Rev. Terry L. Buxton, Sr., Ed. D. (Candidate) &
First Lady Elaine Buxton
Being a pastor is not easy. Reverend Terry Buxton has studied for years to understand nuances of pastoring such as: keeping unity in the flock, uniting couples in marriage, preaching dynamic messages, ministering to those in need, and progressively acting when systems need repair; he’s on the job.
Even though Pastor Buxton takes his job seriously, he remains light-hearted and funny. True to the cliché that, “laughter is good for the soul,” Pastor Buxton’s soul is well with the |
Lord because he loves to tell jokes and keep people laughing. Emmanuel eagerly honors Pastor Buxton for years of dedicated teaching, preaching, and praying for our souls.
Pastor Buxton’s wife, First Lady Elaine, is a joyous minister in her own right; serving as worship leader, Sunday School teacher in the New Members' Class, along with other duties in Bible studies, choir, praise and worship, and mission activities. Elaine Buxton is a noted scholar, with decades of remarkable success in Tulsa Schools, but has recently attained executive position in Millwood Schools when the couple moved to Oklahoma City as leaders at Emmanuel. Emmanuel Baptist Church declares a warm thanks and God bless you to Pastor Buxton and First Lady. We pray God's continued guidance and fellowship with heartfelt appreciation to you both. |
Summary of the History of EBC
You may not have been born in the year of 1964 or you may have matured to the point that you do not remember what took place, so we want to remind you of four important events that took place that year.
- President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act, making segregation in public places illegal (July 2)
- President Johnson declared war on Poverty (Jan 8)
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wins the Nobel Peace Prize (Oct 14)
- Emmanuel Baptist Church was established (July 16)
Dr. John Bruce Bratton, Jr.
July 1964 ~ September 1978 |
However, some of the membership of Emmanuel Baptist Church can recall earlier times when they and Pastor John B. Bratton, Jr. had to leave the 5th Street Baptist Church because of deepening indifferences. The officers and some of the membership of 5th Street were willing to take Dr. Bratton to court in order that they might remove him as pastor. This lawsuit was the first of its kind involving churches in Oklahoma City.
Those early members called Pastor Bratton to be their spiritual leader and they began a pilgrimage for approximately two years not having a permanent church home. Thanks to the generosity of a number of pastors, they were allowed to utilize different church facilities |
to hold worship services. It was also during this time that they took the unincorporated name of the "No Name Baptist Church".
Thanks, to the blessing of God, this determined group of Christians finally found a permanent church home, and on February 07, 1965, they held the first worship service in this present structure. God was and continues to be with Emmanuel Baptist Church.
Many positive things have occurred during the 59 years of organized church worship for Emmanuel. Yet, it still has to be pointed out that many soldiers have gone from their labor to eternal rewards. A great sense of mourning took place on September 13, 1978, when God call Pastor Bratton from the fields of ministry to rest in the glories of His heavenly kingdom.
Thanks, to the blessing of God, this determined group of Christians finally found a permanent church home, and on February 07, 1965, they held the first worship service in this present structure. God was and continues to be with Emmanuel Baptist Church.
Many positive things have occurred during the 59 years of organized church worship for Emmanuel. Yet, it still has to be pointed out that many soldiers have gone from their labor to eternal rewards. A great sense of mourning took place on September 13, 1978, when God call Pastor Bratton from the fields of ministry to rest in the glories of His heavenly kingdom.
Dr. Clyde C. Carroll
October 1978 ~ July 1996 |
Rev. Clyde C. Carroll assumed the reigns of Pastoral Leadership on October 11, 1978. During Pastor Carroll's tenure as pastor many continuing improvements to both the physical and the spiritual growth of Emmanuel Baptist Church took place. Not being one to rest upon his laurels, during the eighteen years of his pastorate Rev. Carroll completed his studies that led to a Doctorate Degree. His easy mannerisms and concern for children allowed him to develop some of the strongest ministries in the "youth department".
Dr. Carroll was a builder and the legacy of his vision is evident today in our "fellowship hall". This facility served as a "day care center" that had a great evangelistic outreach ministry to the unsaved and un-churched in |
the community. Dr. Carroll's vision to the church and the ministry of God was to construct a Phase II (new sanctuary}.
God's plan for Dr. Carroll did not allow him to realize his Phase II vision for the church. In what we know is the yielding to the omnipotence of our sovereign God, Dr. Carroll was called home to be with the Lord on July 18, 1996. Due to his sudden death, a decision was made by the officers of Emmanuel Baptist Church to seek an interim pastor to continue to hold the church together and God responded in "kind" by sending Rev. H. V. Bennett to oversee the flock until a permanent pastor could be called. Though his service was for only "nine months", Rev. Bennett moved the church onward and upward. Shortly after leaving Emmanuel Baptist Church to return to California he finished his course, fought the good fight and having kept the faith he passed in February 1998.
God's plan for Dr. Carroll did not allow him to realize his Phase II vision for the church. In what we know is the yielding to the omnipotence of our sovereign God, Dr. Carroll was called home to be with the Lord on July 18, 1996. Due to his sudden death, a decision was made by the officers of Emmanuel Baptist Church to seek an interim pastor to continue to hold the church together and God responded in "kind" by sending Rev. H. V. Bennett to oversee the flock until a permanent pastor could be called. Though his service was for only "nine months", Rev. Bennett moved the church onward and upward. Shortly after leaving Emmanuel Baptist Church to return to California he finished his course, fought the good fight and having kept the faith he passed in February 1998.
Rev. Chester A. West
May 1997 ~ December 2021 |
Rev. Chester A. West, only the third full time pastor, was called and officially handed the reigns of Emmanuel Baptist Church on May 04, 1997. Rev. West continued to build upon the foundation set in place by the preceding pastoral leaders. He guided our church through some of the more difficult economical and perilous times, and we are still clinging to the knowledge that "Through God all things are possible."
Pastor West reminded us that our major focus for Emmanuel Baptist Church is to "spread the gospel of Jesus Christ through Evangelism, Discipleship, and Fellowship”. Pastor West served very dutifully for 24 years as our leader and began his retirement on December 31, 2021. We extend accolades of love and |
honors to Pastor West for his leadership through the years.
Upon Emeritus Pastor West's retirement, the officers began a quest to fulfill the vacancy by seeking an interim pastor while in search of a full-time senior pastor. In January 2022, God had blessed the Church with Rev. Dr. Larry T. Crudup to lead us to his higher calling. His indelible and charismatic leadership kept Emmanuel together and forged for the remainder of the 2022 calendar year.
Upon Emeritus Pastor West's retirement, the officers began a quest to fulfill the vacancy by seeking an interim pastor while in search of a full-time senior pastor. In January 2022, God had blessed the Church with Rev. Dr. Larry T. Crudup to lead us to his higher calling. His indelible and charismatic leadership kept Emmanuel together and forged for the remainder of the 2022 calendar year.
Rev. Terry L. Buxton, Jr. (ABD)
April 2023 ~ Present |
The COVID-19 Pandemic condensed Emmanuel radically, resulting in a reduction well beyond March 2020, with many illnesses and deaths. God with us, the church membership had requested by unanimous election that Rev. Terry L. Buxton, Sr. (ABD) accept God's calling to become the fourth full time Senior Pastor of Emmanuel. On April 4th 2023, he began a journey to rebuild the membership. Under Pastor Buxton’s leadership, Emmanuel is experiencing remarkable growth, gaining 40 new members in the first 10 months. God has blessed
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Emmanuel to rebound and continue our journey through Worship, Ministry, Evangelism, Discipleship and Fellowship. Pastor Buxton and First Lady Buxton are regenerating and reinvigorating our membership to higher heights through interactive teaching and unrelenting prayer and supplication. To God Be The Glory, for the things he is doing and all that he has in store for our church body!
Though Emmanuel Baptist Church is advancing year after of year, we should always have a remembrance of the past, a plan for the present and a vision for the future. A more complete "history" of Emmanuel Baptist Church and a more descriptive detail source of the "history" of the "court action" and struggles can be provided upon request.
Please take the opportunity to view some of the early church pictures in the hallway of the Education Wing.
(Growth = +22.22%, .83/yr, N = 179).
Though Emmanuel Baptist Church is advancing year after of year, we should always have a remembrance of the past, a plan for the present and a vision for the future. A more complete "history" of Emmanuel Baptist Church and a more descriptive detail source of the "history" of the "court action" and struggles can be provided upon request.
Please take the opportunity to view some of the early church pictures in the hallway of the Education Wing.
(Growth = +22.22%, .83/yr, N = 179).
