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History

Emmanuel's Beginnings On April 29th, 1881, one hundred and eighty men and women who obtained letters of dismissal from the Washington Avenue Baptist Church, together with several from other churches, met at the Adelphi Academy and united in the organization of “Emmanuel Baptist Church in Brooklyn”. On October 6, 1881, “Emmanuel Baptist Church in Brooklyn” was duly recognized by the unanimous vote of a council composed of representatives from sister Baptist churches. The church was received into the Long Island Baptist Association on October 19, 1881. At this time, two important items demanded immediate attention; (1) obtaining a site and the other to secure a leader and Pastor. Shortly thereafter, it was decided to locate on the corner of Lafayette Avenue and St. James Place. The Reverend John Humpstone of the Calvary Baptist Church of Albany, New York was called to the pastorate of the newly organized church. On December 1, 1882, Reverend Humpstone became Pastor and was officially installed. He began his tenure on February 1, 1883. The worship services were held for several years in the chapel of the nearby Adelphi Academy. On September 6, 1883, the Chapel Building of Emmanuel Baptist Church was opened, and became the center of growth for the young Church. On February 22, 1886, the cornerstone for the main sanctuary was laid and the main edifice was dedicated on April 17th & 18th, 1887. Years of Transition A number of pastors followed Dr. Clarke from 1932-1975. During this period a historical moment occurred on April 27, 1941. A little girl of African decent became the first person of color ever to be baptized at Emmanuel. Little did Frances Josephine Jackson realize that she was making history. In 1947, her parents Mr. & Mrs. Beecher A. Jackson were admitted as members. Following this historical moment in history, Emmanuel’s membership grew as a result of the merger of the Hanson Place Baptist Church with Emmanuel.However, the most memorable and historic occasion would have to be in February 1973, when the Reverend Dr. H. Edward Whittaker was called to serve as the first African-American Parish Minister of Emmanuel. Reverend Whittaker, a man of vision, gave spiritual leadership and directed a Church of divergent cultures into a wholeness of purpose. Dr. Whittaker had the task of overseeing the trying times of Emmanuel’s transition to a predominately Black congregation. Dr. Whittaker left in June 1979, to accept the post of coordinator of the American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts. A search began to find a replacement and this search was concluded with the appointment of Reverend Michael Neely Harris, who was installed as Pastor in September 1980.Emmanuel continued to flourish under the leadership of Rev. Harris who introduced “Many Firsts” to the ministry. Also, under his Pastorate, Emmanuel became dully affiliated with the Progressive National Baptist Convention. In 1989, Dr. Harris accepted the call to Pastor the Wheat Street Baptist Church of Atlanta, Georgia. Trufant's Milestones In November 1990, a dynamic young minister preached at Emmanuel. And, after hearing The Reverend Anthony L Trufant’s sermon, the membership of Emmanuel was convinced that we found the right person, and Reverend Trufant, who is the current Pastor, was extended to opportunity to lead Emmanuel. Reverend Trufant is a man definitely “years ahead of his time”. Under his innovative leadership, Emmanuel has realized the following milestones in ministry: • Ordained Women to Minister • Women ordained as Deacons • Opened worship service to give expression to the fullness of the African-American experience • Improved the content and quality of Christian Education • Total Praise records and releases ground-breaking CD • Merged the Board of Deacons, and thereby created a single, unisex board • Established a vocational discernment and preparation process for aspiring ministers, which requires formal theological training • Created and implemented a biblically-based leadership standard for selecting and evaluating servant leaders • Conceived and established a Discipleship Development Institute, which encourages and facilitates the spiritual formation of believers and seekers • Reconceptualized and revised the worship opportunities of EBC, moving from one (1) service on Sundays to three (3) and one on Saturday • Lead EBC in unprecedented period of growth-numerical, spiritual, and financial • Added several new need-based outreach/inreach ministries • Envisioned and implemented a (5) five-phased facility restoration/renovation program, which to-date has resulted in over 3 million dollars in repairs • Started an Economic Development Corporation• Expanded full-time staff, pastoral and administrative • Established Security Detail and Security System to protect parishioners and physical plant • Enhanced the public profile of EBC in the eyes of the larger community. In addition, the restoration of the sanctuary, which began 22 years ago, has been completed. Rev. Trufant has developed 3 different styles of worship: Traditional believers, Contemporary style, and a Seeker-Sensitive service. Through this novel approach to deliver God’s word, Emmanuel’s membership has increased three-fold. Under his leadership, one can expect greater things to happen as Emmanuel becomes a leader not only in the Church community, but a leader throughout Brooklyn and beyond.

Emmanuel's Beginnings

On April 29th, 1881, one hundred and eighty men and women who obtained letters of dismissal from the Washington Avenue Baptist Church, together with several from other churches, met at the Adelphi Academy and united in the organization of “Emmanuel Baptist Church in Brooklyn”. On October 6, 1881, “Emmanuel Baptist Church in Brooklyn” was duly recognized by the unanimous vote of a council composed of representatives from sister Baptist churches. The church was received into the Long Island Baptist Association on October 19, 1881. At this time, two important items demanded immediate attention; (1) obtaining a site and the other to secure a leader and Pastor. Shortly thereafter, it was decided to locate on the corner of Lafayette Avenue and St. James Place.
The Reverend John Humpstone of the Calvary Baptist Church of Albany, New York was called to the pastorate of the newly organized church. On December 1, 1882, Reverend Humpstone became Pastor and was officially installed. He began his tenure on February 1, 1883. The worship services were held for several years in the chapel of the nearby Adelphi Academy. On September 6, 1883, the Chapel Building of Emmanuel Baptist Church was opened, and became the center of growth for the young Church. On February 22, 1886, the cornerstone for the main sanctuary was laid and the main edifice was dedicated on April 17th & 18th, 1887.

Years of Transition

A number of pastors followed Dr. Clarke from 1932-1975. During this period a historical moment occurred on April 27, 1941. A little girl of African decent became the first person of color ever to be baptized at Emmanuel. Little did Frances Josephine Jackson realize that she was making history. In 1947, her parents Mr. & Mrs. Beecher A. Jackson were admitted as members. Following this historical moment in history, Emmanuel’s membership grew as a result of the merger of the Hanson Place Baptist Church with Emmanuel.However, the most memorable and historic occasion would have to be in February 1973, when the Reverend Dr. H. Edward Whittaker was called to serve as the first African-American Parish Minister of Emmanuel. Reverend Whittaker, a man of vision, gave spiritual leadership and directed a Church of divergent cultures into a wholeness of purpose. Dr. Whittaker had the task of overseeing the trying times of Emmanuel’s transition to a predominately Black congregation. Dr. Whittaker left in June 1979, to accept the post of coordinator of the American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts. A search began to find a replacement and this search was concluded with the appointment of Reverend Michael Neely Harris, who was installed as Pastor in September 1980.Emmanuel continued to flourish under the leadership of Rev. Harris who introduced “Many Firsts” to the ministry. Also, under his Pastorate, Emmanuel became dully affiliated with the Progressive National Baptist Convention. In 1989, Dr. Harris accepted the call to Pastor the Wheat Street Baptist Church of Atlanta, Georgia.

Trufant's Milestones

In November 1990, a dynamic young minister preached at Emmanuel. And, after hearing The Reverend Anthony L Trufant’s sermon, the membership of Emmanuel was convinced that we found the right person, and Reverend Trufant, who is the current Pastor, was extended to opportunity to lead Emmanuel. Reverend Trufant is a man definitely “years ahead of his time”. Under his innovative leadership, Emmanuel has realized the following milestones in ministry:
• Ordained Women to Minister
• Women ordained as Deacons
• Opened worship service to give expression to the fullness of the African-American experience
• Improved the content and quality of Christian Education
• Total Praise records and releases ground-breaking CD
• Merged the Board of Deacons, and thereby created a single, unisex board
• Established a vocational discernment and preparation process for aspiring ministers, which requires formal theological training
• Created and implemented a biblically-based leadership standard for selecting and evaluating servant leaders
• Conceived and established a Discipleship Development Institute, which encourages and facilitates the spiritual formation of believers and seekers
• Reconceptualized and revised the worship opportunities of EBC, moving from one (1) service on Sundays to three (3) and one on Saturday
• Lead EBC in unprecedented period of growth-numerical, spiritual, and financial
• Added several new need-based outreach/inreach ministries
• Envisioned and implemented a (5) five-phased facility restoration/renovation program, which to-date has resulted in over 3 million dollars in repairs
• Started an Economic Development Corporation• Expanded full-time staff, pastoral and administrative
• Established Security Detail and Security System to protect parishioners and physical plant
• Enhanced the public profile of EBC in the eyes of the larger community.

In addition, the restoration of the sanctuary, which began 22 years ago, has been completed. Rev. Trufant has developed 3 different styles of worship: Traditional believers, Contemporary style, and a Seeker-Sensitive service. Through this novel approach to deliver God’s word, Emmanuel’s membership has increased three-fold. Under his leadership, one can expect greater things to happen as Emmanuel becomes a leader not only in the Church community, but a leader throughout Brooklyn and beyond.

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