Emmanuel Temple-West Chester

I have been to Emmanuel serveral times. This is a small but very warm congregation. The sermons very in length, but are always very interesting, the pastor gives insights I have somehow overlooked in my life time of Bible readings. The messages are social and spiritual action vs. theory, and apply to real life...real world situations. They challenge me... to look at me!



The church has an excellent youth program, incorporating preteens to college age adults and beyond, some who actually choose to attend here vs. some of their own much larger homebased churches in the area. Emmanuel has a fantastic drum line that is in its 3rd generation of youth ages 4-24, and has received requests to minister from several midwestern states and universities. The trained music director... ChaDawn Parker has played percussion for personalities such as, The 290East Band, Don McClurken, TD Jakes, Hillary Clinton and her security team, WiberForce University, Northwestern University, 4th Dist AME conferences, Shirley (BB) King, and a host of religious congregations.



The pastor Rev. Jim Parker, III; his supervisor TMHughes; and their Bishop John R. Bryant are all really cool and so much support youth; young families; children; and are very caring of seniors. This church is not about pushing money and things, (even though they do need it, i.e. a van), and they are the 1st to say they are not perfect...(services can be a little unsmooth around the edges but they are FUN! Though they seem to be working on it, it actually keeps them from being stiff and stuck up). They are about treating people with the love of God, in and out of church, using both soft AND TOUGH love in their actions of, feeding people, homeless support, scholarships, and enhancing real radical education, political and social action.



If you come out they want to put you to expand your gifts and include them in ministry, (i.e. the around the edges thing). It's a great place for people who want to develop a gift that may be getting smoothered in their own larger congregation where the other people have been locked in to a position for years.



This ministry has a miracle testimony you have to hear in person. They are new and just beginning to "blow it UP!" It's not your typical quiet, get in and get out, congregation. It's for people who may be broken, and for those who love... to love people. Even if you don't join, it's a worthy place to give to, to help them provide support to others. They are looking to grow deep and wide... or vice versa. [:o)