Emmanuel Baptist Church
Arizona Baptist Children’s Services and Emmanuel Baptist Church have had a long standing partnership. Over eleven years ago, Emmanuel allowed Steve Hanna to use space in their Shoulder to Shoulder Building, immediately south of the main church campus. This became the first regional office of Arizona Baptist Children’s Services. As the ministry grew, ABCS expanded into the entire building. As God has continued to bless the ministries and the partnership of Emmanuel and ABCS, we have committed to a 20 year lease of the Emmanuel Chapel, converting the space into offices, a large training room, a work room and kitchen. Emmanuel has allowed ABCS to rent their office space at rates below market value and has included Arizona Baptist Children’s Services in their budget. Emmanuel has opened-up their church campus to Foster Care activities and has also allowed the Pima County Foster Care Recruitment Council to meet monthly in their buildings. ABCS offers Christian counseling to members of Emmanuel, as needed, collects food for the church’s food pantry and has participated in their block party.
This partnership extends beyond just physical space. Five of our staff members in the Southern Office as well as many hourly workers and volunteers are members of Emmanuel Baptist Church. Emmanuel has established a ministry focus of reaching into the community and ABCS is also committed to ministering to the spiritual and physical needs of the surrounding community.
Recently, Emmanuel was the recipient of an Alvernon-Grant Initiative Business Good Neighbor Award for hosting a free weekly community pancake breakfast; a once a month opening its doors to the homeless for showers, laundry and other services and for giving an elderly disabled neighbor a home makeover.
The model of partnership that exists between Arizona Baptist Children’s Services and Emmanuel Baptist has been and will continue to be one that is utilized across the state. God has blessed as we work together for His kingdom.