head, but he has a good knack of teaching something complex and making it easy to understand.”
