Fall Adult Sunday School Classes

September 8^th— November 24^th(9:45-10:45 AM)

1. “A Bible in Their Own Language”

John Wycliffe, William Tyndale, and the reaching of the English-speaking world with the Word of God

Teacher: Gail and his wife, Marge Mitchell, retired to the area to be closer to their children and grandchildren after serving in Iowa City for decades. We have been blessed! Gail attended Trinity College, Bethel Seminary, and the University of Iowa before serving in pastoral ministry for Converge (Baptist General Conference) churches in Iowa.

Location: The Conference Room (upstairs, east wing)

2. “Is Christianity Rational?”

Answers to skeptics, the New Atheists, and Progressive Christianity

Teacher: Nathan Sundsmo has been a youth leader at Walnut Hill for 30 years, overseeing the Youth Bible Institute the past 24 years. Nathan attended Moody Bible Institute and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School before teaching theology and apologetics at Community Christian School. Nathan’s wife, Jaime, is a prolific author, and they have two school-aged children.

Location: The Sanctuary

3. “Follow Me”

Living Life in Step with Jesus

Teacher: Ernest Finklea has been a regular teacher, preacher, and worship leader at Walnut Hill for several years. Ernest is a former senior pastor and church planter, ministering for many years in Arizona and Colorado. He has also been a Christian educator in Bethlehem, Israel. Ernest and his wife, Jennifer, have four grown children.

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

4. “Relational Wisdom”

Considering the dynamics of self and others through the lens of Scripture in pursuit of healthy responses and constructive relationships

Teacher: Kelly Bryant was recently added to Walnut Hill’s pastoral staff. Kelly and his wife, Sarah, served as missionaries in Papua New Guinea before beginning a ministry stint at Expeditions Unlimited. The Bryants have attended Walnut Hill for a decade and have two school-aged children.

Location: The Fellowship Hall (downstairs, under the sanctuary)

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

I’ve been a small-town Wisconsin boy all my life, and for as long as I can remember music has always tugged on my heart-strings. I started on fiddle when I was 4; picked up a guitar at 8; sax and choir in my school years; drums, bass, mandolin, and ukulele all found their way in along the way.

In my early 20’s, I wanted nothing more than to be known and honored as a great drummer. Playing in club bands and trying to “make it big” only revealed my own selfish ambition to use music for my own gain and not for others. God was at work in me changing my heart and leading me to use my gifts to serve others at Walnut Hill. I used to make music for bar crowds and people seeking to be temporarily entertained away from their struggles with life. Now I make music for the King!

As if that wasn’t enough I am also blessed with my amazing wife, Heather, and our four children.

“By the grace of God I am what I am.” 1 Cor. 15:10

Staff Contact Form - Joshua

Services

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