“O Beulah Land, sweet Beulah Land,
As on thy highest mount I stand,
I look away across the sea,
Where mansions are prepared for me,
And view the shining glory shore,
My Heav’n, my home forevermore!”
I know our time on earth is not meant to be forever, but we are never quite ready to grasp the passing of a loved one, especially those who are revered as everlasting pillars of strength among us. So as for Bishop Walker, the pastor of my childhood church, he was someone I envisioned living until the end of time. When I heard of his passing last week, I was in total disbelief, denial even. “No, he is our leader, our shepherd, our mentor, our teacher, our friend. He cannot leave us, at least, not right now, not yet.” My mind was not playing tricks on me; I had to face and live with the reality that our beloved Bishop Walker would no longer walk through the doors of Mt. Beulah Apostolic Church but has instead transitioned to Beulah Land.
Growing up in rural Jamaica, my childhood was modest yet enriched through my interactions and experience of powerful fixtures in my surroundings. Some of my most memorable moments were spent at church, Mt. Beulah – one such fixture – in the small community of Green Hill, St. Ann. It was that space that brought people together: young or old, rich or poor, big or small. At some point you were bound to “go up ah church” or “go roun ah church.” Most of my Sundays were spent in that sanctuary for Sunday school, day service, and night service. Church wasn’t only for Sundays; there was constant programming throughout the week, some of which I also attended.
Meanwhile, overseeing the sanctuary and smooth operation of this gathering space was the captain of the ship, the commander in chief, Bishop Lloyd Walker. “Bishop” not only served the church, but the community at large. He welcomed everyone to the sanctuary and encouraged the church daily with the word of God. Oh, if we were hungry for the Word, be sure that you would be fed with scripture, teachings, praise, and worship. As a leader of a congregation, your role is multifactorial. As such, he helped to welcome new life into the world through dedication ceremonies and was also there to officiate funeral services signaling the end of one’s left path. A more interesting dichotomy cannot be found: welcoming new life and ushering out “old.” Now his time has come to transition to the other side.
To know Bishop Walker was to love him. It is no coincidence that he was loved, admired, and respected by everyone. He was a humble man. He was an honorable man. He was a godly man. He was the people’s pastor. He was our pastor. Let us not forget about his sense of humor and charisma. He was a man who loved the church and lived a life of service dedicated to the church. He was the overseer and shepherd of the Mt. Beulah congregation. The power and impact of a church in communities should not be overlooked. Indeed, the church is home, it is our rock, our answer, our healing space, our place of comfort, our place of vulnerability, our place of joy.
Mt. Beulah was also a place that fostered artistic expression through events such as annual Christmas concerts. This was something we looked forward to every year and of course, our Bishop would be there in attendance to welcome all for that wonderful time of fellowship.
Oh, if walls could talk, or if walls could sing. The walls of Mt. Beulah would share tales of their leader, sing songs of praise, and play the notes of musical instruments as demonstrated and exemplified by the late Bishop Walker.
While we are undoubtably saddened by the passing of our leader, let us find comfort in the time that he spent with us. One thing for certain is that his teachings led with scripture. Revelation 21:4 states:
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their
eyes; and there shall be no more death,
neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall
there be any more pain: for the former things
are passed away.”
The word is a clear reminder that we can safely rest in God’s promise.
Oh, I can hear Bishop playing his organ and singing the lyrics to Beulah Land. Alas, he was not only a pastor but also a notable musician – one who created beautiful music through the magical strokes of keys on his instruments. And he has transitioned from Mt. Beulah, the very sanctuary where he served, to his home forevermore: Beulah Land – the land of corn and wine, a place where mansions await, and where he’ll view the shining glory shore.
What a Blessed Assurance!
Let us lift our voices and sing with him. He has served the church, the community, and has touched countless lives, nationally and internationally. This was not an ordinary man. Let us walk in the footsteps that he has formed so when we all meet on the other side, he will say “Well Done.”
“O Beulah Land, sweet Beulah Land,
As on thy highest mount I stand,
I look away across the sea,
Where mansions are prepared for me,
And view the shining glory shore,
My Heav’n, my home forevermore!”
RIP Bishop Walker
