Spring Adult Sunday School Classes

March 2^nd— May 25^th

(9:45-10:45 AM)

Raise Up!

Preparing a generation to know and follow the way of Jesus in today’s world

Teachers: Derek & Katie Cowan

Location: The Sanctuary

*This parenting ministry offering will utilize an array of presenters, exploring various topics and engaging the many cultural influences affecting today’s youth.

The Book of Hebrews (Part 2)

Revealing Jesus as the key to understanding God’s purposes and obedience as the key to heeding His warnings

Teacher: Tom Grey

Location: 180 (i.e., the gym, downstairs, end of east wing)

*A verse-by-verse study of the Bible, provided by a seasoned missionary and pastor with decades of teaching and ministry experience.

Building a Strong Marriage

Exploring the tools and resources for investing in your relationship, with a goal of a steadfast and thriving marriage

Teacher: Pastor Kelly

Location: The Fellowship Hall (downstairs, under sanctuary)

*A marriage and family offering provided by Pastor Kelly, an avid reader and determined teacher in pursuit of real-life change.

The Prophet Jeremiah

A survey of selected passages for reading and review as we find several sparkles of bright light amid the gloom and despair of the “weeping prophet.”

Teacher: Gail Mitchell

Location: The Conference Room (upstairs, east wing)

*A biblical character study with a great mix of overview and “deep dive” aspects, as we’ve come to expect from the gifted teacher and long-time pastor Gail Mitchell.

Kelly began serving as Associate Pastor at Walnut Hill in January of 2024. Kelly and his wife Sarah have attended and served Walnut Hill for many years and previously served on staff at Christian adventure camp Expeditions Unlimited. Before that, they served as church-planting missionaries in Papua New Guinea.

Kelly put his faith in Christ for salvation at the early age of 4, and through all the challenges of growing up, the Lord stayed close. In high school, Kelly came to a deeper understanding of the joy that can only come from the Lord. It was out of this joy that the Lord sparked a call to ministry, which at that point meant discipling young men and doing short-term mission trips. This led to a life path of helping more people catch the joy of walking closely with the Lord, whether in the jungles of Papua New Guinea or our hometown of Baraboo, WI!

Kelly and Sarah have two kids, Jemimah and Sawyer. We love to do just about anything adventurous outdoors, including biking, hiking, paddling, trail running and camping.

“For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.” Psalm 62:1-2

I grew up in a large family with 8 siblings and parents who loved the Lord and were diligent in teaching and living out the truth of the Gospel. God completely convinced me he was real and the sovereign ruler of the universe when I was 13. I started my journey of ministry when I was 18 by moving to Mississippi for disaster relief work. While I was there I also interned under the youth pastor at Lemoyne Blvd Baptist church and Youth For Christ. I was blessed with Godly and patient men who helped me learn preaching and discipleship.

After a couple years I moved back to Wisconsin and volunteered as a youth leader and eventually youth director at a Presbyterian church in the Dells for 3 years while Guiding at Expeditions Unlimited during the summers.

I got married to my beautiful wife (Johanna) and partner in ministry in 2013. We ran two discipleship programs at Expeditions Unlimited and volunteered in Walnut Hill’s youth group. In 2020 we left Expeditions Unlimited and started a small business but had accepted the position of High school ministry deacon and loved serving under Jesse Wells. After Jesse left to pursue a new ministry we felt the Lord leading us to offer to fill in during the search for a youth pastor.

We love being a part of what the Lord is doing in the youth of our church.

We have 5 wonderful additional members to our family
Sabrina, Ariel, Jedidiah, Malachi and Sophie

Jesse has served as the Youth Pastor at Walnut Hill since July 2016. He graduated from Cairn University in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in Bible along with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. Jesse’s occupation as a teacher has taken him to west Philadelphia (‘08-’11), Baraboo (‘11-’14), and then to China (’14-’16). In each of those places and through each stage of life, the importance and God’s call on him to work with young people has been clear.

Jesse and Sarah were married in 2006 right here at WHBC and have been together in various capacities of ministry ever since. They worked with the middle school youth group at their church in Philadelphia for 3 years before being asked to be a part of a team to run the high school youth for a year. In 2011 the Lord blessed them with their daughter Emma and they returned to Baraboo. As a couple, they led Cross Roads (the WHBC college ministry) from 2012-2014 before they relocated to China to teach at an International School.

Jesse knows the impact of youth ministry in his own life. The people that walked through those challenging years are still some of the most influential people in his life. Today, there are so many voices that our teens have to filter through to determine what is right and wrong, but the most important influence is God and Jesse is passionate about having our teens know His voice!

Staff Contact Form -Bill

Services

8:00 am Worship Service
9:45 Sunday School – All Ages
11:00 am Worship Service