The History Of Immanuel Baptist Church
Immanuel Baptist Church had it's beginning in the home of Rev. and Mrs. Jim Rice at 1406 Beverly Avenue in Shelby in June 1975. The group continued to meet in this home as well as several other places. The group was invited to use the Lutz-Austell Funeral Home Chapel as a meeting place at no charge.
The first Sunday in July 1975, while meeting at the Chapel, the church organized, voted to call themselves Immanuel Baptist Church, and to call James S. Rice as pastor. Twenty-three people joined and the charter membership was kept open until they had a total of forty-three charter members.
The auditorium at Graham Elementary School on West Warren Street was made available to the group and they met in this facility until June 15, 1980. At this time, they moved into their new building 2224 South Post Road. Rev. Jim Rice remained pastor until June of 2001.
In July of 2001 Immanuel Baptist called Ted O.Easter, Jr. as Pastor. Ted is a graduate of Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute. Immanuel is Rev. Easter’s first church. He is a business man married with four children.
