Elder Shirley E. Baker was born and raised in Woodside, Delaware to Alberta M. Scott and  the late Lester D. Scott, Sr. Shirley always wanted to enter the field of nursing, but choose a career in the credit card banking industry, where she diligently worked for 22 years. After the bank relocated, she used this as a pivotal opportunity to change careers and took courses to become a medical assistant. She was hired by the same medical practice that she completed her internship with and worked there for an additional twenty years until her recent retirement in June 2022. She is a 1976 graduate of Caesar Rodney High School, Camden, Delaware. She also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from the  Christian World College of Theology (Camden, Delaware Branch).

Elder Baker received her call into the Gospel Ministry while attending Calvary Baptist Church in Dover, Delaware, under the leadership of the  late Apostle Dr. Richard M. Avant. After several years of dedicated service to Calvary Baptist, Elder Baker joined the Upper Room Church, Inc. in Milford, Delaware to assist her son and daughter-in-love, Drs. Michael and Tamara Scott, organizers of the Upper Room Church, Inc. Elder Baker knew that she and her husband were called to be pastors, but told God He had to make it happen. Well, God did just that! In October of 2012, with the help of the Holy Ghost, Elder Shirley and Kevin were appointed as pastors of the Upper Room Church.

Under Pastor Baker’s leadership, the church is now officially recognized by the federal government as a nonprofit 501(c)3 and is registered with the State of Delaware. The church continues to  focus on outreach ministry such as the “Feeding the 5000” soup kitchen ministry and a Clothing Closet Ministry. The Christian Education Ministry has hosted practical and informative workshops concerning domestic violence and housing, to name a few. The church has implemented strategic partnerships with WBOC-TV 16  to distribute gifts and toys to needy families during the  Christmas season and Mountaire Poultry Farms of Delmarva to assist in the distribution of food during  Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter holidays.

Pastor Baker is actively involved in the community. She is a member of Milford Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance (MIMI), an ecumenical collaboration of various clergy and pastors from diverse denominations of churches that places emphasis on the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace through Jesus Christ, rather than accentuating our differences.

Pastor Shirley is married to Kevin S. Baker, whom she dated in high school. They have a blended family of six children, sixteen grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. It’s evident that God put them together to do family and ministry.  Pastor Baker is very family oriented. She enjoys spending quality time with her family, traveling, doing crafts, cooking, baking,  and reading. Her motto scripture is Ephesians 3:20, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”