ABOUT US
Who We Are
OUR MISSION
We are a multigenerational church with a missional mindset. We prioritize prayer as we pray for God's work, make disciples who make disciples, equip the saints, and go the world -- planting people and churches everywhere.
OUR VALUES
Intentional
Relationships
Bible
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Prayer
Isaiah 56:7
Multigenerational
Hebrews 10:24-25
Psalm 145:4
Psalm 78:5-7
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Our Beliefs
Our Network
If you want to know more about what we believe or have specific questions, you are welcome to come to the Next Steps (New Member) class where a more detailed look at these topics will take place. That class is on the second Sunday of every month in Room 126 at 9:00am. Any greeter will be happy to point you in the right direction.
Although we exist as an autonomous congregation, we understand the power of connecting and cooperating with other gospel-centered churches and organizations. To that end, we are part of a nationwide network of over 40,000 churches called the Southern Baptist Convention. We partner together sponsor over 5,000 missionaries, plant new churches, operate the second largest disaster relief organization in North America, and support seminaries to train new generations of leaders for churches around the world. We are excited about the power of this network to exponentially increase the impact of our church.
Where We've Been
We believe that God has a unique purpose for Walnut Street Baptist Church within Jonesboro, Arkansas and the world and our history helps tell that story. The heritage that Walnut Street Baptist Church has been given by God from the beginning, in 1913, is a beautiful legacy. Birthed out of a revival hosted by First Baptist on the corner of Matthews and Walnut Street, Walnut Street was one of two churches that were planted as a result of God’s work in that time.
After being destroyed by fire a second time at that original location, in April of 1980 the congregation of Walnut Street voted with a very slim majority to move to the hill we currently occupy. Walnut Street moved to this location, constructing a Gym (our current Gym) that would realistically operate like a church plant for the next 20 years, with set-up and tear-down for each service. Through the years, the church would add a children’s 2-story building, adult space in the North Hallway, build the Sanctuary as we know it today, move church offices at least 3 times, add the office/choir/ youth suite, and pay the LAST debt payment, burning the note in August of 2013 for our centennial celebration.
Since then God has allowed us to add a “main entrance” to the Gym, redo the main floor of the children’s wing, and add a formal entrance to the kid’s wing completely redo our sound system in the Sanctuary, all while remaining debt-free.
We have also been able to partner in the planting of churches in Loveland, CO, Lima, Peru, and are looking toward where God would have us join Him next.​
Where We're Going
We make prayer a priority as we ask God to direct us in each and every step we take. We unite in prayer for five specific things:
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1 - Pray for the Lost
We pray that those who are lost will come to know God.
2 - Pray for Guests
We pray that God will bring guests to Walnut Street.
3 - Pray for Connections
We pray that those who come here would get connected and involved in a Sunday School class or in Discipleship Groups.
4 - Pray for God's Work
We pray that God would do His Work in and through Walnut Street.
5 - Pray for Your Role
We pray that God would show each and every person their specific role within His church. We believe that ministry is the pathway to maturity, and that God have a purpose for every individual that only they can fulfill.
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Join us as we ask God to allow us to join Him where He is already at work furthering His kingdom to make Himself known to every nation, tribe and tongue -- that we would know that He alone is God and there isn't anybody else!
Meet the Pastors
Lead Pastor
Grey Falanga
Pastor Grey and his wife Sarah Elizabeth have been serving at Walnut Street since 2011, along with their three kids: Rhett, Caroline, and Mary Ellis. Pastor Grey took on the role of Lead Pastor in 2018 and since that time God has only grown his heart for God's church, reaching the lost, and the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
Sr. Executive Pastor
Keith Baker
Bro. Keith has been on staff at Walnut Street for 20 years and has served in every area from custodial, to children's ministry, to music ministry, to his current position as Executive Pastor. He and his wife Denilla have a heart for service and spending time with their 2 adult children and their families.
Student Minister
Cory Cartwright
Cory joined our staff in 2018 and is passionate about investing in the next generation. He and his wife Krista are parents to four great kids. Cory also enjoys spending his time woodworking and cheering for Mississippi State.
Minister of Music
Jared Veteto
Jared graduated from Williams Baptist University, married his wife, Anna, and joined Walnut Street's staff in 2023. He is honored to lead God's people in worship each week, and seeks to help people make worship part of their daily lives. Occasionally, Jared and Anna even release original music of their own!
Collegiate Minister
Will Nichols
Will attended Walnut Street as a college student, and returned to minister in that same area after finishing his time at NOBTS. Will has a passion for collegiates and missions. When they're not investing in college students, you can find Will and his wife Amanda wrangling their 3 young kiddos.