Our Pastor
Pastor Ben was raised in church from birth. He was saved on September 4th, 2013. He attended the Crown College of the Bible in Powell, TN and received his Bachelor’s degree in Youth Ministry. Prior to becoming the Pastor at Emmanuel, He served as the Youth Director in his home church, Faith Baptist Church, in Staunton, Va. It was during his time there that the Lord began to deal with his heart about preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. On September 18th, 2016 the Lord confirmed that call upon His life. Outside the day that he was saved this was one of the most important days in his life.
He became Pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church on November 22nd, 2020. He is thankful to the Lord for allowing him the opportunity to serve him here. It is his desire to see the Tazewell County area reached for Christ!
He and his wife Jennifer were married in June of 2006. They have three children, Lydia, Josiah, and Olivia.
Our History
2020 marked the 30th anniversary of Emmanuel Baptist Church.
Emmanuel Baptist Church was organized and founded under the ministry of Brother Johnny Grinstead in 1990 and upon the principles and teachings of the Authorized King James Bible.
Our Stand
The verbal inspiration of the Bible, both Old and New Testaments
The Creation of man by direct act of God
The incarnation and virgin birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ
The Vicarious atonement for the sins of mankind by the shedding of His blood on the cross
The resurrection of His body from the Tomb
His power to save men from sin
Man’s salvation the personal acceptance of Christ as Saviour
The baptism of believers by emersion
The necessity of the fellowship of believers
The need for spreading the gospel to all mankind
The pre-millenial, second coming of Christ
We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Bible, "as it is in truth, the Word of God..." (I Thessalonians 2:13)
We believe in the verbal, plenary inspiration in the original writings, and God's preservation of His pure words to every generation (II Timothy 3:16; Psalms 12:6-8)
We believe that they have been perfectly preserved by God for English speaking people in the Authorized King James Version and that they are the supreme and final authority in faith and life.
We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections.
(Deuteronomy 6:4; II Corinthians 13:14)
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men (John 1:1-2, 14; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 9:6; 7:14; Philippians 2:5-8; Galatians 4:4-5)
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His finished work on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Romans 3:24-25; I Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 1:3-5)
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate (Acts 1:9-10; Hebrews 9:24; 7:25; Romans 8:34; I John 2:1-2)
We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Person who reproves the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, indwelling all believers and sealing them unto the day of redemption (John 16:8-11; II Corinthians 3:6; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 1:13-14)
We believe that the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit (i.e. speaking in tongues, and healing) were temporary. We believe that speaking in tongues was never the common or necessary sign of the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit and that ultimate deliverance of the body from sickness or death awaits the consummation of our salvation in the resurrection, though God frequently chooses to answer the prayer of believers for physical healing (II Corinthians 12:12; I Corinthians 12:8; Hebrews 2:3-4; Mark 16:17-20; I Corinthians 1:22, 14:21-22)
We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam's sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God.
We believe that man is totally depraved, and, of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost conditions. (Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 3:22-23; Ephesians 2:1-3, 12)
The sacredness of human personality is evident in that God created man in His own image and is mindful of him, and in that Christ died for man; therefore every individual possesses dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love. (Psalm 8:4-9; Colossians 3:9-11)
We believe that the clear message of salvation is "repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21)
We believe that salvation is "by grace," plus nothing minus nothing. We believe that men are justified by faith alone and are accounted righteous before God only through the merit of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12; I Peter 1:18-19)
We believe that all the redeemed are kept by God's power and are thus secure in Christ forever. We believe that eternal life is the present possession of every believer. (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Romans 8:1, 38-39; I Corinthians 1:4-8; I Peter 1:4-5; Jude 1, 2)
We believe that the New Testament church is a local assembly of baptized believers who have voluntarily joined themselves together to carry out the Great Commission. The Lord is doing HIS work in this world through local churches. The establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures. (Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; I Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11)
We believe in the autonomy of the local church free of any external authority or control. Christ is the only head of the church. (Acts 13:1-4, 15:19-31, 20:28; Romans 16:1, 4; I Corinthians 3:9, 16, 5:4-7, 13; I Peter 5:1-4)
Ordinances of the Church
We recognize the ordinances of believer's baptism by immersion in water and the Lord's Supper as a Scriptural means of testimony for local churches in this age. (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42, 18:18; I Corinthians 11:23-26)
We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Lord and Savior; and, that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices, and associations is commanded of God. (II Timothy 3:1-5; Romans 12:1, 2, 14:13; I John 2:15-17; II John 9-11; II Corinthians 6:14-7:1)
We believe the "Blessed Hope" of our Lord's return is literal, personal, visible, imminent, premillennial, and pretribulational. Believers will be caught up to be with the Lord prior to the seven years of tribulation, and at the end of the tribulation Christ will return with His saints to establish His thousand year reign on the earth. (I Thessalonians 1:10, 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; Zechariah 14:4-11; Revelation 3:10, 19:11-16, 20:1-6; Psalm 89:3-4)
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men: the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. (Matthew 25:46; John 5:28-29, 11:25-26; Revelation 20:5-6, 12-13)
We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection, when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord. (Luke 23:43; Revelation 20:4-6; II Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23, 3:21; I Thessalonians 4:16-17)
We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious misery until the second resurrection, when with should and body reunited they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment, and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting, conscious punishment. (Luke 16:19-26; Matthew 25:41-46; II Thessalonians 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 20:11-15)
The Plan Of Salvation
Salvation is God's free gift, through the blood of Jesus Christ, for all men. Each and every soul has the choice, in this present world, to deny the Savior and continue on their way to hell; or to accept the Savior, find new life in Him bound for Heaven. Salvation is everlasting life with the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Sadly, many think they are saved and are not, because they have trusted the lies of the devil through false teachers and religions, and they will spend eternity in hill. Matthew 7:22-23 "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
The truth of salvation - through faith in Jesus Christ alone, not of any kind of works or lordship salvation - must still be proclaimed from the pulpits and the lives of every born again believer.
Salvation is needed because of sin.
Ezekiel 18:20 - "The soul that sinneth, it shall die."
Romans 3:10 - "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one."
Romans 3:23 - "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"
Romans 5:8 - "But God commented his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 5:12 - "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:"
Romans 6:23a - "For the wages of sin is death;"
Salvation is Believing on Jesus Christ ~ nothing or no one else can save any soul.
John 14:6 - "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
Acts 4:12 - "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
Acts 16:31 - "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."
Salvation is Easy-Believe-ism (Not to be confused with the 1,2,3 repeat after me process): simple enough for a young child to understand.
Matthew 18:3-4 - "And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
Mark 10:14 - "But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God."
Luke 18:16-17 - "But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein."
Salvation is Free and Everlasting - no purchase necessary - a gift paid by Christ.
John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Romans 6:23b - "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Salvation is by Faith Alone - works cannot save a soul.
Isaiah 64:6 - "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;"
Matthew 19:24 - "And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."
Luke 16:22b-23a - "the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments,"
Ephesians 2:8-9 - "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
Salvation is by Confession ~ praying is how a soul seeks remission from sins.
Romans 10:9-10 - "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
Romans 10:13 - "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Salvation is through the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary.
Colossians 1:14, 20a - "In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: And, having made peace through the blood of his cross,"
Hebrews 9:22 - "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission."
Hebrews 10:10, 19-20 - "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;"
Salvation saves the soul from death and hell.
Luke 16:23a - "And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments,"
Revelation 20:15 - "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."
Salvation is Eternally Secure: once saved ~ always saved.
John 3:36 - "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."
John 5:24 - "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hearth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."
John 10:28-29 - "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand."
I John 5:13 - "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."
Before Salvation ~ A Soul is condemned to hell.
John 3:18 - "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
Before Salvation ~ Hell is the future home for the unsaved.
Luke 16:23a - "And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments,"
Matthew 13:49-50 - "So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."
Revelation 20:15 - "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."
Before Salvation ~ a soul is the following:
1. A Child of the Devil
John 8:44a - "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do."
2. Under the Authority of Satan
Acts 26:18 - "To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me."
3. A Strong Man's House
Mark 3:27 - "No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house."
4. Prisoners of War
Isaiah 14:17 - "That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?"
5. Blinded to the Gospel
II Corinthians 4:4 - "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."
Prayer is the key to seeing a lost soul saved. We cannot loose Satan's grip without the power of God our Savior. We can only find this power in the prayer closet.
I Timothy 2:1-4 - "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers...be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; ...For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."
Salvation means believing the Gospel of Christ
I Corinthians 15:1-4 - "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:"
Salvation also takes Repentance.
Luke 13:3 - "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."
Acts 2:38 - "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost
Acts 3:19 - "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;"
Acts 8:22 - "Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thin heart may be forgiven thee."
Revelation 3:3 - "Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee."
