Our Staff
Pastors:
Earle Baker ~ Lead
Earle Baker is a native of Denton, MD. He is a graduate of United Wesleyan College (B.S. 1976) and Asbury Theological Seminary, (M.A in Religion, 1978. and M.Div, 1980). He has been ordained since 1978, and has served as pastor of the Nanticoke-Bivalve-Tyaskin United Methodist Churches in Maryland (1980-85), Associate Pastor of Asbury United Methodist in Salisbury, MD (1985-90), and Pastor of Mount Olivet United Methodist Church in Seaford, DE (1990-1999). Since 1999 he has been Lead Pastor of Avenue United Methodist Church.
Earle serves on the Board of Child Care, the Conference Board of Trustees, and as secretary of the Peninsula Delaware Conference Historical Society. He is a past President of the Milford-Lincoln Ministerium.
Earle has been married to Lisa Anderson Baker for 25 years. Lisa works at Delaware Seashore State Park, and is an independent consultant for Mary Kay. They have one son, Andy, who is a student at Milford High School. They live at 285 Sika Drive, Harrington, DE 19952 and can be reached at home at 422-5714.
Lindsay Wessell ~ Discipleship Ministries
Kevin Chamberlain ~ Music Ministries
Steven Wiseman ~ Student Ministries
Steven Wiseman joined the Avenue staff in September 2008 as Youth Pastor. He is originally from Marion, IL and graduated from McKendree University with a B.S. in Business Administration. He has been doing youth ministry since July 2003. He has a passion for students. His personal mission statement is “To bring hope and light to a dark and broken generation.” He does this by showing God’s love in him and through him.
steven.wiseman@avenueumc.com Steven is married to Leslie Wiseman. Leslie has a certificate in Massage Therapy and also is a certified nursing assistant. Their first child, Myles, was born in December 2007. As a family they enjoy hiking, swimming and traveling. Steven can be reached by calling the church office at 302-422-8111 or by e-mail him at
Ann Wilson ~ Life Stages Ministries
Ann Wilson, Director of Life Stage Ministries, is a voluntary member of Avenue’s Ministry Staff. Ann is an Ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church, now retired. As a Deacon, Ann encourages spiritual growth, faith development, and community service through her connection with Avenue UMC. This fulfills her calling to be one who works within and without the church to bring love of God to the community. She supports Avenue in its exemplary mission activity as she also serves as a CASA and Thresholds volunteer. She is a RSVP mentor and justice advocate for Milford Lincoln Area Missions. A native of Sussex County, Ann is a graduate of the University of Delaware, and the Perkins School of Theology of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. She has served in a variety of positions as a lay member and clergy member in New Jersey, Texas, and Delaware. She and her husband Bob live in Lewes, have four adult children, and six grandchildren.
