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Welcome, Covenant and History of Emmanuel Baptist Church
"This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend."
-John 15: 12 & 13
We hope you enjoy your time with us and come visit us again real soon! For more information on Southern Baptist works throughout the state of Oklahoma, visit the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma Website by clicking on the BGCO banner.
Emmanuel had its beginning in 1955. The people of Southside Baptist Church had a vision that in the near future Altus would have a need for another Southern Baptist Church, so they started a Local Mission Fund. On February 1, 1956, Southside Baptist Church voted to use the money in the fund to purchase land in the north part of Altus to build the church. By the end of February, with the money in the Local Mission Fund, money from the Southside treasury, and gifts from friends, the Church purchased eight lots on the corner of Forrest and "A" Streets.
Plans for the Church were selected and ground breaking ceremonies were held in the spring. On August 26, 1956, church organizational services were conducted with Bro. Tom Spence, Associational Missionary, as moderator. Bro. Leland Abercrombie was called as first pastor and the Church was organized with 42 original members. "Forrest Street" and "Emmanuel" were sumitted as names for the new Church, and Emmanuel was selected. The Lord blessed Emmanuel during Bro. Abbey's pastorate with 107 additions, 27 of those by baptism.
On November 20, 1957, Bro. Abbey resigned to accept the call to Granite Baptist Church. Bro. Bill Davis of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma accepted the invitation to pastor the church, and he began his duties on January 5, 1958.
In November of 1964, ground breaking services were held for the main auditorium. Since then, educational space has been added and remodeled, a new parking lot has been constructed, and the Worship Center has been remodeled.
Bro. Bill Davis retired August 14, 1988 after serving more than 30 years. Bro. Boyd Whitehead came as pastor from Prairie View Baptist Church in Elk City, Oklahoma on December 18, 1988.
Emmanuel began a full-time Intercessory Prayer Ministry in December of 1990. The Intercessory Prayer Ministry continues to be an active part of the church today.
The people at Emmanuel have always been strongly mission-minded. We continue to support the Cooperative Program and directly support churches in Altus, Mexico and Romania. On March 4, 1990, a Spanish Mission began meeting in our facilities. The Lord blessed us in the growth of the mission effort and He answered our prayers for a permanent location for our mission after the Central Baptist Church disbanded and deeded their facilities to the Southwest Baptist Association. The Association made this property available to our Spanish Mission. On June 3, 1990, the Emmanuel Spanish Mission met in their own facilities for the first time; it was constituted into a church in October of 1995. We continue to support Primera Iglesia Bautista with our prayers and finances. The mission is located at 401 East Liveoak with Alex Casias serving as pastor.
Emmanuel now has a resident membership of over 300. The Lord continues to bless us and has renewed our vision for ministry to Altus. The sweet fellowship in the church is a testimony of the love of Christ. A spirit of excitement in following the leadership of the Holy Spirit is very evident in the lives of the members of Emmanuel. We have been blessed by the spiritual foundations that have been laid, but we are confident that the finest days for Emmanuel are still to come...
Church Covenant
Having been led, as we believe by the spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and, on the professions of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.
We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit:
----to walk together in Christian love
----to strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness and comfort
----to promote its prosperity and spirituality
----to sustain in worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrines
----to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel through all nations.
We also engage:
----to maintain family and secret devotions
----to religiously educate our children
----to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances
----to walk circumspectly in the world
----to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment
----to avoid all tattling, backbiting and excessive anger
----to abstain from the sale of, and use of, destructive drugs or intoxicating drinks as a beverage
----to shun pornography
----to be zealous in our efforts to advance the Kingdom of our Savior
We further engage:
----to watch over one another in brotherly love
----to remember one another in prayer
----to aid one another in sickness and distress
----to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and Christian courtesy in speech
----to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation and mindful of the rules of our Savior to secure it without delay.
We moreover engage that when we remove from this place we will, as soon as possible, unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God's Word.
