Immanuel Baptist Church

Take a look at our history

A meeting of 25 gathered in the home of Dr. and Mrs. Randolph McCutcheon on July 12, 1932. This group had grown to 63 when they met at Flora Hill School on August 7, 1932 to organize into Immanuel Baptist Church. Services continued at the school, but only a week later construction began at the corner of Lafayette and Lynchburg Avenues. Rev. E. L. Snellings, a student at Richmond College, was called as pastor. The new church was received into the Petersburg Baptist Association on September 15, 1932 and moved into the basement of the brick and concrete structure on November 20, 1932.

Following the resignation of Rev. Snellings, Dr. Robert T. Marsh was called to be pastor of the 105 member congregation. He began in September, 1933, with Rev. G. C. Patterson supplying alternate Sundays until Dr. Marsh assumed full-time responsibilities on January 1, 1934. His pastorate was marked with great interest and growth. In his first revival, there were 52 additions with 56 more the next year. When Dr. Marsh died in 1941, the church had grown to 366 members and the need for expansion was evident.

Rev. O. W. Patterson came to Immanuel on November 1, 1941 and served until March 1, 1953, when he retired due to physical disability. During his pastorate the membership grew to 592. A new parsonage was purchased and adjoining lots to the church site were purchased with a vision toward needed expansion. The old church building was remolded and a new electric organ was installed.

Rev. W. E. Caudill was installed as Pastor on March 1, 1953. He served until January 2, 1955. During his pastorate 102 members were received. The old parsonage was sold, and 714 Hamilton Ave. was purchased for this purpose.

Rev. Dalton Ward came to Immanuel in April of 1955. During his pastorate there were great increases in membership, attendance and gifts to missions. An additional staff minister was called and a radio ministry was started. In 1959, the church began an extensive building program that provided needed educational space and a permanent sanctuary. In 1964, Rev. Ward inspired Immanuel to send out some of its' best people to begin a new mission. These efforts have been richly blessed in the development of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church.

Rev. Charles H. Landers served as pastor from December, 1969 until 1971.

Rev. Charles Thompson became Pastor in April, 1972 and served most effectively until December, 1984. He led in dramatic increases in Cooperative Program giving as well as inspiring giving to the Lottie Moon Offering to reach $29,117. Two additional fulltime staff ministers served with him and both numerical and spiritual growth continued.

Rev. Robert W. Baker came to Immanuel in January 1985 as Associate Pastor and was called as Pastor in June of 1985. He inspired continued growth in giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering (the highest offering reached $36,891 in 1994. Emphasis was given to servant ministries outside the church walls, expressing itself through the soup kitchen ministry to the homeless in Petersburg and a Christmas Angel Ministry. Several members became personally involved in foreign missions by traveling to such places as Mexico, Romania and Russia as short-term volunteers.

Rev. Jerry Parker returned to the United States from missionary service in Bogota, Colombia and became Interim Pastor in March 1996. He was called as Pastor in August 1996. Under his leadership, awareness of world missions has increased and a new emphasis is being given to our children's ministry. There is an emphasis on ministry to the membership through the staff and deacon body. Outreach continues to be a high priory. Gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering continues to rise with 2005 gifts reaching over $45,500. At this time, the ministry team includes Rev. Fred Adkins, Minister of Music.

As we celebrate the glories of Immanuel's 74 year history, Pastor Parker has turned our eyes towards the future; a future with God enabling dreams and working miracles. In Proverbs we learn, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." We look forward to our future with a vision from our Lord, pressing on to reach the goals He has set before us!