Disgraced Megachurch Pastor Mike Baker Reveals Rapidly Growing New Flock Following Eastview Scandal

Eighteen months ago, Mike Baker abruptly stepped down from his role leading one of the biggest megachurches in the state following allegations that he covered up his son’s sexual misconduct. 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 the 5500-member Eastview Christian Church 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. Six months after that nasty little incident, he did what all fallen megachurch pastors do after being unceremoniously excised from their old stomping grounds: start up a new church!

It’s a tale as old as time precisely because it’s so easy to do, and there is no lack of gullible congregants who care more about the speaker than about his sanctification. Baker founded Song and Sword Church, drawing several dozen of his former congregants, and began meeting in a hotel conference room for their initial services.

However, within a year, much has changed. Baker has grown the fledging 30 into a community of 300, and they just took up residence in their new 30,000 square foot building, making them a larger congregation than 90% of churches in America and likely on the fast track to megachurch status once more.

As far as the allegations, Baker hasn’t spoken much on them, only saying he’s “largely innocent” of what he’s been accused of doing.