Ministry Staff

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Rev. Dr. Wilbert C. Baker, Senior Pastor

Pastor Baker is a native Houstonian, and the founding pastor of Lakeland Baptist Church. Pastor was reared in Acers Homes where he was a member of Progressive Baptist Church under the leadership of the Reverend B. J. Lewis. He married Carol Lynn (Stephens) Baker, and to this union they have two grown children: Jessica (Baker) Heath, and William Baker. They have three grandchildren: Daylen, DJ, and Nadia. Prior to Lakeland, Pastor served as an associate minister of Creston Baptist Church where he was ordained by the late Pastor Leroy Ross. Pastor Baker served as pastor of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church of Houston, and pastor of St. Luke Baptist Church of Humble. Pastor Baker holds a Bachelors of Business Administration degree, Master of Divinity , and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Along with his pastoral duties, he serves as Principal of Lakeland Ministry Institute. Pastor insists that of greater value than his formal education was his mentorship by the Rev. Dr. Sidney Stephens!

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Rev. Michael Worthman, Associate Minister

Rev. Michael Worthman is a native of Gary, IIndiana. He come to Lakeland from New Loyality Baptist Church were he served as Youth Minister.

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Debra Palms, Director of Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Formation

Sis. Debra completed prayer training at  Windsor Village Prayer Institute. She earned her Biblical Counseling Certification at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, her B.A. degree in Communications from the University of Indiana, and completed her M.A. degree in Biblical Counseling at Luther Rice Seminary. She is also matriculating at Lakeland Ministry Institute.