Pastor Michael H. Baker
Pastor Michael H. Baker delivers a profound impact to the Kingdom of God. He inherently inspires and insistently motivates others to operate in a spirit of excellence, while using their gifts and talents for the Glory of God.
Pastor Baker received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Florida Theological Seminary and has attended Oxford University in England in pursuit of obtaining a Masters of Divinity.
A true Man of God, Pastor Baker’s national ministry and international involvement are consistent in a community based work that reaches the heart of God’s people. Presently, he is the Senior Pastor of the Greater St. Luke Baptist Church in Columbia, South Carolina. He is the Executive Director of the Light of The World Economic Community Development Corporation. This non-profit corporation assists in sponsoring and promoting religious, educational and community events.
His pastoral ministry at Greater St. Luke has led to the growth of ministries including, the Boy Scouts, Couples Ministry, Praise Dance Ministry, No Limit Praise Step Team, Drill Team, Camp Whoop There it Is, Debutante Cotillion, Athletic Ministry, The Nativity Scene, Mother 2 Mother Ministry, Human Resource Ministry, The Pastor’s Cup Golf Classic, Back to School Book Bag and Supplies Giveaway, Family Care Ministry, Pastors Support & Care Ministry, L.A.D.S. (Life After the Death of a Spouse) Ministry and the S.W.A.T. Ministry. To ensure assimilation into Christianity, Pastor Baker organized “The Tribes” which assigned each congregant to a tribe whose names were derived from the twelve tribes of Israel. Each tribe is led by a deacon and the tribes ensure that individuals are connected to the life of Church. Pastor Baker is a builder and innovator. He led the congregation in the purchase of the M. L. Smith Center, two buses, and the renovation of the Sanctuary and the Narthex.
Pastor Baker has a zest and zeal for our youth and the community. He organized the Greater Columbia Holistic Enrichment Development Summer Program that offers academic, music and computer training. Pastor Baker also served as the Chairman for the first Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance City Wide Revival. The revival brought people of all denominations together as well as helped to eradicate the debt of two families victimized by gang violence. As a community leader, every year a portion of the proceeds from the Pastor’s Cup Golf Tournament are used to educate and empower the homeless in our community.
His passion for empowerment and education birthed numerous classes at Greater St. Luke Baptist Church. Various classes on Christian Education are offered in Greater St. Luke’s new state of the art 2.5 million dollar M. L. Smith Community Development Center.
Pastor Baker is a nationally known Evangelist and the renowned Author of “How to Build Without Borrowing”, which he presently teaches as a course of study during the National Baptist Convention’s Congress of Christian Education. Pastor Baker has served on the National Baptist Convention’s Late Night Service Staff. He is a lecturer and a former instructor in the Gethsemane Baptist Association.
Most importantly, Pastor Baker is a family man, a native of Jacksonville, Florida and the son of the late Reverend Dr. and Mrs. Henry L. Baker. He is a devoted father to Michael and Michelle and a loving grandfather of twin grandsons, Jamian and Javion and granddaughter Paris.