Immanuel Baptist Church 100th Anniversary

Immanuel Baptist Church, located at 1415 S. Topeka in Wichita, is celebrating 100 years of service to the Wichita community.

Almost a century ago, on February 14, 1910, Immanuel began as a mission of First Baptist Church, Wichita, meeting in a store building at 1427 S. Lawrence Avenue (now Broadway).  By August of 1916, the mission organized as a church and recognized 47 charter members, choosing the name “South Lawrence Avenue Baptist”. The church name changed to “Faith Baptist” when the street name changed to Broadway and finally in May of 1945, the church adopted the name “Immanuel Baptist”.

The church’s membership and facilities have grown under the leadership of fifteen interim and full-time pastors, including Pastor Emeritus Dr. George D. McClelland who served from June 1945 – February 1957, and Pastor Emeritus Dr. John Click who served from February 1971 – February 1997. Current pastor, Dr. Charles Boswell, began his pastorate at Immanuel in August of 2007.

The theme of the 100-year celebration is “Celebrating Our Past, Focused on Eternity” and will begin with a Celebration Sunday and Dinner-on-the-Grounds Sunday, February 14, 2010. The community and former members are also invited to join the current membership in celebrating other anniversary events including: Men’s Golf Tournament, April 24; Ladies’ event with Gracia Burnham, June 24; Immanuel Night at the Wingnuts’ game in July; and Reunion Weekend events, August 14-15 that include a day of fellowship rallies, building tours, and a formal evening banquet on that Saturday and a Worship Celebration on that Sunday, August 15.

Former members are encouraged to obtain information regarding the celebration events on the Immanuel website at ibcwichita.com or contact a member of the Publicity Committee at library@ibcwichita.com. Contact Information: Vicki Alfred, 316-630-9447, Anniversary Publicity Chairman; valfred@sbcglobal.net.