Dr. Baker is a research associate with the Institute of Archaeology at Andrews University and a research associate with the Lanier Center for Archaeology at Lipscomb University. He is an epigraphist and artist working with and translating ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics with the Great Hypostyle Hall project at the Amun temple in the Karnak complex in Egypt. The project is to record accurately for science all of the hieroglyphs and inscriptions in the Great Hypostyle Hall. The Project is directed by Peter Brand at the University of Memphis and Jean Reves.
Dr. Baker's biblical interests lie primarily in topics related to the Exodus, Daniel, and Revelation. He serves as a co-editor and co-organizer of the Exploring the Composition of the Pentateuch project. Currently, he is working to record and translate the Hittite Treaty inscription at Karnak. He has also been a part of the archaeological excavations at Tal Jalul, Jordan (2007–09, 2014–15), Tel Gezer, Israel (2013), Khirbet Safra, Jordan (2018–19).
Dr. Baker is also the Associate Director of Andrews University Press where he serves as the managing editor of the Andrews Study Bible (both NKJV and NIV) and the newly released Andrews Bible Commentary (both OT and NT volumes). He is married to Arnie Lou Salazar Baker and together they have two daughters (Einra Leie and Lora Czen). They live in Berrien Springs, MI where they are active in their local church and community through their church’s Pathfinder club.
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In August of 2021, Pastor Newton took on the role of president of the Pacific Union Conference, which requires leadership of all church activities in a vast and diverse five-state region. Newton’s long history in church leadership in the Pacific Union makes him particularly suited to this role.
For more than 25 years, he has served in various capacities in the union: pastor in the Southern California Conference, president for the Nevada-Utah Conference, associate director of public affairs and religious liberty for the Pacific Union, and most recently as executive secretary and ministerial director for the Pacific Union—a role he held for 13 years.
While he is a native Californian, having grown up in Arcadia, Newton attended college and graduate school at Andrews University in Michigan, earning bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in theology and ministry. He spent the first decade of his service as a pastor and conference leader in Illinois.
Newton sees the role of the Seventh-day Adventist Church as being potentially transformational during what he calls a “monumental time in Earth’s history.” “The way the Lord has led us in the past, and the promise of the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, gives us confidence for the important work that lies before us.”
He is married to Jennifer (née Christian), a certified faith-based meeting planner and consultant; they have two adult children and two granddaughters.