Tennessee Pastor, Father of 11 Dies by Suicide After Being Charged With Sexual Battery of a Minor

Chruch Leaders ^ | September 12, 2024 | Stephanie Martin

[Morgana]

One day after being charged with aggravated sexual battery, a longtime Tennessee pastor died by suicide in a hospital bathroom, authorities said. David Mark Baker Sr., 57, was serving at Family Baptist Church in Columbia, had been a jail chaplain, and once ran for Maury County mayor.

On Sept. 10, Baker was charged with aggravated sexual battery in a case that involved a minor, according to Sheriff Bucky Rowland. Baker, released from jail on $200,000 bond, was scheduled to appear in court next month.

Columbia Police Chief Jeremy Alsup said Baker walked into a local emergency room on Sept. 11, “went straight to the bathroom and was soon found deceased in the bathroom.” Video footage shows Baker walking into the ER at Maury Regional Medical Center.

David Mark Baker Dies By Suicide

Baker also had a life-coaching business, wrote books and curriculum, started Independent Baptist Online College, and co-led a ministry called Fallen in Grace. News reports indicate he and his wife were parents of 11 children.

Baker, originally from New Mexico, had planned to become a lawyer. But after receiving a DUI and spending a night in jail more than three decades ago, he decided to become a pastor.

As part of his 28-year prison ministry, Baker assisted inmates who were trying to re-enter society. The pastor “developed a heart” to help restore people, he said. “It’s amazing how God can take one bad thing you’ve been through and use it for good.”

Baker co-founded Fallen in Grace with David Hyles, an Indiana pastor who was accused of raping a minor while serving as a youth pastor. Hyles was never charged. “If a preacher or Christian falls, we should pick them up,” Baker said of their restoration ministry. “So many times, people kick them when they are down.” Previous Controversy Involving David Mark Baker

When David Mark Baker Sr. ran for mayor of Maury County in 2022, controversy arose about his handling of sexual assault allegations at his former congregation.

Aimee Spires said while she was attending Lighthouse Church as a young teen, member James Earl Lovett sexually assaulted her. But she said Baker, then pastor of Lighthouse, told her not to make a police report because it would “destroy” Lovett’s family.

Baker refuted the claim that he told Spires not to go to the authorities. “I have turned in probably more people with my job in what I do to the authorities than just about anyone,” he said.

Spires did contact police, and Lovett was convicted in 2004 of sexual battery and aggravated sexual battery. He remains on the Tennessee sex offender registry.

A 2003 police report indicated that Lovett had confessed to Baker. The allegation came that Mr. Lovett touched [Spires] outside of her clothes, and I asked him what happened and he verified exactly what she told me,” the pastor said. “When I asked her what she wanted me to do, she said nothing, just have [Lovett] not come around me. At the time, I did not think that was something that needed to be reported because the allegation was [touching] outside of clothes.”

ChurchLeaders emailed Family Baptist for comment. No one answered the church’s phone, and the phone mailbox is full.

[Morgana]

Prayers for his victims

Prayer for his 11 children.

For him, may God have mercy on his soul but somehow I fear the worst.

[OneVike]

Dittos

[Nextrush]

I sense in the record of this man’s “ministry” EGO.

Edging

God

Out

[No name given]

That’s correct.

[No name given]

I will be keeping his children and his victims in my prayers, and I certainly hope he repented before he faced the judgement seat of Christ.

[dadfly]

the guilt and shame of sin can destroy you. i can’t help but think that if you willfully destroy yourself for the sake of sin, you are sinning again, a final time.

if you’re thinking of suicide. i remind you: if you are a believer in Jesus, you have an Advocate:

1 John 2:1-2

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

[Vlad0]

Do Protestants believe that suicides go to Hell?

[PROCON]

Do Protestants believe that suicides go to Hell?

Your statement covers a lot of ground; my understanding of the Gospel of Christ is once saved, always saved. We mere mortal sinners are imperfect and will continue to sin but the Blood of Christ makes us worthy in His eyes.

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

Baker co-founded Fallen in Grace with David Hyles, an Indiana pastor who was accused of raping a minor while serving as a youth pastor. Hyles was never charged.

Some disturbing connections here. David Hyles was the son of Jack Hyles, founder of First Baptist of Hammond, Indiana, who had a roving eye himself. David was working in Hammond at the time of the alleged assault, and his father got him appointed to a church outside the state. Apparently he was quite the lothario there too. After Jack Hyles died, he was replaced in Hammond by his son-in-law, Jack Schaap. Schaap had a relationship with a 16-year-old girl at the church, took her across state lines to romance her, and spent a number of years in the federal pen.

[xp38]

Not looking good for him from the surface facts we know.

[HollyB]

This article confused me because it did not detail the allegations about Baker’s case.

“ Tennessee authorities said David Mark Baker, Sr., took his life on Sept. 11. The day before, the 57-year-old married pastor was arrested on an accusation he molested a child under the age of 12, Fox 17 Nashville reported.

An affidavit filed in Baker’s case accused the minister of aggravated sexual battery by touching a child’s breasts underneath her clothing between 2013—2015. ”

https://julieroys.com/tennessee-pastor-david-mark-baker-takes-life-hours-accused-molesting-child/

[OldHarbor]

So many perverts. David Mark Baker Sr.

I watched a documentary about a millionaire who bought an island and put in an airstrip, built some cabins . The millionaire would film movies there, he’d film children who were being raped . His films were then sold and traded amongst pedo networks.

Epstein ? Nope. The pervert’s name is Francis Duffield Shelden, the island is North Fox Island, located in the middle of Lake Michigan. This occured in the late 1970’s. Shelden has never been held accountable for his crimes, instead, after fleeing the USA, Shelden set up Pedo networks in Amsterdam and more recently he’s been tracked to India where he continues his Pedo activities often associated with orphanages .

[Responsibility2nd]

I would bet serious money his sexual perversions started with pornography.

[No name given]

Not at all.

[OldHarbor]

I saw a podcast of a lady that took on the porn industry, she went after the largest porn site.

15 minutes.

Laila Mickelwait Versus the Evil Empire | The Nick Bryant Podcast

[BereanBrain]

No, Protestants don’t believe that suicides go to hell, because there are no sciprtures to support it.

In fact, the scriptures indicate otherwise.

So, Papal bulls and tradition have nothing to do with it.

[boycott]

Sad story all the way around.

[4Runner]

It just seems entirely too easy these days for women who are so inclined to aid in the destruction of the lives of men.

[Morgana]

Epstein was just a small shark in a big ocean.

[ggrrrrr23456]

Consider that suicide is murder. Reference the 5th commandment.