Walter S. Poole, Sr. grew up with 13 siblings in a southwest Atlanta community.  After graduating from high school in 1985, Walter served 6 years of active duty and 8 years of reserve duty in the U. S. Air Force and Air National Guard.  While serving in Operation Desert Storm, Walter accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and experienced a desire to go into the ministry.  Shortly thereafter, Walter studied for over two years in a one-on-one study program with Minister Fred Miller, a renowned bible scholar and former professor and co-founder of a local bible college in Rutland, Vermont.  In October 2000, Walter received an opportunity to serve as the minister of the New Life Christian Church in southwest Atlanta.

Walter’s desire to serve the Lord in a full-time capacity continued to increase.  In February of 2004, Walter fasted and prayed that God would open up such a door of opportunity.  He waited on the Lord for the answer, and believed that he would hear from God by November of that year.   On October 28, 2004, Walter received word that the Ben Hill Christian Church, also located in southwest Atlanta, was looking for a full-time minister.  He was convinced in his spirit that this was where God wanted him to be.  Walter left a managerial position at his secular job to serve the Lord full-time at the Ben Hill Christian Church in May of 2005. 

As a minister of a New Testament Christian Church of the Restoration Movement, Brother Poole is passionate about the call of restoring the church to the way it was in the days of Christ’s apostles.  He believes that this will be accomplished if Christians everywhere would lay aside the doctrine of men, exalt Jesus above party and His word above all human creeds, and be a church of Christ without denominational name or other barriers to Christian unity.  Walter’s ambition is to lead the world to Christ in the clear light of New Testament teaching.

Minister Poole encourages each member of the Ben Hill body of believers to worship and obey God according to the Bible, God’s Holy Word.  His mission is to evangelize those in the community at every stage of life – from the youngest child to the eldest.

Walter S. Poole, Sr. has a certificate of completion in Ministry Studies from the Moeller-Haus Ministries, an A. S. degree in Aircraft Technology from the Community College of the Air Force, an A. S. degree in Business Administration from Shorter College, and a B. S. degree in Ministry Studies from Shorter College.  Walter and his lovely wife Yolonda have a beautiful family of 5 children (two daughters and three sons).

Minister Walter Poole’s Vision Statement

I envision all Churches of Christ coming together in world unity, removing the divisions imputed by man through elevating Jesus’ words in the New Testament and eliminating other creeds and doctrines.  As a result, all Christians would become part of one God, one Spirit, and one Church - a fulfillment of the prayer of our Savior (John 17:20-26) and the release of the true power of the body of Christ.

I envision a church that fully embraces the Love of God and shares it with others.

I envision a church that is abundantly disciplined as Disciples of Jesus, thereby equipped to exalt and evangelize.

I envision a church that is committed to promoting the spiritual and physical well-being of each member, providing him or her with the necessities of life.

I envision a church with Christians so convinced of the greatness of God that they are driven to tell the whole world about Him - especially those of the Ben Hill community.

I envision a church that will evangelize the lost by planting and watering seeds and bringing in the harvest.  

I envision a church that will care for God’s children, ensuring that they are introduced to Jesus, baptized by immersion into Jesus, and taught the commands of Jesus so that they may love God.

I envision a church that encourages every member to grow in the character of Jesus.

I envision a church that encourages Christians to first commit themselves to Jesus, and then its members would display that commitment in the consistent giving of time, talents, and prosperity.

I envision a church that will never die.

I envision a church that is truly the kingdom of God on earth.