On June 26, our dear friend Walker Moore went home to be with the Lord. At the age of 71, he had so much to show for his life. Missionary, writer, ministry leader, husband, father, grandfather, beloved friend to thousands—Walker lived all of life for the Lord.

For those who read any (or all!) of Walker Moore’s 1,200-plus columns for the Baptist Messenger, there was an instant connection. He exuded the evangelism zeal of Billy Graham, the storytelling ability of Paul Harvey and the humor of the best comedian.

It was such an honor and joy to know Walker Moore and to work with him so closely for more than 12 years. He was a friend and mentor to me, as well as a prayer warrior. He and his wonderful wife Cathy have a great family. I loved hearing Walker share about his family, especially his sons and grandchildren.

There’s so much I learned from Walker. “I want my life to be about doing Jesus Ministry,” he would say. Walker taught me what it looks like to put Jesus first. He taught me how to love family, how to be a good friend. He taught me what it means to stand firm when life’s trials come.

Most people think Walker Moore worked out of an office at the Baptist Building in Oklahoma City, when in fact he lived and worked in Tulsa, sending his columns by email each week. Some weeks, I knew his column had showed up to our inboxes simply because I would hear spontaneous laughter coming out of the office of a co-worker.

“People need a laugh, not a lecture,” he told me on many occasions. His stories from here and around the world cause belly laughter but also make you think. Wherever Walker went, he would brighten someone’s day.

Walker would joke that he was originally recruited to write “just one column” for The Messenger, and we kept asking for “just one more.” Here we are today, with Walker having written “just one more” for 25-plus years for which I am thankful.

Perhaps you are someone he connected with in person or through his column. In the July edition of the Baptist Messenger, we will offer tributes to Walker, as well as publish a new column he wrote days prior to his passing.

As usual, his column talking about Jesus, life, family and how it all relates to you. We will continue to find a way to publish columns written by Walker Moore through the Baptist Messenger, as his wisdom and legacy lives on.

Today, with a heavy heart, we remember Walker, a godly man who had a way with words. I have every belief that when Walker crossed the river into the presence of Jesus, he heard these words: “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into your rest” (Matt 25:23).

Please join me in praying for the Moore family in this season of loss.