I am happy that you are considering taking the next step to becoming a member at Walnut Hill Bible Church! I look forward to meeting with you. Complete this form to start the process. – Pastor Dan
“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
— Acts 2:42
If you have not read “Becoming a Member” please do so before setting up an appointment.
Classes meet March 3rd – May 26th 9:45-10:45 AM
*N0 CLASSES ON MARCH 31ST
This is a hands-on, interactive class where we will learn inductive Bible study skills through the book of 2 Timothy. Be prepared to mine the depths of God’s word and to be encouraged through a deeper understanding of the Bible. You will be taught study skills that help you correctly interpret the text and share that truth with others. You will be equipped with the tools to prepare a short Bible study from the text, and opportunities will be provided for some of those studies to be shared with the group.
Teacher: Pastor Kelly Bryant
Room: Fellowship Hall (Lower Level)
This interactive class aims to encourage parents to cultivate an intentional and nurturing environment rooted in Christian faith, helping them to raise resilient and spiritually grounded children. This class will seek to equip parents through the use of videos, scripture, discussion, and practical tools.
Teacher: Steve & Mary Hackbarth
Room: Sanctuary (Main Level)
This inductive study of the third major section of the book of Isaiah (chapters 56-66) will lead us to the New Heavens and the New Earth. The gospel is present in this Old Testament text as all who believe are accepted into the glorious kingdom of God.
Teacher: Gail Mitchell
Room: Conference Room (Main Level)
This class will explore the many dramatic shifts in culture and how they are challenging Christian thinking, ministry, and social engagement. The church must respond with wisdom, compassion, and courage. We will interact with various social agendas, including “cancel culture,” the LGBTQ revolution, critical race theory, social justice, Christian nationalism, and more. Be ready to engage the tensions of the day with pastoral guidance and timeless biblical principles.
Teacher: Pastor Dan Gunderson
Room: 180 Worship Center (Lower Level)
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
People attend Walnut Hill for a variety of reasons. For some, it’s the music. For others, it’s the preaching, the children’s programming, or a sense of the Spirit’s presence in His people. We are grateful that so many feel led to worship with us. We also recognize that the variety of people attending our services represent a great diversity of commitment to the church. In general, there are three types of people that attend Walnut Hill—visitors, regular attenders, and members.
Visitors may be weekend vacationers, or they may be people who attend infrequently throughout the year. It is important to us that visitors feel welcome to come! We feel privileged to minister to them even though they are not a part of the regular ebb and flow of the life of the church. It’s our hope that visitors are connected with a home church or will eventually become regular attendees of a local church (perhaps even Walnut Hill!).
Regular attendees understand the importance of weekly church attendance and make it a point to attend with great frequency. Even when they cannot attend on a Sunday morning, they are involved in the various ministries of the church and continue to seek regular fellowship (for instance, through a small group). Some may only attend Sunday morning worship services, but many become involved in one or more of the various programs of the church.
And finally, Walnut Hill has members. What’s the difference between regular attenders and members? In a word, commitment. It’s a bit like the difference between dating and marriage. Both may have a great sense of allegiance and intimacy, and yet marriage carries with it a simple but profound declaration of commitment to build and grow that relationship. In becoming a Christian, people declare their commitment to Jesus Christ. In becoming a church member, people declare their commitment to other Christians (His body). Together we can accomplish the mission He’s given us!
At Walnut Hill, membership refers to a “covenantal” joining with other Christians for the sake of His mission and honor. There are a number of commitments that are declared through becoming a member…
1). Members formally declare their personal commitment to follow Jesus Christ, by faith, as their Lord and Savior.
2). Members make (or give testimony of having made) a public declaration of their faith in Christ through believer’s baptism.
3). Members declare their foundational doctrinal union with Walnut Hill through affirmation of the Church’s Statement of Faith.
4). Members declare their commitment to sincerely living out their faith through affirmation of the Church’s Covenant Statement.
5). Members thus covenanting with the Church are committing to be an active part of His body, participating fully in the life of the Church and using their God-given gifts for the betterment of others.
Download WHBC Covenant Statement
1). Regular Attendance: First of all, it’s a good idea to start by attending regularly to get a feel for Walnut Hill’s services and sense of community. Six months of regular attendance might be a nice benchmark to get a good sense of compatibility and unity of mission.
2). Membership-Information Meeting: Once you have sensed the Lord’s direction in moving toward membership, schedule an appointment to meet a pastor. During this interactive time, he will listen to your testimony of faith and ensure that you are familiar with the foundations of who we are as a church. This is a great time to ask questions about the church as well. Please ask!
3). Membership Interview: If after this meeting you feel confirmed in your decision to become a member, contact the church office and request a member interview. This meeting with a pastor and two elders is designed to give you an opportunity to share your testimony of faith and to ensure your understanding of, and commitment to, the church.
4). Congregational Affirmation: Based upon the Elder Board’s recommendation for your membership, the congregation will formally vote you into membership at the next quarterly business meeting.