At a general staff meeting on June 9, Walter L. Wright, president of the Lake Union Conference, announced his retirement, effective June 30.

Coming from a strong Wright family legacy of ministry, and inspired by working with C.D. Brooks in public evangelism, Walter began his pastoral ministry as a lay pastor in his home church in Germantown, Ohio. His rich musical heritage and ministry experience traveling and singing with the Wright Family Singers, managing the Germantown Church Choir, and serving as the host of his brother Harold's live weekly television program on WHIO-TV in Dayton, Ohio, had a profound effect on his pastoral ministry. Media professionals are amazed at his natural, unscripted, one-take ability in front of the camera, and music is as natural to him as breathing. One never knows when he will break into song. As one of his signature songs says, it's "Something Within."

Encouraged by his Bible worker mother and Adventist education supporting father, Walter applied to Emmanuel Missionary College after graduation from Germantown High. One would find it hard to believe that this gifted pastor, family life educator, union president, hospital system chairman and university vice chair was accepted and later denied when his picture arrived at admissions. Undeterred on his quest for an education, and with his emerging reputation as "a man of joy," he entered The Ohio State University and then established a successful career as a contract negotiator for Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.

Known by his colleagues as "the preacher," Walter's desk was a gathering point for co-workers, and he was recognized by his superior as the source of improved office morale. After several of his co-workers accepted Jesus and were baptized, Walter resigned his civil position to enter full-time pastoral ministry. He continued to pastor full time and commute between home and Andrews University in 1973 to attend the Seminary "smorgasbord style."

After completing his M.Div. at Trinity Theological Seminary, the country preacher was transferred to an inner-city church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where the streets were transformed as drug addicts, prostitutes and criminal syndicate leaders accepted Jesus and became members of Walter's church. He then moved to Columbus, Ohio, and built the Ephesus Church while serving as a pastor/evangelist and departmental director in the Allegheny West Conference. Walter was then called to be church ministries director and vice president of the Southwestern Union, in Burleson, Texas. Walter came to the Lake Union in 1997 as executive secretary, and became president in July 2003.

Walter and his wife Jackie (Cook) have been married for 54 years, and together developed their "Marriage Maintenance Seminar." With a doctorate in psychology, a member of the Association of Adventist Family Life Professionals, and certified as a family life educator by the National Council on Family Relations and Andrews University, Walter has conducted family seminars and evangelistic meetings in 16 countries on four continents. In recent months, he conducted two evangelistic series, one in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and the other in Gary, Indiana.

At a special dinner on Monday, July 7, Don Schneider, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America, led a litany of testimonials from officers and conference presidents noting Walter's integrity, energy, spiritual leadership and partnership with Jackie in ministry to families.

After his recent bout with cancer, Walter praises God for what his doctors recognize as a miraculous recovery, and he now looks forward to continuing ministry while giving special attention to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren from his new home in Germantown, Ohio.

Blessings to you, Walter and Jackie, from your Lake Union family as you continue to bring joy to a troubled world.

Gary Burns is the communication director of the Lake Union Conference.