Bishop Joseph Walker and fiancé Stephanie Hale
I have been getting letters and emails about this story in particular and finally have all the information that you have been asking for.
Bishop Joseph Walker has found love again in that of Dr. Stephaine Hale. The two are set to wed on May 23, 2009 and GospelFab! has the COMPLETE story of how these two met, dated and how he popped the question!
“I was married for 11 years and dated my wife for two and a half years before hat. I actually enjoyed being married! We had a great friendship ad I understood the importance of friendship within marriage. My wife got ill and passed away [three years ago]. When she passed away, moving into this domain of single life was scary to me,” Bishop Walker told GospelToday Magazine in April 2008.
Now at 41, Bishop Joseph Walker is the Senior Pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in White Creeks, TN. “In the church, everybody is hearing from God… Women who watch me on television have written me letters telling me, ‘God is saying that you’re my husband,’” says Bishop Walker. He continues, “When I met [my late wife], I was in the lobby of a hotel, and God blessed us to go to the Penthouse (I speak metaphorically). I [now] want somebody on the club level. I am not going back to the lobby. I am not looking for a parasitic relationship. I am not looking for someone to cling to me for her very existence or survival. I am looking for someone who loves the Lord and understands the demands of Ministry.”
He has found that in none other than 33 year old, Dr. Stephaine Hale. This Los Angeles, California native, Dr. Stephaine Michelle Hale, a Harvard Medical Faculty Physician, is a Neonatologist at Beth Israel Deaconess MedicalCenter and an Instructor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School in the Department of Pediatrics. Her research interests focus on disparities as they relate to neonatal outcomes in the U.S., as well as equitable care and quality improvement within the neonatal intensive care unit, with emphasis on those centers serving vulnerable populations. Dr. Hale’s goal is to be an advocate for the healthcare of all children and to develop successful programs and policies that will improve the health and survival of infants in underserved communities across the nation.
How did they Meet?
They were introduced via telephone by Dr. Hale’s pastor, Rev. Dr. John Borders of Morningstar Baptist Church in Boston, MA. “He informed me that he had someone he wanted me to meet. He went on to say that he had discerned this to be my wife. I had a great deal of skepticism because I had heard this so many times before. After we talked, I knew what God had told him was true. The following month, I was scheduled to preach at his church, so this provided an opportunity for us to meet face to face.” says Bishop Walker. “I loved her before I had even met her in person. This was truly what Adam experienced in Genesis. She was presented to me and I was blessed to see her inner beauty “bone of my bone”, before I saw her outward beauty…”flesh of my flesh”.
How did Bishop Pop the Question? Dr. Hale tells it best!
The Walkers Engagement Photos
“My Birthday is September 17th…The day before, Joseph had 33 beautiful long stem roses delivered to my home with a card that said “33 roses for the 33 years God has blessed this world with you” – simply beautiful!”
“The next day, my birthday, he was speaking at a church in Atlanta so I flew down after work to have dinner with him, the pastor of the church, and his wife. After dinner, we took a drive and Joseph had cake and other deserts waiting for us. Then out of nowhere he starts pulling out HUGE boxes for me to unwrap.The best birthday I’ve ever had, right? Wrong, because unbeknownst to me, it wasn’t over yet.”
The next day, Thursday, we flew down to Shreveport to visit his mom who was in the hospital. Friday we flew back to Atlantabecause we had planned to drive back to Nashville…We continued onto Nashville, arriving in the city at around 10:30 at night. We walked in the house and out of nowhere, “SURPRISE!!!!” – a surprise birthday party. I couldn’t take anymore! More tears!!! I looked around and there were new friends and old friends alike. He even managed to have family and friends from all over the country, some as far as the Virgin Islands, fly in for the festivities. I had no idea!”
“As I walked around and greeted people (still in tears mind you) I realized the music I was hearing was great and would you believe, I looked up and there was a singer and a live band playing from the balcony. I walked into the kitchen – a chef cooking food for everyone! Still spinning, someone came up behind me and whispered in my ear that they didn’t want me to pass out, but to turn around because behind me on the bookshelves surrounding the fireplace were “33 gifts for 33 years”. I know. Unbelievable! I can’t say it enough.”
“The next morning was Saturday, and to my surprise more of my friends flew in! Joseph had really outdone himself! He, my sister and friends, and I went to breakfast at one of our favorite restaurants. We then took them on a tour of the city and hung out for the remainder of the day. For those who stayed we went out to dinner that night at one of Nashville’s best steakhouses. When we arrived we had a private room where there were roses and candles everywhere. It was beautiful. We had a wonderful dinner…”
“Then suddenly he turned to me and said, “I also spoke to your father today.” I stopped short and sort of looked at him sideways and asked him “Why did you speak to my father today?” His reply: “To ask for your hand in marriage.” All I remember after that was hearing my sister and girlfriends start screaming on the other side of the table. At this point I could not see anything else in the room, my eyes were fixed solidly on Joseph and the rest was slow motion – I saw him stand up, walk around his seat, reach into his bag and pull out a blue box! He then got down on one knee and asked me if I would marry him. Of course, crying by this point, I shouted “ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY,” concludes Dr. Hale.
Bishop Joseph Walker will wed Dr. Stephaine Hale on May 23, 2009 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in White Creeks, Tennessee. Congrats Bishop on finding love again!!! From GospelFab! Girl.
The Walkers Engagement Photos
For more pictures from the couples events, look below.
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- Bishop Joseph Walker and fiancé Stephanie Hale
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- The Walkers Engagement Photos
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- The Walkers Engagement Photos
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- The Walkers Engagement Photos
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- The Walkers Engagement Photo
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- Dr. Stephaine crying
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- Dr. Stephaine at Bridal Shower
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- Shower Favors
LOL!
This is the sweetest story I have ever heard. I want to wish the happy couple best wishes and many blessings. “CONGRATULATIONS”
by Pamela Johnson