A Church Family on Bringle Ferry Road
Emmanuel Baptist Church sits on Bringle Ferry Road in Salisbury, North Carolina, and calls itself the "Church Family that loves like Family." The congregation describes its atmosphere as relaxed, with a focus on letting the Word of God speak to the heart, and its members as friendly and loving. Anyone looking for a church home is invited to come worship with the church family.
From Cemetery Street to a New Sanctuary
Emmanuel Baptist Church was established in Salisbury on Cemetery Street in 1950. As the church grew, land was purchased in 1998 on the present site at 2300 Bringle Ferry Road. The congregation broke ground on a new sanctuary in August 2012, finished the building in March 2013, and held its first service in the new space on March 28, 2013. What began as a small congregation in the middle of the twentieth century now gathers in a purpose-built worship center on the east side of Salisbury.
Three Sunday Gatherings
The weekly rhythm at Emmanuel centers on three Sunday meetings. Sunday School begins at 10:00 a.m. and is followed by Morning Worship at 11:00 a.m. and Evening Worship at 3:00 p.m. The pattern gives families a full day of teaching, singing, and preaching on the church grounds, and it leaves room for visitors to drop in at any of the three hours.
Ignite Youth and Wednesday Bible Study
Midweek is built around the teens. The Ignite Youth group meets each Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. and fills its time with game-based lessons designed to spark discussion and build lasting friendships. The stated goal is for the youth to draw closer to one another as they draw closer to Jesus. A separate Wednesday Bible Study follows at 7:00 p.m. for the wider congregation, giving adults a parallel time to grow in Scripture on the same evening.
Sunday School for Every Age
The Sunday School hour at 10:00 a.m. is split between an adult class called Pairs and Spares and a youth class for students in sixth through twelfth grade. Pairs and Spares welcomes both couples and those who come on their own and works through the Bible book by book. The youth class tackles everyday issues with biblical solutions and aims to equip the next generation to carry the Gospel forward.
Men's Ministry and the Young at Heart Club
Two monthly gatherings round out the calendar. The Men's Prayer Meeting meets on the first Saturday of each month, a time for the men of the church to fellowship and pray for strength in their walk with the Lord. The Young at Heart Club, made up of members and guests who are at least 50 years young, gathers on the third Saturday. The group rotates between themed meals in the Fellowship Hall, complete with games, door prizes, speakers, and fellowship, and outings to local restaurants. Past events have included a Souper-Saturday, a St. Patrick's Day Pot 'O Lunch, and a Hawaiian Luau, with meals out at spots like O'Charley's, Blue Bay, and Classic Buffet in Denton.
Awana for Children
Emmanuel Baptist Church runs an Awana club for children alongside the rest of its programming. The club is divided into four groups: Cubbies for ages three to five (not yet in kindergarten), Sparks for kindergarten through second grade, T&T for third through fifth grade, and Trek for sixth grade and up. Each year families register online and pay club dues to cover uniforms and materials.
What the Church Believes
Emmanuel Baptist Church holds to historic Baptist convictions. The church teaches that God exists eternally in three co-equal persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and that the Father reigns with providential care over human history. Members affirm that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He lived a sinless life, died on the cross as the perfect sacrifice for sin, rose bodily on the third day, ascended to heaven, and will return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The Holy Spirit is confessed as the third person of the Trinity, who guides believers into truth, convicts of sin, cultivates Christian character, and seals believers unto final redemption.
The Bible is described as God's Word, written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit and serving as the supreme source of truth for Christian belief and living. Salvation is taught as a free gift received by trusting Jesus Christ; self-improvement and good works cannot earn it. The church holds to eternal security, teaching that the genuine believer is kept by the grace and power of God and cannot lose salvation. Baptism is practiced by full immersion and is seen as the first act of obedience for the believer, symbolizing faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.
The ABC's of Coming to Christ
For those exploring faith, the church offers a simple outline called The ABC's. A stands for Admit you have sinned, drawn from Romans 3:23. B stands for Believe in Jesus, from John 3:16. C stands for Confess and forsake your sin and confess Jesus as Lord and Savior, from Romans 10:9. A sample prayer is provided for anyone who wants to receive Christ, and Romans 10:13 is offered as the church's assurance: "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Planning a Visit
Visitors can prepare for a Sunday at Emmanuel by filling out a Plan Your Visit form. The form gathers basic contact information, a planned date of visit, and a note about any home church affiliation. The church office can be reached by phone at 704-630-0909, and the building sits at 2300 Bringle Ferry Road in Salisbury, North Carolina.