Walnut Street Baptist Church stands at 1143 S 3rd Street on the corner of Third and St. Catherine in Old Louisville. Its story reaches back to 1815, but the congregation took the name Walnut Street in 1848, and it has remained a gospel-centered Baptist church built around one shared mission: making disciples of Jesus and growing together in relationship with Him. The church is also known as a mission church. Its Community Ministry operates one of the largest food banks in the state, serving about 900 people with food and fresh produce each month, alongside clothing and household needs. A dedicated Chinese ministry and ministries for every stage of life shape life at Third and St. Catherine.
Two Congregations Become Walnut Street
Walnut Street traces its beginnings to two early Louisville Baptist congregations whose histories became one.
- 1815: First Baptist Church of Louisville was founded.
- 1838: Second Baptist Church of Louisville was founded.
- 1848: Members of the two churches joined to form Walnut Street Baptist Church, initially meeting at Fourth and Walnut Street.
- 1902: Walnut Street moved to its present location at Third and St. Catherine.
Across more than two centuries, Walnut Street has planted more than 50 churches in the Louisville area, helped develop multiple community ministries and maintained a passion for proclaiming the gospel to the nations. The command to “make disciples of all nations” from Matthew 28:19 remains central to the church's identity and work.
Sunday at Third and St. Catherine
Sunday begins at 9:30 a.m. with Sunday School. Adults meet for Bible study and prayer, while children and youth gather by age. At 11:00 a.m., the congregation assembles for worship in the Main Building.
The service lasts about an hour. It includes old and new songs of praise, time in prayer and a gospel-centered sermon from the Bible. That combination gives Sunday worship a blended character, while the Wednesday evening service centers on hymns and a sermon that usually works through a book of the Bible.
On Sunday mornings, visitors enter the Main Building. Members of the Welcome Team stand just inside the doors, greet arrivals, answer questions and direct people to the right rooms. Clothing is deliberately informal. Some people wear T-shirts and others dress up, with the church emphasizing that it is more interested in knowing people than in what they wear.
Parking directions for the Third Street property direct visitors to follow signs north after parking, continue along the one-way street and use the marked entrance. If the door is locked, visitors can press the bell on the right.
Children may attend Sunday School from nursery through fifth grade. During the main service, childcare is available for children under seven, while older children are welcome to stay in the sanctuary with their families. A nursing mother's room is available outside the sanctuary. The worship gathering is also livestreamed through the church's YouTube livestream.
Wednesday Dinner and Evening Programs
Wednesday evenings begin with a shared dinner at 5:15 p.m. in the dining hall of the Activities Building. At 6:00 p.m., adults gather for a short service in which they sing hymns, pray and hear Pastor Coye Still preach, usually working through a book of Scripture. The meal and service create a weekly rhythm for worship, teaching and fellowship.
Children move to the second floor of the Children's Building for TeamKid, where they read their Bibles, learn weekly lessons and participate in games. Youth can arrive for optional open gym time at 4:00 p.m., eat dinner free at 5:15 and remain for hangout time, Bible study and small groups from 6:00 to 7:15 p.m.
Families who live near the church and have circumstances preventing them from bringing a child may be able to receive transportation assistance.
Breakfast, Gospel Project and the Children's Building
Walnut Street's children's ministry seeks to share with all children the good news of Jesus Christ. The ministry is committed to loving, caring for and preparing the next generation to be disciples of Christ.
At 9:15 a.m., children begin the morning on the second floor of the Children's Building with breakfast. At 9:30, they move across the hall for worship and opening activities. From 10:00 to 10:45, they separate by age for Sunday School classes that follow Lifeway's Gospel Project curriculum. Children age seven and older are encouraged to attend the service with a parent or guardian, while younger children may remain in childcare.
Childcare is offered to children not yet preschool during both Sunday School and the worship service. All volunteers are background checked before serving. On Wednesday evenings, nursery and toddler care are available while adults attend Bible study. The Children's Building makes the church's youngest disciples a visible part of the congregation's shared life.
A Youth Ministry Built Around the Gospel
Walnut Street Youth seeks to train sixth through twelfth graders to become mature followers of Christ. Its stated focus is a right, saving relationship with God and a faithful commitment to teaching the gospel. Fun is part of youth life through activities, gym time, dinners and camps, but teaching the gospel remains the priority.
- Sunday: Youth gather for Sunday School from 9:30 to 10:50 a.m. on the third floor of the Activities Building.
- Wednesday: Optional open gym begins at 4:00 p.m., followed by dinner at 5:15 and hangout time, Bible study and small groups from 6:00 to 7:15.
The youth ministry also pursues the goal of presenting young people “mature in Christ” by laying a solid biblical foundation that can guide them throughout their lives.
Adults Study Together and Stay Connected
Sunday School groups meet at 9:30 a.m. each week for Bible study and prayer. These gatherings are intended to help adults get to know one another and become intentional about growing in faith together.
The young adults fellowship is aimed at people ages 18 through 25 and meets during the Sunday School hour in room M-305. A typical morning is divided among personal study, group discussion and formal teaching. The group welcomes college students, trade school students, recent graduates, working adults and people who are still considering what to do in life.
Older Adults Still in Service, or OASIS, meets every fourth Monday except December at 10:45 a.m. in the Activities Building dining room. Gatherings include a devotion, music and an entertainer or speaker. OASIS is open to people age 55 and older and includes friendly fellowship and learning.
- Women of Walnut Street: WOWS seeks to equip women to grow in Christ and serve the church and community through fellowship, discipleship and Bible study.
- Women's Missionary Union: The Women on Mission group meets at 10:30 a.m. on the second Tuesday of each month in the WMU History Room on the third floor of the Main Building. Different speakers and mission action projects support its monthly emphasis on learning about, praying for and supporting missions.
Chinese Ministry at Walnut Street
Walnut Street maintains a dedicated Chinese ministry, giving the congregation a bilingual ministry presence. Chinese-language worship and Bible-study resources accompany the English ministry, while the shared emphasis on the gospel, discipleship, mission and service connects the two expressions of church life.
Pastor Gang Li, also known as Martin, graduated from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity in 2021 and joined the Walnut Street staff as Chinese pastor. Before coming to America in 2018 for theological study, he spent seven years as a bi-vocational pastor of a house church in Guangzhou, China. His ministry includes a passion for proclaiming the Word of God and active involvement in cross-church ministries.
Food, Clothing and the Neighborhood's Needs
Walnut Street's mission identity reaches well beyond the church building. As early as the mid-1900s, staff member Mary Miller recognized needs in the neighborhood and began distributing clothing. As needs in Old Louisville increased, the church established the Christian Social Ministry in 1965. That ministry is now known as Community Ministry.
Today, Community Ministry operates one of the largest food banks in the state, serving approximately 900 people with food and fresh produce each month. It also provides clothing, personal hygiene items, household needs and infant care items for clients in need. Volunteers may explain, when clients are willing, why the love of Christ compels the church to serve its neighbors.
Volunteer teams make the ministry's work possible. The Delivery Team unloads food and prepares it for distribution, especially on Wednesday mornings and the first Thursday of each month. Volunteers in the Clothes Closet and Infant Resource Center sort and distribute items, while the Intake Team completes forms, listens to concerns and prays with clients who wish to receive prayer.
Food and clothing help is available through the Community Ministry.
Service Teams Rooted in the Church's Gifts
Walnut Street understands service as the use of spiritual gifts for the good of others and the glory of God. Its volunteer teams cover hospitality, worship, technology, children, neighborhood assistance and health:
- The Welcome Team greets people, answers questions and helps visitors find their way around.
- The Kitchen Team prepares and serves Wednesday meals and food for special gatherings.
- The Choir and Orchestra welcome singers and instrumentalists without requiring an audition.
- The Tech Team operates lights, sound, slides and cameras during services.
- The Kids and Youth Ministry includes nursery care, Sunday school teaching and youth discipleship, with special training and background checks for volunteers.
- The Health Ministry addresses spiritual, emotional and physical needs through health screenings, visits to people who are sick and instruction about healthy living.
The teams reflect the church's conviction that worship, fellowship and neighborhood service are not separate lives. They are different ways of using the grace God has given for the good of others.
Giving as an Act of Worship
Walnut Street teaches that God is the rightful owner of all things and that believers are stewards of the resources entrusted to them. Giving is therefore described as regular, sacrificial and cheerful, supporting the church, relieving people in need and spreading the gospel.
Contributions can be made through the online giving portal, through the offering plate during Sunday services or by mailing checks to the church. Special offerings primarily support the Louisville Regional Baptist Association, the Kentucky Baptist Convention, the North American Mission Board and the International Mission Board. Since 1992, the Walnut Street Foundation has also helped people include the church in wills and estate gifts, with guidance available at no charge.
What Walnut Street Believes
Walnut Street describes itself as joyfully centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ: the news that God reconciles sinners to Himself through Jesus, the Son of God, who lived, died and rose again for the salvation of those who put faith in Him. The Bible is affirmed as the inspired Word of God and the authority for Christian doctrine, life and practice.
Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. The church affirms that Jesus is fully God and fully man, that he died for sinners and rose again. Baptism is the immersion of believers in water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Lord's Supper is observed by baptized followers as a symbol of Christ's body and blood, a strengthening of the body of Christ and an anticipation of his return.
Walnut Street follows the Southern Baptist tradition and is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, the Kentucky Baptist Convention and the Louisville Regional Baptist Association. Its foundational Articles of Faith were adopted in 1849, while its Affirmations were endorsed in 2016 and joined with the Southern Baptist Convention's Baptist Faith and Message to form the church's statement of faith.
The church covenant commits members to brotherly love, prayer, assembling together, caring for one another, nurturing those under their care and seeking to win souls to Christ. Its stated aim is to walk together in faith and to live for the glory of the One who called them out of darkness.
Woodwork, Stained Glass and Wedding Spaces
Walnut Street regards marriage as a sacred covenant relationship that reflects the relationship between God and his people. The church's spaces are available for Christ-centered weddings, with the sanctuary and chapel offering distinct settings.
- The Sanctuary features intricate woodwork, stained glass windows and an organ, making it suitable for larger, traditional weddings.
- The Chapel can be reserved for smaller ceremonies.
- The dining hall can serve as a reception space, with a kitchen available for use as well.
- The Bridal Suite includes a large dressing room, makeup room, overflow dressing room and attached restroom, while the Groom's Loft gives the wedding party a separate preparation space.
The wedding process begins with a review of policies and an application, followed by a consultation with the wedding coordinator, a contract and a deposit to secure the date. The Activities Building can also be reserved for other gatherings, with its own use policies and facility request process.
The Ministry Team Behind the Mission
Walnut Street's work is carried out by pastors and ministry leaders with distinct responsibilities across worship, discipleship, communication and neighborhood service.
- Coye Still III, Senior Pastor: Previously served with the International Mission Board in Botswana and South Asia and pastored churches in Kentucky and North Carolina.
- Andrew Wilson, Youth Ministry Director: Teaches the Word of God to students and seeks to establish a biblical foundation that helps them mature in Christ.
- Isabel Puri, Children's Ministry Director: Grew up attending Walnut Street, became a member by baptism in 2016 and has volunteered in children's ministry since 2015.
- Janet Pearson, Community Ministries Director: Served as a Community Ministry volunteer beginning in 2000 and brings decades of experience in education to the church's neighborhood work.
- Ralph Tilley, Minister of Visitation: A former pastor with 40 years of ministry experience, he teaches an adult Bible class and has taught New Testament studies at college, university and seminary levels.
- Herbert Ramsey, Media Ministries Director: Oversees the church's media ministry while pursuing a Master of Divinity at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
- Steve Skaggs, Interim Minister of Music: Leads the music ministry alongside the choir, orchestra, organist and pianist.
At Walnut Street, the shared thread is its statement of purpose: one church, one mission. Sunday worship and Wednesday gatherings, Chinese ministry, age-specific discipleship, neighborhood food and clothing assistance, health ministry and wedding ministry all belong to a congregation that traces its story to 1815 and remains committed to making disciples of Jesus.