with Rev Dr Chris Walker
Rev Dr Sir Alan Walker is best remembered for his evangelistic ministry which held together the personal and social dimensions of the gospel, for starting Lifeline the telephone counselling service that became an international movement, and for his prophetic stance on social issues such as opposing the White Australia policy, the Vietnam War and Apartheid in South Africa. He became well known in Australia when he led the “Mission to the Nation” program of the Methodist Church in the 1950s. He was a regular on television especially through the high rating “I Challenge the Minister” program, and was constantly in the various media. Internationally he was a frequent guest speaker to other nations such as the USA and South Africa. When he became the Director of World Evangelism for the World Methodist Council he travelled constantly to the many countries with Methodist Churches and had a significant impact through his powerful speaking and writing.
Alan Walker
Biographical sketch (2)
Central Methodist Mission Sydney
In 1958 he took up the appointment of superintendent of the Sydney Central Methodist Mission (now Wesley Mission). He was well prepared for this important position. His ministry over the next 21 years included making preaching an evangelistic message each Sunday night a priority, developing other worship and speaking opportunities such as the Easter program, commenting regularly on social issues such as the Vietnam War and having a media presence such as the television program “I Challenge the Minister”, the cultivation of groups such as College for Christians, Singles Society and School for Seniors, the expansion of welfare programs such as aged care, child care, disability services and most importantly the starting of the Lifeline telephone counselling service which became an international movement he fostered. During this period he had regular overseas speaking trips most notably two visits to South Africa where he spoke out against the apartheid policy.
In 1970-71 he served as president of the NSW Methodist conference and conducted a mission program called Newness NSW. It involved speaking at missions across the state. One of the most memorable was at Parramatta at which a group of bikie gang members were converted. The most ambitious event was a Christian pop festival held at Vision Valley which had some of the leading Australian music stars of the time.
World Evangelism
In 1978 he became director of World Evangelism for the World Methodist Council, heading up a program that he had largely suggested and which others now looked to him to implement. It resulted in the next 10 years conducting preaching and teaching missions to 78 countries with Methodist connections. Alan and Win literally travelled the globe with the message of Jesus. The first International Christian Youth Convention was held in Cornwall, England in 1980 as part of the World Evangelism program. World Evangelism became the most significant activity of the World Methodist Council influencing the life and thinking of churches around the world.
At a time when most people are well into retirement he established the Pacific (now Alan Walker) College for Evangelism in Sydney in 1989 to serve the needs of Pacific, and also Asian, churches for short courses in wholistic evangelism. He raised the funds to establish it and was the first principal for the next six years. Then it was time to retire and hand over to a successor.
He wrote over 30 books, along with many shorter studies and publications. His most influential book was The Whole Gospel for the Whole World, the most popular Break through. His emphases are most fully set out in The Contrast Society of Jesus. His Easter and Christmas editorials written over a 22 year period for The Sydney Morning Herald were published as Herald of Hope.
He was a person unafraid to speak out on a range of social issues including speaking up for marginalised people. As a powerful speaker himself, he was convinced of the importance of preaching and of the transforming power of the gospel. Bill Hayden, then governor general of Australia, referred to him as “the conscience of the nation.”
In 1981 he was created a Knight Bachelor by the Queen and in 1986 with Winifred received the World Methodist Peace Award. At the Thanksgiving Service held on 11 February 2003 to celebrate his life, it was notable that there were messages from Billy Graham and Desmond Tutu both personal friends, as well as the prime minister.
Rev Dr Chris Walker
(National Consultant Christian Unity, Doctrine & Worship)
chrisw@nat.uca.org.au