Emmanuel Apostolic
About
We believe this Organization to be a continuation of the great
Apostolic Revival which began at Jerusalem on the Day of
Pentecost, A.D. 33 (Acts 2:1-42) and which is founded upon
the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the
chief Cornerstone. We believe that this is under the latter day
reign of the Holy Ghost (Eph. 2:19; Matt. 16:16-18; 1 Cor.
10:4; Jas. 5:7).
Nina M. Gregory, the beloved founder of the Emmanuel
Church of Christ, was born April 19, 1900, the daughter of
George and Josephine Gregory, a farm family on the Red
River four miles west of Portland, Tennessee. Her mother was
a sanctified Methodist and her father was deacon in the Baptist
Church. Nina, as she was called, grew up in these two
churches and was converted and professed faith in Christ at a
children's meeting, at the tender age of 12. She received the
experience of Sanctification on the night she was 20 years old
and the Baptism of the Holy Ghost with the Bible evidence of
speaking with other tongues the next night.. She had already
been immersed in water INTO the Baptist church in the
trinitarian formula used by them according to their creed, but
not in the "Name of Jesus" for the remission of sins. Sister
Nina, then received the wonderful light on the ONENESS of
God, and knowing of no minister who would baptize her this
way, she travelled over one thousand miles to Bay City, Texas,
where brother R.C. Hall baptized her in the Colorado River, in
the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of her
sins. Upon returning to Memphis, Tennessee, she worshipped
for a while with the First Pentecostal Church, but never
became affiliated with any church until she organized the
Emmanuel Church of Christ in the year, 1933.
Sister Nina had been called to preach in 1925, but had only
assisted others until the summer of 1932, when she preached
her first message on the courthouse steps in Springfield,
Tennessee. During the remainder of the summer and fall of
1932, Sister Nina had around 100 professions of faith in Christ
and 31 baptized in Jesus Name! This was accomplished in a
four weeks revival in Logan County, Kentucky; 27 professions
in a Gallatin, Tennessee, revival, and 14 professions in
Hartsville, Tennessee. During the winter of 1932-1933, over
100 people in Logan County, Kentucky, were baptized with
the Holy Ghost and spoke with tongues.
At first we had no thoughts of organization; indeed, we saw no
need for one, We were happy in that first love, breaking bread
from house to house, preaching, baptizing, and the Lord
confirming with signs following. Many were filled with the
Holy Ghost and many were healed by the great power of God.
Soon the devil, not relishing the success that God had given us,
began to work in our midst. Confusion and persecution
followed; some fell away and began to exalt themselves, they
tried to become leaders without being called or ordained of
God; envy and jealousy crept in as some from within speaking
perverse things and forsook the TRUTH, drawing others with
them. Some of the ministry were threatened with arrest for
preaching without a license. Then we saw the dire necessity of
being legally organized; to have rules and regulations within
the body; to be law abiding citizens; and to be able to lift up
the good and to put down the wrong.
A Charter was written, along with By-laws, and a "Basis of
Union." This Charter was presented and accepted and on the
16th day of February, 1933, the Emmanuel Church of Christ
became a Chartered Organization in the great Commonwealth
of Kentucky.A like Charter was written, presented and
accepted by the General Assembly, and on the 28th day of
November, 1940, the Emmanuel Church of Christ became a
Chartered Organization in the Sovereign State of
Tennessee.There have been the "faithful few" who have
carried the load ever since. The Movement has spread to other
counties and to other states. From the very first day of
organization, February 16, 1933, until this writing there Has
been those faithful to Him and there has been those who have
endured but for a season and then failed. We thank God from
the depths of our hearts for those who dug down deep and built
their house upon the Rock.