Since 1991 he has been a member of the faculty at Valparaiso University, an independent Lutheran university in Northwest Indiana, where he teaches writing and theology as the Emil and Elfriede Jochum university professor. He is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) and has been speaker for Lutheran Vespers, the nationally syndicated radio ministry of the ELCA, since 1994. He also has been a columnist for The Lutheran magazine.

Prior to joining the Valparaiso University faculty he was pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Evansville, Ind., for more than eight years. He also taught at Christ Seminary-Seminex and the Lutheran School of Theology. Earlier in his career he was a radio announcer, an instructor at the University of Evansville and an award-winning newspaper columnist.

He is the author of critically acclaimed books on subjects ranging from fiction to children's literature to practical theology and devotionals. His The Book of the Dun Cow (Harper & Row, 1978) was named The New York Times' Best Children's Book of the Year and received The American Book Award. His subsequent books, now totaling more than 30, have been equally well received.

Among them are:
-The Book of God: The Bible as a Novel (Lion UK and Zondervan, 1996) which won the Gold Medallion Book Award and the Association of Logos Bookstores Award for Best Book;
-The Book of Sorrows (Zondervan, 1996; Harper & Row, 1985), Campus Life's Editor's Choice award, Association of Logos bookstores Book Award for Best Fiction;
-Water Come Down (Augsburg Fortress Publishers, 1999), Association of Theological Booksellers Best Children's Book;
-In the Beginning There Was No Sky (Augsburg Fortress Publishers, 1997; Thomas Nelson, 1986); Association of Theological Booksellers Best Children's Book;
-Potter (Augsburg Fortress Publishers, 1994; David C. Cook, 1985), Gold Medallion Book Award, CSIA C.S. Lewis Award;
-Whole Prayer (Zondervan, 1998), Gold Medallion Book Award;
-As for Me and My House: Crafting a Marriage to Last (Thomas Nelson, 1987), Gold Medallion Book Award;
-Reliving the Passion (Zondervan, 1992), Gold Medallion Book Award.

He received the Helen Keating Ott Award for outstanding contribution to children's literature from the Church and Synagogue Library Association in 2000 and received the Wittenberg Award from The Luther Institute in 1994. A popular storyteller and speaker, Walt appeared in an ABC television network documentary about forgiveness.

He earned an associate of arts degree at Concordia Junior College in Milwaukee; a bachelor of arts degree at Concordia Senior College, Fort Wayne, Ind.; a master of divinity degree at Christ Seminary-Seminex, St. Louis; and a master of arts degree from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. Valparaiso University awarded him an honorary doctor of literature degree in 1986.