Emmanuel Baptist Church was officially organized on March 25, 1926 with twenty-nine charter members. The original name was Eastside Baptist Church, but was changed to Emmanuel Baptist Church in the early 1950's. The members of Emmanuel were a very close-knit family, due in part to two devastating fires (March 19, 1968 and September 24, 1972), which completely destroyed the church buildings. After the second fire, the congregation voted to relocate to the current 260 acre campus. The congregation met in the gymnatorium from November 1973, until the completion of a 26,000 square foot sanctuary on September 12, 1999.

Emmanuel strives to be a relevant church with a practical approach to ministry. In the last two years, God has blessed us with a 60% increase in church attendance and a 50% increase in school enrollment. Emmanuel Baptist Church remains an evangelical church, committed to knowing Christ and making Him known in Hartsville and around the world!