What To Expect at Immanuel Baptist Church

You may be wondering what to expect should you decide to join our worship services. This page is designed in an attempt to answer some of the questions you may have.

Do I have to stand up in front of everyone?

Some well intentioned churches ask visitors to stand up and introduce themselves in front of everyone. While we understand their desire to know you better, we believe you will be more comfortable meeting a few people who are seated around you and who are genuinely interested in getting to know you better rather than introducing you to the entire congregation, but not really meeting anyone. Near the beginning of our services we provide a few moments for everyone to greet those around them. In that way, genuine friendships begin to develop.

Do I have to get up early?

With the fast pace of today's society, it is becoming increasingly more difficult for many people to attend services of the church on Sunday morning. While our Sunday morning Worship Service begins at 10:45 a.m. there are many other opportunities to worship and study God's Word.

We meet at various times throughout the week. Bible Study begins at 9:45 a.m. with our Morning Worship Service beginning at 10:45 a.m. Our Sunday Evening Service begins at 5:45 p.m. On Wednesday, many programs are offered. Beginning at 6:30 p.m. our AWANA club meets as well as our teenagers (grades 6-12), Adult Bible Study begins at 7:00. No less important than the above meetings, are small groups that meet at various times for fellowship and growth.

Do you want my money?

The folks who are regular members of our church family give to help support the expenses of the church and for various missionary and outreach programs that we support. We certainly don't expect visitors to give. When you visit one of our meetings, you are our guest and we don't ask our guests to give unless they feel led! Our desire is for you to be given the opportunity to check us out without feeling pressured to give.

We believe that scripture teaches Christians to give to the work of the Lord. If you decide to become a regular part of our church family, we will gladly share with you what the Bible has to say about giving. We encourage our members to give on a regular basis to help support the ministries of the church, missions and other areas of outreach. Each member is encouraged to seek the Lord's will in determining how much he or she should give.

Are you going to tell me what's wrong with me?

At it's core, the message of Jesus Christ is good news. Jesus did not come to earth to condemn, but to give life. We feel it is important to recognize that we have ALL fallen short of God's ideals, even more important is the joyful and complete life which Jesus offers. Our desire is that you would come away from our service contemplating that reality: that while we have fallen short of the ideal in our lives, Jesus offers us satisfaction, fulfillment and joy in a way we have never known before.

Do I have to dress up?

No! The rule of thumb is casual attire. You will see folks wearing dresses and suits, but also jeans and slacks. Whatever you are most comfortable wearing is fine.

Do I have to hand over my kids to strangers?

We offer a fun and exciting program for children from birth through 2nd grade. We are confident that your children will have a great time if they participate. At the same time, we understand why you would want to check us out before allowing your children to go a separate way. You should know that your children are definitely welcome in our worship services as long as you are comfortable.

What if I have more questions?

Feel free to contact us at any time. Our phone number is (870) 942-4891.

Immanuel Sheridan - Where Fitting In Is As Easy As Finding Out. . .