Vicki Walker is an ordained deacon and serves as Hyde Park's Minister of Missions and Outreach. She has been on staff since 1999 serving first as Director of Adult Education.

Originally from Kentucky, Vicki graduated from the University of Kentucky with a BA in Communications. She earned her Masters of Arts in Religion with an emphasis in Christian Education from Asbury Theological Seminary and, upon graduation, she moved to Ohio where she served for four years as Director of Christian Education and Youth at First UMC, Newark, Ohio.

Following her time in Newark, she was invited to serve as a District Program Associate of the West Ohio Conference. In this role she provided leadership development and helped resource churches in implementing their mission and vision and reach out to their communities. During this time she was the founding director of Hope House, a transitional housing program for women and children.

Both of these experiences prepared her for the next chapter in her life when God called her to Tampa United Methodist Centers where she served as the Deputy Director for six years. Vicki has been an alternate delegate to three General Conferences and a delegate to three Jurisdictional Conferences and is currently serving as the Chair of the Order of Deacons for the Florida Conference.

Full name: The Reverend Vicki Renee Walker  
But Please Call Me: Vicki  
Position: Minister of Outreach
Born where and when: Madisonville, Kentucky — Sept. 24             

Family facts: Single

How I became a Christian: I've always known God loves me and has a plan for my life! My family is actively involved at the First United Methodist Church of Madisonville, Kentucky and I experienced God through Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, youth group, church camp, choir, lay witness missions, etc.!

How I ended up at Hyde Park: I was working at Tampa United Methodist Centers, and came to speak during the annual missions conference. I felt so warmly welcomed by the Forum Sunday School class that I kept coming to the church and soon got involved in lots of activities here.

The most important thing I do around here is: Connect church members through their gifts in service to meet the needs of our church, community and world.

FAVORITES

Music: Eclectic! I love the variety of 88.5-rock, jazz, gospel, zydeco, reggae, and classical.

Movie: “Like Water for Chocolate”

TV Show: “Law & Order”

Place to vacation: The beach! The Caribbean

Place to eat: Wine Exchange in Hyde Park Village

How I spend my free time: Friends, listening to music, dancing or going to movies.

Best book I've read: “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” by Jimmy Carter

Prized possession: Time with friends — loving and laughing

Nobody knows that I...collect pink flamingos!

Person I'd most like to meet: Oprah Winfrey

My vision for the future of Hyde Park Church is: A growing, vibrant, exciting place where people can come and be authentically who they are; and be challenged and inspired to become more than they ever dreamed possible.  

One way folks can pray for me is: God's guidance as we expand our outreach ministries through our Second Saturday service teams, HOMES ministry and Nicaragua mission trip.