Illinois Megachurch Names New Senior Pastor After Previous Leader Resigns in Disgrace
Nearly a year after megachurch pastor Mike Baker abruptly stepped down from his role leading Eastview Christian Church following allegations that he covered up his son’s sexual misconduct, the church has announced that Brandon Grant, a former staff member, will replace him as lead pastor.
Grant previously led the church’s college and young adult ministry but moved on eleven years ago to plant Rise City Church in San Diego. Rise City became one of the state’s fastest-growing churches, helped along when they merged with Harvest Church, a struggling church with a paid-off 30,000 building. They eventually hit over 1200 attendees and planted over a dozen churches.
Grant is on his way back to his old stomping grounds, beating out 40 other candidates but also having an edge, given that many feel he’s a known quantity that was not around during the mess with their former pastor.
Speaking of which, former pastor Mike Baker has done what all fallen megachurch pastors do after being unceremoniously excised: start up a new church.
Baker abruptly resigned from Eastview Christian Church in March of 2023 year. A subsequent investigation conducted by church-hired attorneys found the allegations that he and his son Caleb Baker engaged in gross misconduct.
Mike’s son Caleb Baker was a pastor at Eastview who engaged in multiple extramarital affairs while on staff. Instead of exposing it, Mike took an active role in concealing it from the congregation, allowing his son to go pastor another church unencumbered by the stain of disqualification and clergy sexual abuse, where he would proceed to have another extramarital affair and scandalize another church.
After being confronted by his role in the mess, Mike Baker resigned in protest.
Mike Baker announced on his YouTube channel that he was naming his new church Song and Sword Church and would begin meeting at a hotel conference room next week. He insists he isn’t competing with his former church but will likely draw hundreds away for his first service:
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