Dr. Doug Baker is the senior pastor of the Marvin United Methodist Church. His 26 years of full-time ministry have included serving churches both in Texas and Louisiana.

His current appointment at Marvin began in 2007 with six years as senior associate where he directed the spiritual life and training of the staff and led church-wide emphases on relational evangelism, spiritual gifts, Bible reading and the expansion of the small group ministry. In 2013, he was asked by the Bishop to step into the role of senior pastor where he now focuses on serving Christ through leading a great creative laity and staff that “calls people into relationship with Christ, equips them for ministry, and sends them into the world for service.”

His education includes a BBA in management from Baylor University, a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary, and Doctor of Ministry in Spiritual Formation from Perkins School of Theology, SMU.

He has been married to his wife Gina for 30 years and they have two grown children, Bryan, who is married to Kirsten, and Rebecca, who is married to Trey. Both live outside Tyler. Doug has three grandchildren.

His hobbies include walking, yardwork, reading, and playing with the family golden retriever. He enjoys participating in sports including volleyball and water skiing.

He served his country as Navy Reserve Chaplain in the 1990s and recently co-authored with Gina a curriculum called “Life-to-Life”, a discipleship program designed to mentor those who are new or returning to active Christ-following.

He loves the local church and sees it as the hope of the world. He loves spiritual conversation, and seeing people come alive in Christ when they find their place in Kingdom service. He strives to encourage lay and staff creativity and seeks to develop leaders in the church. He desires to see Marvin Church continue to expand upon its long heritage of Bible-centered teaching, generosity in Christian service and mission, and excellence in Christian worship.

Favorite Prayer: (from John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church)

I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or laid aside by thee.
Exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
thou art mine, and I am thine.
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
Let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.