Our Story
Emmanuel Baptist Church had its beginnings in 1992 when several like-minded families began meeting in a home. After several months together, the group took steps to establish a church and formed Emmanuel Baptist Fellowship. In 1993, Todd Jaussen was called as the group’s first pastor, and the group moved its worship services into the gymnasium at Hunter McGuire School in Verona.
In November, 1994, Emmanuel Baptist Fellowship constituted as Emmanuel Baptist Church, and the 27 original members established the following church covenant.
“...It is our resolve to walk with one another as disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is our determination to be a biblical church by following God’s Word, the Bible, wherever it may lead us. It is our desire to see God glorified in our midst as His grace enables us. It is our intent to see Christ’s kingdom advance through His church.
Thus it is our hope that this church will be a haven of peace and a source of growth and maturity for Christ’s sheep. We also long to see this church used of God to sovereignly bring many to the Savior through its ministries..."
In 1997, God miraculously provided the church building in which we presently meet. The building was given to EBC, debt-free, by the disbanding members of the Trinity Baptist Church in Verona. In 2001, Scott Carter was called as pastor, where he labored faithfully among us for six years. Then, in June of 2009, Bryan Wheeler was called by the assembly. In November 2020, Luke Peterson was called to become another full-time pastor. In February 2022, Greg McGonigal was called to become a third pastor. In August 2022, Andrew McCaskill was called to become a fourth pastor. In September 2022, Pastor Wheeler moved to Florida after 13 years of being a pastor at EBC. Pastor Luke, Pastor Greg and Pastor Andrew continue to be faithful pastors to us.
Over the years, we have seen the Lord God work mightily among us. We have had seasons of encouragement and seasons of trial, but through it all God remains faithful. Our prayer remains the same as it was when the church was originally constituted, and it is best summed up in the words of Ephesians 3:21, “…to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”