Dr. Walter Wilson will be making the transition away from his ministry leadership role with Oklahoma Baptists as African American Ministry Partner, concluding a faithful and fruitful season marked by church growth, pastoral encouragement, strengthening cooperation with African American churches in Oklahoma and the advance of the Gospel.
Wilson, who began his ministry leadership role with Oklahoma Baptists in 2017, will be succeeded in his ministry role by Bertholomew “Prophet” Bailey. During his time with Oklahoma Baptists, Wilson also continued serving as pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Lawton, where he has ministered for more than 17 years and where he will continue to serve as senior pastor.
Oklahoma Baptists Executive Director-Treasurer Todd Fisher reflected on Wilson’s ministry and impact. “Walter Wilson is a truly great leader. Through his tireless work as a pastor and ministry partner, he has helped establish, encourage, strengthen and grow African American churches in our state and expand the Kingdom of God. Walter has become a close personal friend and source of encouragement to me. While we will greatly miss him in his role on staff, I thank the Lord for all the great things that have happened under his ministry leadership, and I pray he and his wonderful wife, Velma, have a blessed season of ministry.”
Fisher added, “As Walter hands this ministry role ‘baton’ to Prophet, the Lord has blessed us to be in a great place of ministry now and well into the future.”
Walter Wilson: Leader, Pastor, Gospel Minister, Friend
Through relationships, preaching, prayer, events and personal encouragement, God has used Walter Wilson to bear lasting ministry fruit in Oklahoma. Throughout his years of service, Wilson consistently pointed to God’s faithfulness and emphasized the value of churches working together through training, fellowship and shared mission. He championed cooperation by connecting pastors from many backgrounds and building strong partnerships across the state.
Among his many ministry milestones, Wilson has become a nationally recognized speaker and leader. In 2021, he received the Oklahoma Baptists’ Distinguished Service Award, becoming the first African American recipient of the honor. He also served as the first African American president of the Oklahoma Baptists’ Pastors’ Conference. Wilson has spoken at numerous ministry events across Oklahoma, including Oklahoma Baptist University Chapel and the Oklahoma Baptists’ Rewired Men’s Retreat. He also helped strengthen Baptist Collegiate Ministry work at Langston University, hosted key meetings with the National African American Fellowship and participated in Baptist missions in places including Mexico and East Asia.
Wilson played a leading role in establishing the Oklahoma African American Fellowship. He also helped assemble a 100-voice choir from African American churches for the Oklahoma Baptists’ Annual Meeting and encouraged pastors and congregations as more African American churches connected with Oklahoma Baptists for fellowship, training and cooperative ministry. A ministry trailblazer, Wilson is celebrated for his ability to bring people together for the sake of the Gospel.
Wilson surrendered to Gospel ministry at New St. Paul Church in Texas in 1985. Before serving as a pastor, he served the church in numerous roles, including usher, choir director, bass player, Sunday School teacher and superintendent, and ordained deacon. He later pastored Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in Garland, Texas, helped plant churches through the Baptist General Convention of Texas and eventually accepted the call to Friendship Baptist Church in Lawton.
At Friendship, Wilson and the church have partnered with community organizations such as the Pregnancy Resource Center, Great Plains Foundation and Hungry Hearts Ministry. The church also adopted a local street to clean and maintain and has served the community through outreach efforts including block parties and food distribution.
Wilson’s service has reflected a steady desire to establish and strengthen churches, encourage pastors, support church health and challenge lostness together. His leadership has helped African American churches build connections for training, fellowship and cooperative mission while keeping the Gospel central.
Wilson and his wife, Velma Luckey Wilson, have been married for nearly five decades. They have one daughter, LaQuetha, who is married to George Lewis, and two grandchildren.
As Wilson wraps up his ministry with Oklahoma Baptists, many people have expressed thanks for his faithful leadership, pastoral heart and commitment to establishing and strengthening churches. His ministry has helped more churches connect with Oklahoma Baptists and has served as a reminder that churches united around the Gospel can move forward together in faith, fellowship and mission.
Oklahoma Baptists are encouraged to pray for Wilson and his family during this transition, thanking the Lord for his life and vocational ministry impact.
Bertholomew “Prophet” Bailey to assume African American Ministry Partner role
Bertholomew “Prophet” Bailey Sr. will become African American Ministry Partner for Oklahoma Baptists, following Walter Wilson. Bailey brings broad ministry experience, deep Oklahoma Baptist roots and a strong commitment to helping churches reach people with the Gospel.
A native of North Tulsa, Bailey grew up as the seventh of 11 children in a devoted Baptist family. His father, Bertrand M. Bailey Sr., served 38 years as pastor of St. Andrew Missionary Baptist Church, and his mother, Juandalyn J. Bailey, served as church secretary. Bailey said much of his childhood was spent at church, where his family participated in choir rehearsals, Sunday School, Bible study and worship. Several of his siblings serve in ministry, and Bailey and his three older brothers are ordained pastors.
Bailey came to faith in Christ at age 9 during Vacation Bible School and later sensed a call to ministry while in high school. A graduate of Tulsa Central High School, Bailey went on to attend Oklahoma Baptist University on a track scholarship, earning multiple All-American honors while majoring in Biblical Studies and minoring in Pastoral Ministry. He later completed a master’s degree through Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. His ministry service has included roles as youth minister, children and youth pastor, pastor, admissions counselor for Oklahoma Baptist University, academic advisor at the University of Oklahoma, Baptist Collegiate Minister at Langston University and Young Adult Discipleship Partner for Oklahoma Baptists.
He has pastored and also helped churches strengthen young adult and men’s ministries across the state. Bailey and his wife, Nikol, have been married for 13 years and have three children. Bailey has described his family as active, prayerful and grateful for opportunities to serve the Lord together.
Todd Fisher said, “Prophet has served Oklahoma Baptists in his current role leading men’s ministry and young adult discipleship in an outstanding way. I am grateful he will continue his responsibilities with men’s ministry and very confident he will continue the excellent work Walter has been doing as African American Ministry Partner. Prophet is a great asset to our Oklahoma Baptists team, and I am excited to see how the Lord will use him in this new role.”
For more information about Oklahoma Baptists ministry, visit www.oklahomabaptists.org.
Editor’s Note: This article incorporates material previously published by the Baptist Messenger and was expanded and edited with the assistance of computer software tools for clarity and readability.
