Read the Story:  Luke 24:13-35

On the Road to Emmaus

13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.  (English Standard Version)

Supper at EMMAUS

Clergy: The Reverend Theron Walker, “Father Theron” 

I relate to king David in the Old Testament.  Deep within me, I want to be known as David was, “A man after God’s own heart.”  I look up to him for his faith and faithfulness before giants and an insanely jealous king, for the way he inspired friendship and courage in others, and especially for the day he danced before the Lord with all his might—his passion and love for God.  I also relate to him because he was always a sinner—imperfect father, husband, and leader.  Yet, when faced with his sins, he confessed them to the Lord, and did all in his power to right his wrongs.

I grew up in the Assemblies of God, a Pentecostal denomination.  Like many church kids, I always believed Jesus was my savior, but was not all that interested in having a Lord in my life!  Just before my seventeenth birthday, alone in my bed, I called out to the Lord and asked Him for the strength and power to live a holy, obedient, Christian life.  In that moment, I experienced the Holy Spirit in a personal way, was flooded with peace, and spoke in those strange tongues spoken of in the New Testament. 

I went to college at Oral Robert’s University, where I majored in Old Testament Literature and minored in Modern Hebrew.  While studying church history and humanities in Western Civilization, I realized that there was so much more to Christianity than just what was happening in the charismatic movement in the 20^th century.  I also realized I needed the worship of the church, the liturgy, that sustained the saints who I was meeting in history. 

These realizations led me to the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit, and through there, to Virginia Theological Seminary.  Since then, I have served congregations in Oklahoma and Colorado.  In 2010, after years of working for reform and renewal in the Episcopal Church, I left that jurisdiction of Anglicanism for the Anglican Church of North America, in the Diocese of the Holy Spirit. 

Biography in Brief

Hometown: Hamburg, New York (Buffalo region)

1989 B.A. in Old Testament Literature, Oral Robert’s University, Magna Cum Laude (floor chaplain, resident advisor, summer missions to Israel, teacher’s assistant).

1996 Masters in Divinity, Virginia Theological Seminary, Cum Laude.  (President of the Missionary Society). 

Ordination to Diaconate in the Diocese of Oklahoma: June 1996

Ordination to the Priesthood in the Diocese of Oklahoma: December 21, 1996.

Curate at St. Michael’s and St. Anselm of Canterbury, Norman Oklahoma, 1996-1998

Vicar and Rector of St. James, Oklahoma City, 1998-2001. 

Associate Rector of Grace and St. Stephen’s, Colorado Springs, 2001-2005.

Rector of St. Philip-in-the-Field, Sedalia, Colorado, 2005-2010. 

Currently: Founding Planter and Rector of Emmaus Anglican Church, Castle Rock, Co. 

Other Ministries

Founding member and sometime leader of Communion Laity and Clergy of Colorado (a fellowship of Episcopalians committed to the historic faith and order of Anglicanism). 

Disaster Relief leader following 1999 tornado in Moore, Oklahoma. 

Publications

Living on the Borders: What the church can learn from ethnic immigrant cultures. With Mark Griffin, Brazos Press, 2004