Daniel Max Walker was born on August 29, 1985 as the third son to Dean and Suzanne Walker of Loveland, Colorado. Dan was a curious boy and occasionally took a comfortable seat behind his two older brothers.

Often Dan could be found reading or trying to figure out something on his own. Even as a young boy, he loved to know how things worked. If it was fast, whether on land or in the air, you could be sure that Dan was interested to know exactly how and why it did what it did.

When Dan was seven years old, he made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ as his Savior after a revival service at his church. Dan was an exceptional student throughout his school years and graduated from Fort Collins High School in 2004, where he participated in football, lacrosse, and track.

After high school Dan attended Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois, graduating in May 2008 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. At Olivet Dan was a four-year member of the football team, a team captain, a member of Testament Men's Choir, built and raced a Baja car, and was a stellar disk golfer. Dan was a pilot, enjoyed the outdoors, and was an excellent potter. He also worked on short term mission trips to various parts of the United States, Mexico and South America.

During the summer of 2008, he worked as an activities director at Golden Bell Camp and Conference Center in Divide, Colorado where he had the opportunity to influence a number of young lives for Christ with his outgoing personality, love for young people and commitment to his Lord. For the Fall of 2008, Dan was preparing to enter the Focus on the Family Institute to study the principles of Christian leadership and further investigate the role ministry would have in his future.