Meet Pastor Tom Walz, who founded Cornerstone Baptist Church in 1994, along with his wife Ruth, who went to be with the Lord in 2013. They have three children, who are all in Christian service. Their oldest son, Jim, is also a pastor here at Cornerstone. Their daughter-in-law Renee (Pastor Jim’s wife) serves as our church secretary. Their daughter Julia serves alongside her husband Jeremy Griffith, who is the founding pastor of Anchor Baptist Church in Washington Courthouse, Ohio. John, their youngest son, and his wife Alisha are missionaries in Taiwan. They were missionaries in China, but were arrested for starting churches, and in ten days expelled. After their first baby was born, they went to Taiwan.
Pastor Tom came to know Jesus as his Savior while he was an agent for a major insurance company. He then served as a youth minister for three years before graduating from Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri. He also holds a teaching certificate from the University of Cincinnati. Cornerstone is the third church he has pastored.
Cornerstone is an outreach of Hillsboro Bible Baptist Church. It was planted by Pastor Tom and his family in 1994, first in the basement of National City Bank (now PNC Bank). It then moved to the senior center for several years, followed by services held in the former armory. Finally, Cornerstone moved to its current location at 15024 State Route 328 in Logan, just south of the Logan High School. The church building was constructed by the members debt free and has remained debt free to this day.
Pastor Tom had the idea that where the Lord leads, He provides. In 2003, he also started the local FM radio station, 106.3, “The Light,” which ministers to area listeners around the clock. Pastor Tom’s duties at Cornerstone include preaching the Word of God, teaching Sunday School, counseling, nursing home and hospital visits, as well as pastoral calls. His favorite pastime is working in the ministry at Cornerstone. His favorite Bible verses are Proverbs 3:5 and 6, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”
Cornerstone is blessed to have two fine pastors. Pastor Jim Walz joined the ministry at Cornerstone full-time in 2005, but has been involved in the ministry here since it began.
Pastor Jim accepted Jesus as his Savior at the young age of seven years old. He graduated high school from Milford Christian Academy in Milford, Ohio, then attended Chatfield College and Dayton Baptist Temple College. He graduated from Antioch Baptist Seminary, where he received a degree in theology.
From 1984 – 1990, Pastor Jim served our country for six years as a Radio Operator with the United States Marine Corps. Shortly after his discharge from the Marines, he married Renee, his college sweetheart. They are the parents of three wonderful children: Adam, Caleb, and Abigail, who all faithfully serve the Lord.
Pastor Jim is a Jack-of-all-trades and master of more than one! Some of his duties at Cornerstone include preaching, teaching Sunday School, and he serves as Director of Cornerstone’s Creative Arts Ministry (CAM) for teens, as well as our drama teams. In addition, Pastor Jim is the Radio Station Manager of Cornerstone’s 24-hour-a-day local FM radio station, 106.3 “The Light.” We thank God for Pastor Jim, his leadership skills, and willingness to serve whenever and wherever needed.
Pastor Jim enjoys hiking in God’s beautiful creation. His favorite Bible passage is Psalms 9:1 and 2, “I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.”
Renee Walz, our church secretary, is one of the friendliest people you will ever meet. She radiates the love of Jesus!
Renee graduated from Blanchester High School (near Cincinnati), and she earned an Associate Degree in Business from Chatfield College, where she met her husband Jim, one of our pastors. She received Jesus as her Savior when she was twenty years old.
Renee and Pastor Jim were married in 1990 after he returned from the Marines. They have three beautiful children. All are involved in Christian ministry.
Their oldest son, Adam and his wife Ashley currently serve with Cool Kids Ministries. Adam is a ventriloquist and illusionist. Caleb, their youngest son, graduated high school from Fairfield Christian Academy and from Ohio University in Lancaster. He has a beautiful singing voice. Twelve-year-old Abigail is active in Cornerstone’s Creative Arts Ministry and many other church activities. She also has a lovely singing voice.
In addition to church secretarial work over the years, Renee has enjoyed home schooling her children. Her favorite pastime Is spending time with her family.
Renee has worked at Cornerstone since 2005. Her responsibilities include secretarial, finances, teaching the teens’ Sunday School class, teaching junior church, and she takes a turn working in the nursery. Renee’s favorite Bible verse is Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”