Bakers Bible and BookStore - The Endurance of God's Will

Specialist Bakers Bible & Bookstore has been a valuable resource for communities, across the community of Detroit. The white building on Grand River Ave., and the corner of Woodside has been in service since November of 1993. The history of the man who keeps it running stretches longer than that.

Mr. Baker was born in Alabama in 1932*. There he lived through the normal prosecution blacks faced in those times. His family migrated north, to Detroit where he learned the ways of the city. Baker carried the teachings back to his home state where he settled in Tuskegee Alabama. A local businessman owned a drug store, the business was meant to be an heirloom for his daughter after he passed on. She worked in the medical field, resulting in a lack of time to care for the building. Mr. Baker worked at Ford, and his current wife was employed at Chrysler. Taking on the store wasn't a financial burden for the couple. From 1970 to 1977 the store became a Tuskegee favorite. There were no black owned stores in the neighborhood, so college students gravitated to Mr. Baker. This southern store had even more of an extra inch above it's competition. Mr. Baker had tweaked the southern station with the goodies of a Detroit party store. For those seven years the Bakers added as much northern influence as the south was going to get in that moment. The store's influx of business was no burden on Mr. Baker's pockets. But it definitely took a toll on his heart. God told him that the life of the party store was not the right one for him. The alcohol, parties, and lifestyle that came with it was detrimental to God's plan. Mr. Baker separated himself from the store and moved back to Michigan. For eighteen years Mr. Baker didn't work on anyone's payroll, or own any businesses. Baker performed freelance work around the neighborhood. Building a savings account of trust among the people who required his services. Tragedy struck the family, but Mr. Baker refused to let it stop the good that had happened. It was time to put his purpose in a new venture.

He had his sights on the building that is currently Baker's Bible and Bookstore, but the city wouldn't sell it to him without a fight. But with a couple visits to the Mayor's office, and help in the highest places. The building was secured. Mr. Baker moved forward with God's plan. Dedicating himself to servicing the people, the family, and the church. He proved to God that the gift he was given was not in vain. This is why God decided to give Mr. Baker more leadership and responsibility. He was asked to teach at a church who had lost its Pastor. The church asked Mr. Baker to stay after his original term, which lead to him being asked to be the permanent Pastor of the church. Mr. Baker accepted the offer, and has been building the church with his bare hands. From the roof, to the pulpit Pastor Baker is putting the church together piece by piece. The eighty year old man doesn't want to sit down. He couldn't if he wanted to. There are too many organizations that depend on his services. A service that is backed by God, and intended to last longer than the man he tasked to build it.

Mr. Baker is still teaching the word of God, providing for his family, and getting on top of the roof as often as he can.

Xavier Jones - What influenced you to get into freelance work?

Mr. Baker - I borrowed a ladder from someone on one block, and took it to another to paint a house. From there everyone started asking me to do work for them. I took a night class, and learned how to do a little bit of everything.

Xavier Jones - Out of everything you learned, what was your specialty?

Mr. Baker - Building porches! I now build pulpits, and podiums for churches and different clients.

Xavier Jones - How was it doing freelance work for so long?

Mr. Baker - I had kids, and a family to feed. I had to do what I had to do, and this was best. It wasn't always about the money. There were times where I'd do jobs, and get paid in the food my family would eat. It was about building eighteen years of good will. I still have people from back in my freelance days who helped me build what I have today.

Xavier Jones - Why did you accept the Pastorship?

Mr. Baker - The church needed a leader; Somebody who knew the word of God; Somebody who cared about the people. They needed a leader who focused more on the will of God, and not bringing money in.

Xavier Jones - What was the most difficult thing about taking on the role?

Mr. Baker - I knew the word of God, but I wasn't a preacher. I had to learn and find my own way to do it. The bank also didn't have faith in the building I wanted to construct. That was the same for some of the members. Things got a little easier when the people who chose the church dedicated themselves and chose to stay.