The Emmanuel Church was founded by the late Bishop Malon Pollock in the year 1963. Being led and directed by God, Elder Pollock started his ministry by having services in his home with his family and a few members. This was the beginning of The Emmanuel Church of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Before the present location was chosen one other place of worship we enjoyed was about one quarter mile from here. There it rained inside and leaked outside. The first structure at this site was in the lot behind the old sanctuary but it fell before it was ever completed. The lot on the corner where our sanctuary sits was so thick with woods we could hardly see the street. Once Elder Pollock and the founding brothers had cleared the lot they began working immediately on the new building. They all worked diligently and within a year the building was completed and ready for worship.
The early and middle sixties were a blooming time for this new organization. Our Young Peoples Union consisted of seventy plus members. Brother Roland Morris was appointed President. Deacon Jeff Gilmore led the Sunday School Department, and taught many of us what we know about God and His Word. Mother Janie Gilmore led another strong committee of the Emmanuel Church- the Missionary Department and under her leadership other spin off committees were formed they include, the Pulpit and Pastor's Aid, the Sick Committee, the Cooking Committee, and the Prayer Committee. These ladies supported our Pastor's first trip to Jerusalem and had a portrait of him made to be placed in the sanctuary
Singing has always been part of Emmanuel. The church choir was always a source of pride for our Pastor. We have also seen many groups through the years: the Alpha and Omega singers, the Holy Lights, the Spiritual Lights (still singing today), the Six Voices of Emmanuel, the Trumpets of Joy (still singing today), and the Emmanuel Ensembles. They were all assets to the service and could be called on to heighten the spirit and time.
In our second Holy Convocation in August of 1968, our first Elder was ordained, Elder Joseph Williams. He pastured the new work in Eastover SC. In the late sixties, he helped start a new church in West Columbia , along with Deacon Gilmore and Elder Frank Cooper, and Elder Pollock as general Pastor. This left Deacon Raymond Thompson and Brother Roland Morris on the home front conducting services.
In the early seventies we purchased a church bus. After being painted and restored, Brother George Patten went around picking up saints for service. This bus came in handy real soon. The works in Eastover and West Columbia came to an end, and the bus offered transportation for the saints who needed to get to church. The Lord continued to bless us mightily. We have always been recognized as a church that will be on time and one that held up a standard. We also went through many transitional changes in the seventies. Positions were changed, and many of the older saints went to eternal rest with God. Yet, none of these changes caused us to change our standards.
With the changes that occurred in the seventies came improvement s to the church. Because our Pastor wanted larger eating quarters for the saints, God blessed us to add a Dining Room in 1974. Additions continued with Sunday School rooms and a Church Office, then two more Sunday School rooms and an eating space in the Dining Room were added.
The eighties brought a radio broadcast, which was enjoyed by many as well as being encouraging to many others. Each Saturday morning, Elder Pollock was preaching the truth of One Lord, One Faith, and One Baptism, (and one husband, one wife, and no sweet hearts on the side) to the church and radio audiences. A Gospel Choir was formed in this decade, as many of the quartets and groups had all but faded away.
In the early nineties, Bishop Pollok preached prophetically that something was coming upon the church, and if we weren't anchored we wouldn't be able to stand. This happened repeatedly. Little did we know that he may have been talking about his illness and his untimely departure. The building where we now sit was one of Bishop Pollock's dreams, and God allowed it to come to fruition under Bishop Jackson's leadership. Bishop Pollock, with the assistance of Bishop Rickie Jackson, cut the ribbon on June 23, 2000. On Friday, October 27, 2000 Bishop Pollock entered into eternal rest. But thanks be to God, He did not leave us comfortless. Under his appointed Assistant Pastor, we have continued to grow.
Bishop Jackson came up through the ranks of Emmanuel, and has held many positions; Choir President, Youth President, Church Treasurer, Deacon, Minister, Elder, and now Bishop and Pastor. He has been faithful and dutiful to the Lord and the Emmanuel Church family. As with our late Pastor it is not uncommon to look up from your sick bed and see him coming in to check on the sick and shut in. And, as our dear Mother Pollock was with Bishop, so is First Lady Jackson with Bishop Jackson. He is our example that as Bishop Pollock taught faithfulness and obedience will pay off in the future world and, in the present world. Bishop Jackson 's favorite scripture is found in Psalms 37:23-34- “the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and He delighted in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholdeth him with His hand”.