History of Emmanuel Baptist Church

Emmanuel Baptist Church, 
800 N Forrest, Altus, OK 73521 
580-482-1775  |

Ephesians 2:21-22 
21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 

22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

     Emmanuel began in 1953 when the people of Southside Baptist Church had a vision that Altus would need another Southern Baptist Church.  The members of Southside Baptist Church started a mission fund to purchase land to build on.  They located the land in the north part of Altus on the corner of A Street and Forrest Street on February 1, 1954.  By the end of February. 1956 they had purchased eight lots.  Money from the mission fund established by the Southern Baptist Church love offerings from family and friends were used.  

     Ground breaking began on August, 1956.  An organizational service was held by Bro. Tom Spence, associational missionary, serving as moderator.  Forty-two charter members were present as well as candidates for baptism.  Plans were selected and ground breaking began in early spring.  Seven months later, services began with Bro. Leland Abercrombie as the first pastor.  Bro. Abercrombie resigned November 20, 1957.

      Bill Davis and his lovely wife Gladys were called to pastor Emmanuel on January 5, 1958.  He pastored at Emmanuel until August 14, 1988.  During his pastorate, the first parsonage was built and the ground breaking for the main autitorium.  Emmanuel was greatly blessed by the Lord during the faithful thirty-one years of pastoring by Bro. Bill Davis. 

      Bro. Boyd Whitehead and his lovely wife Bonnie were called to begin their ministry at Emmanuel in November, 1988.  During their faithful years of ministry to Emmanuel, our Lord continues to bless Emmanuel with the starting of ministries that has helped us grow abundantly.  Bro. Boyd and Bonnie work hard with children and adults in the community.

      Emmanuel voted to establish the Spanish mission, which met at Emmanuel before moving to the former Central Baptist Church at 403 East Liveoak.  Romero Campos was the pastor.  Since the, it has become Primera Iglesia Bautista with Alex Casias serving as pastor.

In August of 2016 Bro. Brent Logan and his wife Jennifer joined Emmanuel as our Minister of Music.  He would later become the Associate Pastor and in July of 2019 Bro. Brent began his ministry here a Pastor.

     We continue to touch the lives of many people at Emmanuel, and many lives have touched ours.  We continue to praise God for those who continue to labor with us and for those who continue to serve elsewhere.  We praise God for all the blessings He has bestowed on us.  We trust in the Lord for His continued growth spiritually, numerically and in unity.

     If you are in search of a growing, caring and loving church for your you and your family, we would love to have you come visit.