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.