From John T. Alsum

Some of my Best Memories of Pastor Baker

#1 – First of all I have to say several generations of Alsums have been blessed by having Christ in our lives as a result of the Baker family ministering in Bellingham so many years ago. One of the ministries the church had for years was AWANA, and I think of the Spark’s theme song, It Only Takes a Spark to get a Fire Going. Pastor lit a lot of sparks and families like ours were blessed by it.

#2 – I use to love hearing Pastor sing the song, “If it wasn’t for the Light House”. As a youngster I remember getting a lump in my throat when he sung it, the words were convicting and full of hope.

#3 – Growing up year after year Pastor would take the older teens on a week-long hike / camping trip. My last year there I too got to go on the trip, the summer before entering high school. It was well worth the wait. I remember one morning Pastor serving black pancakes for breakfast! My love for the outdoors only grew after that trip!

#4 – I remember Pastor not only preaching but doing whatever had to be done, including building the church on James Street. Every chance I got I was there to help. Including the day we put the plywood on the roof. I will never forget that day because I stepped on a piece of plywood that had not been nailed down yet and went for a ride to the roof edge. My quick prayers were answered and the plywood stopped at the edge of the roof that was two stories up. I stepped off of the plywood onto the portion that was nailed down, and climbed down the ladder to the ground thanking God all the way! I don’t think pastor ever forgot that event.

#5 – Church Potlucks, this maybe should have been at the top of the list, but I am sure being the leader of the church, Pastor must have had something to do with all of the great Sunday potlucks that we had. There is nothing like eating with one another; sometimes our numbers were not great but there was always more than enough food to enjoy and stories to be told.