Discover Emmanuel

Emmanuel is about Jesus and His Grace

Emmanuel is a family of believers—a non-denominational, Bible-believing, Baptist church where Jesus is first, people are loved, and the gospel of grace is center stage. We are serious about God’s truth and Jesus’ mission. We love God and each other, we grow together in God’s word, and we seek to serve others with authentic grace and humility.

Everyone wants a life of hope, meaning, and real love—but many people are struggling to find it, and most are done with “religion.” Emmanuel is home to hundreds of people who have discovered a flourishing personal relationship with God through Jesus.

“It’s not about religion; it’s about a relationship.” 

We invite you to discover the same journey by visiting soon. Don’t miss the joy of taking a truthful and careful look at the real message of Jesus. Come and see Emmanuel, experience spiritual renewal, and discover God’s heart for you!

Plan A Visit

Your journey starts here. We know that stepping into a new church can feel a bit overwhelming, so we want to make it as easy as possible and ensure you feel right at home. We can’t wait to meet you and welcome you!

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What to Expect

A place to belong. We keep the focus on Jesus and the atmosphere authentic. From Christ-centered worship to practical teaching from God’s Word, you’ll find a welcoming community that values grace.

What to Expect

Watch a Service

Experience Emmanuel from anywhere. Watch online to experience our worship services and gospel-centered messages. Stay connected to the truth of God’s Word whenever and wherever you are.

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Our Team

Here to serve you. Our pastors and staff are dedicated to helping you discover God’s heart and grow in His grace. We’re all a family of believers committed to walking alongside you in your spiritual journey.

Our Team

Our Purpose

Love God.

This begins in the heart with a personal relationship with Jesus. This love grows as we gather together in worship and hear the teaching of God’s word.

“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” (Mark 12:30)

Grow Together.

We grow together through God’s word and through community. Community is the fellowship we enjoy as Christians. The Bible is taught in every worship service, in every Group, and one-on-one through Continue Discipleship.

“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18)

Serve Others.

Jesus adds people to His church and gifts them to serve by His grace. We desire to help all members of our Emmanuel family discover and use their gifts to serve others through outreach, missions, and care.

“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” (Galatians 5:13)

Our Core Values

1

We Believe In The Good News of Jesus.

We embrace a gospel that both saves and shapes us and is central to everything we believe and practice.

2

We Grow in Biblical Truth

We stand upon the historical truths of God’s word. We study these truths chapter by chapter, verse by verse.

3

We Celebrate in Christ-Centered Worship

We desire to live fully surrendered, Spirit-filled lives marked by genuine joy. 

4

We Forge Authentic Relationships

We cultivate gospel friendships that advance God’s transforming work in our lives.  

5

We Embrace Missional Living

We steward our gifts and resources for the advancement of Jesus’ kingdom.

6

We Prioritize Growing Young

We passionately hand off the baton of faith to the next generation, always valuing mission over methods.

7

We Nurture a Grace-Based Culture

We desire organic, flourishing environments that are never performance-driven and are thoroughly led by Jesus.

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What Does Emmanuel Believe?

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Our History

1916–1919

A Gospel-Focused Start

In 1916, 125 believers launched Emmanuel Gospel Church in New Britain, Connecticut, with a clear mission—to declare the gospel, disciple in truth, and resist theological compromise. Under founding pastor Milton Anderson, the church quickly became a thriving hub for reaching central Connecticut with the Good News of Jesus.

1920–1966

The First Fifty Years

By 1920, Emmanuel had outgrown its early gathering spaces and moved into its first building. Over the next decades, despite pastoral transitions, the church became a stronghold for biblical preaching and regional influence. Pastor Ralph Williams’ 28-year leadership laid a foundation of faithfulness and gospel clarity.

1967–1987

The Building Years

Relocating to Church Street in Newington in 1967, Emmanuel grew in vision, health, and impact. Under Pastor Ralph Wingate’s leadership, weekly attendance surpassed 800, and Emmanuel Christian Academy was founded in 1976. Growth continued, culminating in the prayerful purchase of a new hillside property and the dedication of the current facility in 1987.

1988–2011

The Deepening Years

Blessed with a new building but burdened by internal challenges, this era tested the resolve of Emmanuel’s people. A faithful remnant remained rooted in God’s promises and heritage. Through trials and transition, God prepared the church for restoration, especially during Pastor Rob Pitts’ five-year season of healing leadership from 2007 to 2012.

2012–2018

The Restoring Years

In a divine intersection of stories, God brought Pastor Cary Schmidt from California to lead Emmanuel into a new era. United in prayer and vision, the church experienced
rapid spiritual renewal, gospel growth, and rising attendance. A new team formed, momentum returned, and Emmanuel began to thrive once again.

2019–Present

The Thriving Years

Since 2019, Emmanuel has experienced explosive growth in attendance, ministry reach, and spiritual momentum. With restored facilities, vibrant worship, expanding discipleship, and a deepening global vision, the church is unified in mission and moving forward in faith—believing the greatest days are still to come.

“Our future is as bright as the promises of God!”

—MILTON ANDERSON (Founding Pastor, 1916)

Our Beliefs

Emmanuel has determined to seek doctrinal accuracy and doctrinal unity. We approach the Bible as the Word of God and as our authority for life and ministry. We seek to understand it literally, grammatically, historically, contextually, and practically.

The Bible
We believe the Bible to be the word of God. We believe the Bible is inspired and preserved by God, and that it is perfect and true. We use the Authorized Version of the Bible in all of our ministries. (Psalm 12:6–7; 2 Timothy 3:15–­17; 1 Peter 1:23–25; 2 Peter 1:19–21)
God
We believe in one holy and loving God—eternal, self-existent, infinite, and immutable—and that He has one nature, essence, and substance; yet He manifests Himself to man in the Trinity as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Timothy 1:17; James 1:17; 1 John 4:4)
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh and the only Saviour of mankind. We believe He came to earth, lived a sinless life, and offered Himself on the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. We believe He resurrected bodily and ascended into Heaven where He now dwells until His return. (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6, 43:11; John 1:1, 3, 14, 18, 29; Romans 3:19–25; Romans 5:6–15; Philippians 2:5–11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; 1 Timothy 2:5, 3:16; Titus 2:10–15; Hebrews 7:26, 9:24–28; 1 Peter 1:19, 2:2; 1 John 1:3; Revelation 20:1–6)
The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit of God is a person of the Godhead who is presently indwelling and directing the development of believers and advancement of the gospel in the world. The Holy Spirit is sent to regenerate, sanctify, seal, and indwell all who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ. (Genesis 1:2; John 3:5–6, 14:16; Acts 1:5, 11:15; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19–20; 1 Corinthians 12:13)
Sin and Salvation
We believe that all men are sinners by nature and are therefore separated from God. Faith in Jesus Christ is the only hope of salvation and redemption from this broken and fallen condition. Those who reject Jesus Christ as personal Saviour are separated from God for eternity, but those who receive Jesus as Saviour are adopted into God’s family and given His gift of eternal life. (Genesis 5:1–5; Acts 4:19, 16:31; Romans 3:10–23, 5:6–12, 6:23, 10:9–10; Ephesians 2:8–9; Titus 3:5–6; Revelation 20:11–14)
The New Testament Church
We believe the local church is Jesus’ institution for advancing His gospel and doing His work in the world. The church is made up of those who have been saved and biblically baptized—uniting and faithfully gathering together for the purposes of Bible teaching, worship, prayer, fellowship, service, and observance of baptism and communion. (Matthew 16:16–18; Acts 1:15, 2:41–43, 11:15, 20:28; 1 Corinthians 15: 51–58; Ephesians 1:12–14, 5:25–30; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; 1 Timothy 3:4–15)
The Last Days
We believe in the literal interpretation of the Scriptures in context and with a dispensational view of biblical prophecy. This literal approach provides the following most likely timeline of future events: first, the rapture of the church, followed by a seven-year tribulation and the return of Jesus to the earth, followed by His literal rule of one thousand years ending with the Great White Throne Judgment, culminating with the creation of a new Heaven and new earth. (1 Corinthians 15:51–58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18, 5:1–9; Revelation 19–22)
Separation
We believe that a Christian should grow in grace, learning a lifestyle that is becoming of the gospel and honoring to Jesus Christ—properly reflecting His love and holiness. We believe in separating from biblical heresy and from sinful, self-destructive, and immoral behavior. (Romans 12:1–2, 14:13; 2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1; 2 Timothy 3:1–5; 1 John 2:15–17; 2 John 9–11; Leviticus 19:28; 1 Corinthians 6:19–20)
Creation
We believe that God supernaturally created the universe in six literal days, and therefore we reject any theories of evolution, theistic evolution, creation gaps, or intelligent design not attributed to the narrative of scripture and the power of God. (Genesis 1–2; Exodus 20:11)
Civil Government
We believe that God has created structures of authority for the blessing of mankind, existing in three basic institutions: (1) the home, (2) the church, and (3) the state. God has given each institution specific biblical responsibilities and balanced these responsibilities with the understanding that no institution has the right to infringe upon the other, but that all should work in harmony under God’s word and His authority. (Romans 13:1–7; Ephesians 5:22–24; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 2:13–14)
Human Sexuality
We believe that God, for humanity’s flourishing, has designed the sexual relationship to exist exclusively within the bounds of lifetime marriage between a man and a woman. Therefore, any deviation from the biblical pattern of sexuality (homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography) are harmful perversions of God’s gift of sex. We respect gender distinction as created by God, we and do not endorse the altering of one’s gender by surgery or appearance. (Genesis 2:24, 19:5, 13, 26:8–9; Leviticus 18:1–30; Romans 1: 26–29; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:1–8; Hebrews 13:4)
Biblical Marriage
We believe that the only God-recognized marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. (Genesis 2:24; Romans 7:2; 1 Corinthians 7:10; Ephesians 5:22–23)
In keeping with these beliefs as expressed in our bylaws:
All people are welcome to attend our regular worship services. Those who attend may not display behavior that is indicative of the unbiblical sexual behaviors listed above in church services, at church functions, or on the church grounds.
Church representatives are not to display disrespect for those who are involved in sexual sin, though our teaching ministry will be consistent with our beliefs and the biblical patterns.
Family Relationships
We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God, but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home and in the church. We believe that God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society, and that husbands and wives should grow in the biblical pattern of marriage and parenting. (Genesis 1:26–28; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4–9; Psalm 127:3–5; Proverbs 19:18, 22:15, 23:13–14; Mark 10:6–12; 1 Corinthians 7:1–16; Ephesians 5:21–33, 6:1–4; Colossians 3:18–21; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1–7)
Abortion
We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being, and therefore the life of the unborn should be valued as the life of any other human being. (Job 3:16; Psalm 51:5, 139:14–16; Isaiah 44:24, 49:1, 5; Jeremiah 1:5, 20:15–18; Luke 1:44)
Love
We believe that we should demonstrate love for others—believers and unbelievers alike. We respond graciously, gently, patiently, and humbly to those who oppose the gospel. The church should be an environment where unconditional love flows from God’s grace at work in every heart. (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 5:44–48; Luke 6:31; John 13:34–35; Romans 12:9–10, 17–21, 13:8–10; Philippians 2:2–4; 2 Timothy 2:24–26; Titus 3:2; 1 John 3:17–18)
Missions
We believe that God has given the church a great commission to proclaim the gospel to all nations, and that salvation is made available to anyone who will believe on Jesus, regardless of nation, tribe, ethnic group, language, or culture. As co-laborers together with God, we desire to actively, generously, and faithfully engage in worldwide missions and church planting until Jesus returns. (Matthew 28:19–20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46–48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:20)
Giving
We believe that every Christian is a steward of the material gifts of God entrusted to him. Every Christian should grow in grace—understanding the generous heart of God and learning to reflect that heart with generosity toward God’s church and toward those in need. This generosity should be driven by grace (not obligation), empowered by gratitude, and should flow from a willing and cheerful heart for the development of the church and advancement of the gospel. (Genesis 14:20; Proverbs 3:9–10; Acts 4:34–37; 1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 9:6–7; Galatians 6:6; Ephesians 4:28; 1 Timothy 5:17–18; 1 John 3:17)

*For additional questions or a more detailed doctrinal statement and bylaws, please contact one of our pastoral staff.

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