The members of Immanuel Baptist Church are looking forward to July 31. On that date, led by Pastor Mike Dameron they will be holding their first Sunday service in the new sanctuary. Immanuel Baptist church formed in 2008; they have been meeting at their present location since 2012.
Now with a membership of 260 they have constructed a new sanctuary on the same land. Their current sanctuary will be known as The Chapel and will be used for bible studies and Sunday school.
There is a lot of activity in the new sanctuary preparing for the opening. The kitchen committee is being trained in the state-of-the art kitchen. The sound system, also state-of-the-art, is being installed. And although there are two large screen TVs in the front of the church, they will not be used for scrolling lines of the hymns during service.
“It’s good old fashioned Southern Baptist Hymnals for us,” said church administrator Van Reynolds.
A beautiful handmade cross set in stones is at the center of the altar surrounded by cushioned pews. The piano and organ are in place and ready for the 60-plus member choir.
Clair Miller who led The Carpenter Project is a builder of churches and schools with more than 60 years of experience. Attending to every detail he was also the maker of the cross on the altar.
Reynolds attributes the growth of the church to friends bringing friends. “We are a very friendly church. If you don’t like to get hugged, you may be in the wrong church.” “We are always friendly to newcomers; you won’t be standing around by yourself when you are new at this church.”
Dameron became associate pastor at Immanuel in 2012 when he and his wife Dee returned from spending five years in the mission field in Kenya and Chile. He assumed the position of senior pastor later that year when founding pastor Jerry Montgomery retired. Montgomery serves as honorary pastor emeritus.
Several involved church members commented that they are so excited about the first worship service in their new sanctuary that they are hardly sleeping.
Sunday service is at 10 a.m. The church is located on County Road 102 in Oxford.
