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April 1951 - Jewella Road location
Joe Flanagan, Pastor

Emmanuel....means "God with us".  This was the prayer of seventy-eight (78) people who became charter members of a newly organized Southern Baptist Church on April 21, 1941.  The church, established by Ingleside Baptist Church was named Emmanuel and their first pastor was Rev. Paul Starnes.

The "Boxcar Church" was a name lovingly given to the congregation because the first building was a railroad boxcar donated by KCS railroad in 1941.  During the first fifty eight years as a church, Emmanuel has been located in five different communities: Roberts St., Tate St., Jewella Rd., Jewella School, and Buncombe Road.

Bill Stowell, our present pastor came to Emmanuel in August of 1959.  Bro. Bill led us to relocate in 1969 to twenty five acres of land at 5850 Buncombe Road, our present location.  After a year of meeting in Jewella School, this new location and building came to be like the "promised land" to the congregation.  The first multi-purpose building was finished in September, 1969.  The beautiful Sanctuary was built in 1976 with an education building in 1984.

Many wonderful years of ministry, evangelism, proclamation, and Discipleship have been a part of Emmanuel.  We have seen changes, years of growth and decline, happy times and sad ones.  We invited our Lord into our midst on that first Sunday and God has been with us!

God has blessed us with a wonderful ministerial staff with Bro. Bill Stowell as pastor, Harry Forrester, Minister of Education/Assoc. Pastor, Dalton Lewis, Minister of Youth, Paul DeRousse Minister of Music, and Cindy Davis, Director of Children's Ministries.  This staff follows a legacy of men and women who have served Emmanuel since 1941.

Emmanuel has the greatest potential to reach and teach people.  May we see fruitfulness and God's awesome power displayed at our dear church.