The Beginning
In 1911, members of First Baptist Church, Pine Bluff, felt the need to begin a Sunday School mission in the area of 17th and Hazel Streets. In August of that year the Ross Moore Mission began its activities. In a store building at 16th and Palm, five Sunday School classes were started. There was a dream to have their very own building for a church. That dream became a reality when the church was built in a day. It was on Thanksgiving Day, 1911, that hundreds of people arrived to do carpentry, hauling, painting, encouraging, and feeding everyone to complete the job. By the end of the day the auditorium was completed and had one coat of paint applied both inside and out. There was a service held that evening and one man came to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. On October 4,1914, the Ross Moore Mission was charted as a church with the name Hazel Street Baptist Church.
The Early Years
In time, land was purchased at 17th and Cypress Streets and on July 17, 1936, the members began construction of a new building at this location. All the bricks used in the construction were purchased from the demolition of an older building in Pine Bluff. Members and their children worked hard to clean the old mortar from the bricks. Six months later the new building was occupied with a finished auditorium and two wing rooms. The first service was held on December 20, 1936. The following year, the old church property at 18th and Hazel was sold. On August 9, 1939, the congregation voted to change the name of the church to Immanuel Baptist Church, effective October 1, 1939.
Continuing Ministry
November 21, 1954, a ground breaking was held and on September 6, 1955, construction was started on a new auditorium along with a number of new Sunday School rooms. The first service was held in the new facility on October 7, 1956. In 1972, a Children's building was added to house all children from birth to sixth grade. A day care was started using these facilities as an ongoing part of Immanuel's ministry to the city of Pine Bluff. In the 1980's, a large multi-purpose (Gym) was added along with office space and television studio to accommodate the church's television ministry. During this time a new dining area and kitchen was added along with additional parking.
In 1911, members of First Baptist Church, Pine Bluff, felt the need to begin a Sunday School mission in the area of 17th and Hazel Streets. In August of that year the Ross Moore Mission began its activities. In a store building at 16th and Palm, five Sunday School classes were started. There was a dream to have their very own building for a church. That dream became a reality when the church was built in a day. It was on Thanksgiving Day, 1911, that hundreds of people arrived to do carpentry, hauling, painting, encouraging, and feeding everyone to complete the job. By the end of the day the auditorium was completed and had one coat of paint applied both inside and out. There was a service held that evening and one man came to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. On October 4,1914, the Ross Moore Mission was charted as a church with the name Hazel Street Baptist Church.
The Early Years
In time, land was purchased at 17th and Cypress Streets and on July 17, 1936, the members began construction of a new building at this location. All the bricks used in the construction were purchased from the demolition of an older building in Pine Bluff. Members and their children worked hard to clean the old mortar from the bricks. Six months later the new building was occupied with a finished auditorium and two wing rooms. The first service was held on December 20, 1936. The following year, the old church property at 18th and Hazel was sold. On August 9, 1939, the congregation voted to change the name of the church to Immanuel Baptist Church, effective October 1, 1939.
Continuing Ministry
November 21, 1954, a ground breaking was held and on September 6, 1955, construction was started on a new auditorium along with a number of new Sunday School rooms. The first service was held in the new facility on October 7, 1956. In 1972, a Children's building was added to house all children from birth to sixth grade. A day care was started using these facilities as an ongoing part of Immanuel's ministry to the city of Pine Bluff. In the 1980's, a large multi-purpose (Gym) was added along with office space and television studio to accommodate the church's television ministry. During this time a new dining area and kitchen was added along with additional parking.
Charter Members of Hazel Street/Immanuel Baptist Church
Mr. & Mrs. W. A. Bobo Mr. & Mrs. J. S. Birchfield Miss Lexie Birchfield Miss Lottie Spears
Miss Vesta Birchfield Mr. & Mrs. A. L. Linton Miss Allie Linton Miss Salley Meeks
Miss Tressie Linton Mrs. J. D. Holly Miss Mamie Holly Mrs. F. L. Harwell
Miss Bessie Holly Mrs. J. B. Meeks Mr. & Mrs T. C. Taylor Mr. Kayle Vaught
Miss Lillian Baggett Mrs. Ella Caldwell Mrs. Martha Gaither Miss Zilla Daniel
Mr. & Mrs. Clyde Vowell Mr. & Mrs Robert Roderick Miss Jim Hildreth Miss Ila Hildreth
Mr. & Mrs. C. C. Payne Mr. & Mrs. J. F. Lites Miss Connie Lites Mr. Aubrey Spears
Mr. & Mrs. T. F. Spears Miss Mary Lee Spears Mrs. F.L. Harwell Mrs. B.T. Scallion
Mr. & Mrs. W. A. Bobo Mr. & Mrs. J. S. Birchfield Miss Lexie Birchfield Miss Lottie Spears
Miss Vesta Birchfield Mr. & Mrs. A. L. Linton Miss Allie Linton Miss Salley Meeks
Miss Tressie Linton Mrs. J. D. Holly Miss Mamie Holly Mrs. F. L. Harwell
Miss Bessie Holly Mrs. J. B. Meeks Mr. & Mrs T. C. Taylor Mr. Kayle Vaught
Miss Lillian Baggett Mrs. Ella Caldwell Mrs. Martha Gaither Miss Zilla Daniel
Mr. & Mrs. Clyde Vowell Mr. & Mrs Robert Roderick Miss Jim Hildreth Miss Ila Hildreth
Mr. & Mrs. C. C. Payne Mr. & Mrs. J. F. Lites Miss Connie Lites Mr. Aubrey Spears
Mr. & Mrs. T. F. Spears Miss Mary Lee Spears Mrs. F.L. Harwell Mrs. B.T. Scallion