The Greater Emmanuel Baptist Church was organized in 1913 from a Sunday School class in the home of its organizer. The church then moved to Brush Arbor on Avenue B. Years later, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ellis donated the land at 1706 Avenue B for the Greater Emmanuel Baptist Church family to build a church.

Greater Emmanuel Baptist Church has been under the leadership of several pastors: Rev. N.L. Presley in 1926, Rev. W.A. Sanders in 1933, Rev. L.E. Marshall from 1942 - 1945, Rev. Alton Hill from 1946 - 1947, Rev. L.B. George pastored in 1974 (6 months), Rev. L.B. Moss in 1948 - 1954, Rev. I.Q. Fluellen from 1954 - 1971. In 1971, Rev. Fluellen retired and moved back to Gilmer, Texas.

On September 29, 1971, Rev. Burley Hudson was called as the Pastor of the Greater Emmanuel Baptist Church. After accepting the pastorship, Rev. Hudson stated, "If you will follow me I will lead you to Higher Ground."
The first sunday in October 1971, Pastor Hudson preached his first sermon (which today is held as our Pastor and Wife's anniversary). God truly has blessed us with a powerful leader.

Pastor Burley Hudson is happily married to his wife, Sis. Ola Jean Hudson, and have two sons Burley Dewayne and Gerald Bernard Hudson. "Where there is no vision the people perish..." Pastor Hudson came with a vision and that vision was to do bigger and better things for the Greater Emmanuel Baptist Church. The people came, the membership increased numerically and spiritually. Many auxiliaries were organized. After much growth, the present building began to get too small for the membership. Pastor Hudson, along with our Deacons, saw that we needed more space for worship and fellowship.

The Deacons began to look around the neighborhood for land that the church could purchase. After much work by our deacons, land was located. This land was located on Eleventh Street (between Avenue E and F). On May 19, 1975 with the congregation and the Trustees of the church, Deacon Emmanuel Moore, Deacon William Jackson, and Deacon Ben Blair, then purchased from Jules P. Griffen and D.E. McDonald the following properties:
Situated in Dallas County, Texas second installment, an addition to the City of Dallas, according to the Map of THEREOF, RECORDED IN Volume 5, page 27, of the map of records of Dallas County, Texas and Lots 16, 17, 18 and 19 in Block 2/5901 of Skyline Heights, and addition to the City of Dallas, according to the Map thereof, recorded in Volume 3, page 360 of the Map records of Dallas County, Texas for a cash consideration of $24,000.
The church did purchase the property for the said amount.

 

As stated before "Where there is no vision, the people perish." The move to a bigger better church building would take much prayer, faith, sacrifice, finance and hard work. Efforts would have to come from all the members. Everyone was excited and willing to do all they could to make this come true.

in 1977, we had out groundbreaking ceremony where many members attended. Some who have now gone on to be with our Lord and Savior and others who were children then, and are now adults! The construction of the church had now begun. Concrete was poured and bricks on the building were being put in place. A program was planned, a "March" from 1906 Avenue B to 2110 East Eleventh Street. On May 7, 1978, our beautiful edifice was completed. The members were so excited about our new church that we grew closer to God and to each other.

The "March" began at 9am from 1906 Avenue B to 2110 East Eleventh Street and there were TV cameras and radio stations present. Pastor Hudson, Deacons and members were on the way to what was and still is our new church home. Ribbon cutting ceremony was on the steps of the church with Pastor and Sis. Hudson, along with Sis. M.E. Upchurch.

With a leader like Pastor Hudson, he didn't stop there. Goals were set in place to start paying off the mortgage. After several meetings and setting financial goals, our note was paid off in 1981 (three and a half years). CONGRATULATIONS GREATER EMMANUEL!

On Tuesday, August 11, 1992, tragedy struck the Greater Emmanuel Church family. Some of our church edifice was damaged by fire. We praised God that our entire church building was not destroyed. On Sunday, August 17, 1992, the Greater Emmanuel Church family continued worship services at Cozy Corner Building (an addition of New Jerusalem Baptist Church). Our pastor told us that a rumor was going around in the city that said, "Our church was destroyed by fire." He continued, "Our building was gutted by fire, but the church is still moving!" Oh what a great time we had in the Lord.

In December 1992, we moved back to our edifice at 2110 E. Eleventh street, to worship and the Lord is STILL blessing us! OH WHAT A MIGHTY GOD WE SERVE.