Emmanuel Church of Christ
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OUR CHURCH HISTORY:
The Emmanuel Church of Christ has a rich and prosperous legacy. It is often referred to as the ` Mother Church , as it was the first church affiliated with the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc., established in Northern New Jersey . It was in 1920 under the pastorate of the late Elder Walter Griffin of Chicago , Illinois , that a small group of bible-believing followers of Christ, in the city of Newark , began what is now known as the Emmanuel Church of Christ. Under Elder Griffins leadership and guidance, these believers, worshipped in a storefront on Charleston Street . Soon they outgrew that location and moved to a new place of worship on Broome Street . Elder Griffin resigned his position and was succeeded by Elder Jones of Detroit, Michigan. These believers were committed to having a church which preached the unadulterated gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The church relocated a few more times to Court, Charleston and Broome Streets and Elder Scott briefly pastured the church, and the Lord continued to bless Emmanuel. In 1935, Elder Joseph Solomon Sanders was installed as permanent pastor of the Emmanuel Church of Christ by the Bishop of the Eastern District Council of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. The Lord continued to bless Emmanuel, and the Broome Street location became too small to house the congregation, and in October of 1943, the late District Elder Sanders and the members of Emmanuel marched from 69 Broome Street , to their new location of 28 Beacon Street . Under the guidance of Pastor Sanders, the prayerful and faithful members of Emmanuel were determined to pay off the church mortgage, and some gave their life savings while others made great personal sacrifices to help to accomplish this dream within just a few years. Massive renovations also took place, new pews and pulpit were bought, an escalating chair was installed for those unable to walk upstairs, and the Lord continued to bless Emmanuel . After a prolonged illness, the Lord called our beloved pastor, District Elder Solomon Sanders to his heavenly home in 1988, after serving as Pastor of Emmanuel for 45 years. The Lord however, had within our midst his successor, in the person of Elder James D. Churchwell, Sr., the Acting Spiritual Leader of the Emmanuel Church of Christ. Elder Churchwells dedication, love for the Lord, concern for the people of God, and the work of the Lord, was attested to by all who knew him. In 1988 he was installed as permanent Pastor of the Emmanuel Church of Christ by the late Bishop William Burrell, Diocesan of the New Jersey District Council. As the Lord continued to abundantly bless Emmanuel, the Lord gave Pastor Churchwell a vision to build unto Him a new house of worship. Re-vitalization within the of the City of Newark, demanded that Emmanuel move from its 28 Beacon Street location, where it stood for some forty-eight years, serving as a beacon of light and encouragement to the lost, downtrodden and hopeless. Under the direction of District Elder Churchwell, preparation for the building of a new edifice began. With anticipation and excitement, the membership of Emmanuel made pledges to raise funds for our new building. Within a six month period, the new church was completed and in March of 1991, with a tear and a smile, Pastor Churchwell and members of Emmanuel marched from the old landmark to the current location of 54 Irvine Turner Boulevard . The Lord had moved the church from a backstreet to a main thoroughfare. Ten years later, the Emmanuel Family under the guidance of Suffragan Bishop Churchwell, paid off the mortgage and are indebted only to the Lord, and the Lord continued to bless Emmanuel . In 2002, the Emmanuel Church of Christ began a pew project to acquire new pews for the sanctuary. The membership once again made pledges and our new pews were installed in May of 2004. The testimony of the Emmanuel Church of Christ is simple. "Emmanuel", which is interpreted as `God with us has been our reality. The Lord has remained faithful to us and has never failed us. We shall never forget the great sacrifices which the old saints made to establish our foundation, and insure that the Emmanuel Church of Christ continues in its original mission to preach the unadulterated gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus. We shall always remember our teachings and are proud of the over fifteen churches which have come out of the Emmanuel Church of Christ and trust that the Lord will continue to be with us as we endeavor to do His will.
Bishop James D. Churchwell, Sr
Bishop James D. Churchwell, Sr. has officially pastored Emmanuel Church Of Christ for sixteen years; and prior to that was the Acting Pastor and Spiritual Leader. A man who has been a Pastor in both word and deed. One who leads by example and whose life exemplifies the love of Jesus Christ. He is not only concerned about the church, but also about the community and addresses head-on the problems of homelessness, helplessness and substance abuse in the surrounding area. He spearheads a community outreach feeding program, a new life program (for substance abusers) and a Bible College to encourage the Saints of God to be elevated in their daily walk with the Lord. He is a man, who despite a busy schedule, takes the time to greet a visitor, give a word of encouragement, visit a member in the hospital, or listen attentively to a neighborhood child who insists that he has to see Reverend Churchwell. He is a man of compassion who has been observed taking money from his own pocket to share with those who are in need. He is also a visionary who consistently sees the handiwork of God. A man who the Lord used to build unto Him a new edifice and then pay off the mortgage in less than half of the allotted time. More than all of this, however, we have come to know him as Gods Man, destined by God to fulfill His purpose.
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