Dr. Phil Walleck (’04) and Mrs. Lou (Ruckstuhl) Walleck (’05) both came to the Hill to earn their first degrees. Phil earned his degree in Religion with a concentration in Christian Education, while Lou completed her bachelor’s degree in English at ETBU.
Phil & Lou live in South Walton | 30A Florida, where they currently find themselves “in the throes of raising three middle schoolers.” A quiet coastal beach community, 30A is a unique place to serve and raise a family.
Phil & Lou lead two works—Hope Counseling, a Christian Counseling practice serving clients across the U.S., and Restoration House, a 501(c)(3) providing confidential retreats for ministry families. To date, they have had the honor of providing counseling and care for dozens of families connected to East Texas Baptist (Keep going, friends. We are so proud of you!). Restoration House exists because ministry can be bruising. Their long-range goal is to operate a dedicated home on 30A offering year-round retreats tailored to ministry and leadership families.
Phil earned his PhD focusing on ministry, leadership, and families in crisis, and both he and Lou earned a master’s degree in counseling and mental health. Lou is a qualified supervisor and is a licensed counselor in multiple states. They’ve worked in different contexts, including churches, hospitals, and private practice. But before all that, God led them to ETBU. “Actually, neither of us applied anywhere else but ETBU. Looking back, we know that was God’s providential plan for us.”
For Phil & Lou, ETBU was an incredibly formative season. “We met first semester of freshman year, taking an Appreciation of the Arts class together, and then started dating in the final week of the spring semester. We married after graduation, and we’re forever grateful for ETBU.” To think of their time on the Hill is to think of Lou wanting to be AnnMarie Whaley one day, and Phil—a combination of Dr. Bob, Jeph, Rick, and Dane. “To think of ETBU is to think of lifelong friendships that began in the halls of Merle Bruce and in Frye or heading to Bodacious BBQ for a Bo Pack. To think of ETBU is the joy of knowing so many friends are still serving the kingdom around the globe.”
“ETBU taught us to go for it—to believe God uses small beginnings to do great things.”
If they had one piece of advice for current students, they would say don’t rush your years in Marshall. Devote this season to building rich friendships, and then fight to keep those connections wherever you go—you have no idea how God will use them in the days ahead. To connect with Phil & Lou further visit berestoration.org or hopecounseling.online. “And if you find yourself headed to 30A, reach out. We would love to hear from you.”