The morning of Oct. 23, Rev. Joseph Baker and his wife, Vera Baker, opened their door to the fire marshal who told them their Acres Homes church, Guiding Light church, had burned down. The loss is compounded by the fact that the church and its congregation were set to celebrate Rev. Baker’s 36th anniversary the following Sunday.
“After the shock set in, we went over to the church, two blocks away, to see that it was no longer standing,” Vera Baker said while she held back tears. Today, even the pile of charred wood is gone. “We had them come tow what was left away,” Rev. Baker added.
Along with being the pastor at Guiding Light Church since its inception, Rev. Baker is also among only two owners of the church, which he says is about 80 years old. The church has a small congregation of about 25 members, many of whom, Vera Baker said, don’t have jobs or income. Additionally, the church does not have insurance. “When you have such a small community, you can’t pay that bill,” Vera Baker added.
Guiding Light Church is located in Acres Homes, a community 10 miles northwest of downtown Houston. The historic neighborhood was once considered the South’s largest unincorporated African American community. Acres Homes, established during World War I, got its name because land was sold by the acre instead of the lot and offered people settling there room to garden and have chickens or horses, for example.
The fire marshal disclosed to the Bakers that a neighbor who lives behind Guiding Light Church has surveillance video showing someone walking around the church before the fire, the morning of Oct. 23. “The person was wearing dark pants and a white t-shirt,” Rev. Baker said. The fire marshal told the Bakers they believed the fire started around 5 a.m. that morning.
When contacted for an update on the investigation on Saturday, Oct. 26, a representative from the Houston Fire Department said they would have their “records department look into it on Monday.”
While the Bakers wait for more answers, they say this is the time to put their faith into action. “Right now, we’re sad. We’re knocked down but not knocked out.” Vera Baker said.
The 36th anniversary celebration of Rev. Baker on October 27th has been moved to Grace Temple Ministries at 6503 West Montgomery Street. The Bakers say Rev. Christopher Wright was kind enough to offer his space. After the celebration, Rev. Baker says he intends to keep on with his work. “I ain’t planning on stopping. I’m going to be 75 years old in November. This is all I know.”
“We’re going to bounce back with the help of family, friends and strangers,” said Vera Baker. “I just know that God has a purpose here for us to rebuild and serve the community. That’s what having faith is; we gotta trust god on what our next move is.”
Like his wife, Rev. Baker is keeping a positive attitude and asking his community to do the same. “It can’t get no worse. It’s gotta get better. I just gotta make it happen.”