CLARKSON, NEW YORK—The Emmanuel Baptist Church family enjoyed abundant blessings during the entire two-year construction process of their new church facility, with the assistance of Baptist Builder’s Club. Now the church continues to rejoice over the facility’s availability beginning August 25, 2007, situated in Clarkson, New York, near Hamlin. Organized in 1991, the church had been renting three other facilities. In late 2005, God made it clear to the church members that it was time to build.
Emmanuel Baptist Church, a mission church planted under Baptist Church Planters, also teamed up with the builders of Continental Baptist Mission. CBM sent Keith and Sue Fitch as lead builders, and Mike and Peggy Carr as assistant builders. Four other couples also assisted: Geoff and Donna Bondi, Jerry and Nellie Dale, Don and Lorraine Emery, and Steve and Anna Meyers. Emmanuel members also helped. The CBM workers did not merely help in the building, however, but also helped to build up the congregation spiritually. They taught Bible classes, preached, helped with music and dinners, and planted the seed of the gospel wherever they could. Many other volunteers came from sister churches in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. A total of 190 volunteers assisted in building the facility.
The church also greatly benefited from monetary grants from GARBC Baptist Builders Club: $15,000; Empire State Readiness Fund: $15,000; Church Care Ministries: $94,000; and Oldham Little Church Foundation: $6,000. God provided a total of $130,000 in grants.
The congregation affirms that it would take a book to share all the ways God provided materials and equipment. Only one conclusion surfaces: “God has accomplished this project, and not we ourselves.”
The church now has a great tool to be used in edifying the saints and spreading the seed of the gospel in the community. Plans are to graduate in two to three years from its current mission status.
