Senior Minister

Evangelist Gerald Walker is the oldest of five children born to Edward and Arlee Walker of Chicago, Illinois. A native Chicagoan, Brother Walker attended Elmhurst University in Elmhurst, IL. where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business and Economics.  For over 30 years he worked as a Field Examiner for banks and financial institutions in Chicago and is currently the Senior Minister of the Maypole Avenue Church of Christ.

Gerald was baptized into Christ in June of 1975 byhis minister and father-in-law, Brother William E. Jones Sr.  He has been preaching since 1979 and served as Assistant minister to the 87th street Church of Christ in Chicago from 1981 to 2005 when he accepted the work at the Harvey Church of Christ.  After leading that congregation for 12, years he heeded the call of his friend and mentor Dr. Nathaniel Dean and came to work with the Maypole Avenue congregation in 2017. He has preached across the brotherhood, held gospel meetings, and spoken on local, regional, and nationallectureships, as well as facilitated many workshops.  

His greatest joy is teaching bible classes. He is alsoa former member of the United Acapella Chorus andthe United Quintet of Chicago.

Gerald has been married to the former Deborah Rachelle Jones since July 1976.  He and Debbie have one son, Gerald Jason Walker (wife Amy), Music Minister of the Kings Church of Christ in Brooklyn, NY.

Evangelist Jonathan Johnson is the youngest of 3 sisters born to Denise Johnson and Abiodun Johnson in Chicago, Illinois.  A native Chicagoan, Brother Johnson attended New Life Bible College in Cleveland, Tennessee where he received his bachelor’s degree in biblical studies under the tutelage of his “father“ in the gospel Dr. David C Penn. He later went on to pursue a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration at East West University here in downtown Chicago. For the past 10 years he has worked in the social services field mentoring troubled and impoverished youth and helping them to become well rounded citizens, while constantly giving back to the community here on the west side of Chicago.

 He is currently Assistant Minister of the Maypole Avenue Church of Christ in Chicago, IL. Jonathan was baptized into Christ in June of 2002 under the leadership of the late Dr. Cardie L. Harper. He has been preaching since 2014 and was first introduced to the pulpit by his lifelong mentor Dr. Nathaniel Dean. Jonathan served as Youth Minister at both the Maypole Avenue and West Suburban Church of Christ in Chicago for over 5 years. Bro. Johnson became Assistant Minister first at the Austin Church of Christ in 2019 and help to lead that congregation through a pandemic for 2 years. He answered the call from longtime mentor Bro. Gerald Walker and became Assistant Minister at his home congregation, Maypole in January 2022.

He has preached across the brotherhood, facilitated workshops and classes, and spoken on the national lectureship as well, his greatest joy is teaching bible classes.