Our History
Emmanuel Baptist Church was organized on September 12, 1930, meeting in the home of Reverend A. A. Hinson at 2521 Burnett, Waco, Texas. Under the leadership of Bro. Wilson and later Bro. J. A. Hall, the church grew and rapidly developed a full scale Sunday School and Training Union program. After 7 years of life Bro. Rhodes, our third pastor led us to construct a large auditorium and redesign our former facilities to serve as an Educational wing.
When Bro. Maynard, our fourth pastor came, Emmanuel was challenged to “go out into the highways and hedges to compel them to come in” for the fields are ready to be harvested.
May 11, 1953, the city of Waco was hit by a tornado causing 114 deaths including two of our church members. God used the wind that brought the church’s roof down as fuel for rebuilding and expansion. A week later, under a provisory tent, Bro. Maynard preached from Romans 8:38-39, “For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels , nor principalities, nor powers, nor things to come, nor heights, nor depths, nor any other creature can separate us from the Love of God.” On April 17, 1955, only two years later, a new auditorium designed to seat 1,000 people and a complete Sunday School building were dedicated to the glory of our God.
Soon after Rev. John Baker left, Dr. John Davidson was instrumental in preparing the church for our sixth pastor, Reverend Bill Agee. From 1965 then the church grew for the following 9 years when the balcony was walled up making room for 8 new Sunday School classrooms.
In 1975 God brought Dr. Joel Gregory to be Emmanuel’s 7th pastor and once again, the church grew to new heights dedicating its remodeled sanctuary in April of that same year. A little over three years later, under the transitioning ministry of Brother Larry Rose, the church invited its 8th pastor, Reverend Bryan Thornburg, who led the church into radio and local television ministry during the 9 years of his pastorate.
Dr. Hughes, or Bro. Randy, as he is known to this day among us, began his fruitful ministry in 1998 as EBC’s 9th pastor serving with dedication until his retirement in 2010. It was then that Rev. Marvin Thompson, former IMB missionary was invited to be our 10th pastor. Bro. Marvin served with love until the year of 2014.
After 5 years of searching God’s direction under the leadership of Dr. Levi Price, the church was finally ready for its 11th pastor, Rev. Marcelo Oliveira, who, together with Emmanuel, testify that God has indeed been with us through these 93 years of existence.
Today, as we shift towards the future, contemplating Emmanuel’s 100th anniversary, we stand on the faith passed on by our forefathers. And we bear witness to the faithfulness of God in the present, even through the winds of change. We bring along the memories of a glorious past, and we prayerfully anticipate the deeds that the Lord is doing as He revives His work at Emmanuel. We give God the glory for who we were, who we are, and who we are becoming in Him.
Because God is with us at Emmanuel, we boldly testify today, and into the future, of our living church of the Living God.
We are an autonomous religious organizations voluntarily affiliated and in mutual cooperation with the Waco Regional Baptist Association, the Baptist General Convention of Texas, and the Southern Baptist Convention.
