local church full-time for seven years by way of worship leadership, Mary Pat and Whitney noticed a consistent undercurrent to their time at churches around the country: ministry leaders and their families were in need of support and care due to the relentless strain that public ministry puts on the human heart.
They responded by structuring their efforts to specifically address these needs. By utilizing their combined three decades of worship ministry experience alongside soul-care, the purpose of Water Within Ministries is simple: serve those who are serving.
WWM provides a multi-faceted approach to sustaining those who have given their ‘yes’ to God, so that churches of all sizes can function as healthy, thriving communities that glorify Jesus.
After serving the
Whitney Walker is a pastor’s kid, hailing from the great state of Michigan. Whitney grew up in a multigenerational pastor’s family and knows both the difficulties and blessings of being integrally interwoven in the fabric of vocational ministry. After telling God she would never agree to a ministry job, she has found great joy and purpose in saying yes to God’s good sense of humor since 2011. A guitarist and songwriter by trade, Whitney’s love for music has remained consistent for decades. Her songs and approach to worship leading often express deep contentment in Jesus, while exuding a relentless pursuit of God’s desire for intimacy, holiness, and heaven-on-earth reality. She holds two undergraduate degrees in Worship Leadership and Songwriting, as well as a Master’s in Pastoral Counseling with an emphasis in Trauma and Crisis Intervention. Her hometown ministry involves regularly serving in music leadership at Legacy Nashville and working as a Chaplain for the Metro Nashville Police Department. On a personal level, she revels in the mystery of human connection, has deep tenderness towards trauma survivors, and whole-heartedly believes in the healing power of navigating life in intimate connection with one another and with Jesus. On off days, you can find her drinking too much coffee at a local roastery, climbing walls at the rock-climbing gym, or lost in deep conversation with friends.
Mary Pat Smissen is proudly a California native. Her longtime love of Jesus and music dates back to early elementary school worship services at her Christian School in Orange County. She would tell you that she knew God was asking her to be a worship leader at the age of five, so ever since then, she has been committed to hosting the presence of God by way of music. She has a Worship Leadership degree and has devoted her time to prayer ministry certifications, training, and practical application in local prayer ministries in Nashville, TN. She works part time at her home church, Legacy Nashville, helping to build the culture of worship and prayer on and off stage. Mary Pat has a big heart for hearing stories of people in all walks of life. When not on the road, her ministry efforts serve in a similar capacity in her role as a worship leader for her church. Her own journey has charted through addiction, disappointment and rejection, so her zeal for healing and wholeness for people is shaped by her personal experience with the goodness of God. You can often find her praying for strangers in a grocery store, eating tacos or petting dogs that don’t belong to her.