Emmanuel Baptist Church

What is “The 2010 Vision?”

As the name implies, “The 2010 Vision” is a list of short-range goals for the people of Emmanuel Baptist Church. Unanimously recommended by the pastor, staff, and deacons, and ultimately adopted by the congregation in November 2006, “The 2010 Vision” officially began on January 1, 2007. This Great Commission plan includes 4 major endeavors we believe God would have us pursue by the end of 2010.

1. The removal of all current indebtedness by no later then December of 2010

The building fund of Emmanuel Baptist Church actually

bears the name “The 2010 Vision.” Gifts given to this

designated fund go specifically towards debt reduction

and not to the other three aspects of the vision.

Members of Emmanuel were asked to specifically pray,

sacrificially pledge, and systematically give toward this

special effort. Pledges were made on “Thanksgiving

Sunday 2006” and gifts officially were received beginning

the first Sunday of January 2007. A large portion of the

general budget has also been designated toward debt

reduction as part of this commitment.

When Emmanuel members occupied a new $2.5 million, 1,000-seat sanctuary in March 2004, we were facing decades of mortgage payments. By embracing and funding “The 2010 Vision” the people of Emmanuel Baptist Church will be able to secure this indebtedness in less than 7 years. Monies that would have gone toward debt financing will be able to be reallocated to other worthy Acts 1:8 ministries.

For more information about “The 2010 Vision” and our commitment to debt reduction contact Pastor Mike Stone’s office at 449-4481.

2. The establishment of Southeast Christian Academy

The members of Emmanuel unanimously affirmed the vision to

establish a Christian school as part of our responsibility to disciple the next generation. With gratitude for all schools in our area(both public and private) the leadership of our church enthusiastically sensed the vision to offer parents in our community an additional option.

The vision for SCA involves establishing a school that will be

academically excellent and administratively separate from the church. SCA will eventually become fully accredited through the Georgia Association of Christian Schools. This accreditation is recognized by the Georgia Department of Education and the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. It is anticipated that SCA will receive this accreditation within its first year of eligibility. Although the school presently meets on the campus of Emmanuel our vision is for the school to become financially independent of the church.

SCA opened its doors in the Fall of 2007 and has embraced a classical Christian curriculum emphasis. The school began with Kindergarten through 4^th grade with the board expressing a desire to add a grade each year.

For more information, contact principal Kay Allen at the SCA office at 449-0401.

3. The planting of churches in Brantley County

Brantley County includes the cities of Hoboken, Nahunta, Waynesville, and others. These cities (particularly Waynesville) are expected to see great growth in the coming years. Demographers and

statisticians predict this will be one of the fastest-growing areas in our state per capita. A casual drive through this area will reveal a large number of major residential developments are being planned.

In November 2006, Pastor Mike Stone shared a message called “A Birth Announcement.” In that message he shared

the leadership’s vision to plant a new Southern Baptist Church between Hoboken and Nahunta. He furthered shared the prayerful vision that by the end of 2010 this “new” church

would be able to join us in discussions about planting a 2^nd Southern Baptist church near Waynesville.

In November 2007 Pastor Joey Taylor was called by the

Lord to serve as our mission pastor. His primary duty is to prepare a group of core leaders at Emmanuel to assist him in establishing the first of the 2 churches.

For more information about this aspect of “The 2010 Vision” contact Brother Joey Taylor at 449-4481.

4. Reaching 1,000 people every Sunday for Bible study by December 2010

Sunday School has been a major part of Emmanuel’s growth in recent years.

We firmly believe that Sunday School is not an organization of the church but it is the church organized tofulfill the Great Commission. Our commitment to organizing the ministries of the church through the Sunday School is indeed a strong commitment.

Sunday School at Emmanuel is offered in two separate sessions. Each session provides fully graded Bible study classes for all ages, birth to senior adult. EBC’s Sunday School classes are age-graded to ensure effective organization and ministry. Attendees are enrolled in classes by age and requested to attend the proper class.

For more information about the Sunday School ministry at Emmanuel contact our education pastor, Brother Lynn Harris, at 449-4481.