Emmanuel SDA Church (Cleburne)

Getting To Know Us

Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church

Seventh-day Adventists accept the Bible as their only creed and hold certain fundamental beliefs to be the teaching of the Holy Scriptures. These beliefs, as set forth here, constitute the church's understanding and expression of the teaching of Scripture.  More about beliefs >>

About Seventh-day Adventists

The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a mainstream Protestant church with approximately 19 million members worldwide, including more than one million members in North America. The Seventh-day Adventist Church seeks to enhance quality of life for people everywhere and to let people know that Jesus is coming again soon.

Adventists believe a Trinity of three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—make up one God. They made salvation possible when Jesus, the Son, came to earth as a baby in Bethlehem and lived a sinless life in accordance with the Father's will. When Jesus was crucified for the sins of the people of the world and arose from the dead on the third day, victory was won for everyone.

When He returned to heaven following the resurrection, Jesus left the Holy Spirit to serve as our Comforter and Counselor. He promised to return to earth a second time to complete His plan of salvation and take His people to heaven. Adventists are among the believers who look forward to that day.

Adventists believe that God is concerned with the quality of human life, and that everything—the way we live, eat, speak, think, treat each other, and care for the world around us—is part of His plan. Our families, our children, our jobs, our talents, our money, and our time are all important to Him.

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 Organizational Structure

The Seventh-day Adventist Church is organized with a representative form of church government. This means authority in the Church comes from the membership of local churches. Executive responsibility is given to representative bodies and officers to govern the Church.

 Official Guidelines

This compilation of Official Guidelines comes in response to frequently asked questions -"What does the church say about? ..."These inquiries come from among our own believers, church pastors and the general public or media.

 Who We Are

Seventh-day Adventists celebrate a life that is reflective of God's love and serve to be witnesses of Jesus Christ's life here on earth. They represent every culture, language and people group on the planet. Young or old, rich or poor, Seventh-day Adventists uphold the values of family, health, education and look forward to the soon return of Jesus Christ.

 

 HISTORY OF CLEBURNE EMMANUEL 

Emmanuel Seventh-day Adventist Church at 
Robbins and Dewey Streets, Now Located at
1111 Boone Street
Cleburne, Texas 76033
1966 - 2021

     Sister Sylvia Earl was the first baptized member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Cleburne, Texas. It is believed she was baptized in one of the Dallas churches of Seventh-day Adventists.
     For sometime, Sister Earl attended the Seventh-day Adventist Church at Sunset and Featherstone in Cleburne. It was her heart's desire for everyone to know the Bible truth that she had found and learned to love. She was a faithful believer and follower of Jesus Christ and remained true to the church until her death on December 17, 1972.
     There were other members of the Sister Church who met with Sister Earl at different times and encouraged her in the faith. We now think of Brother Richard, Brother Lear, Brother Castro, Brother McNabb, along with Sister Earl who met in the home of Effie and Addie Smith. At times the home would be filled with interested souls studying the truth.
     The interest grew and the group moved to Baker's Funeral Home for their meetings. Later on, they moved to Manervia Leonard's Home.
     In 1967 the Keene Seventh-day Adventist church put on a program promoting the “Go Tell Texas” free Bible Course.                                  ,                                
     Elder Steiner gave me, Violet Stone, a lead name, Obbie Stokes, a nurse at the Johnson County Memorial Hospital. I studied with her, and one day, she gave me the name of two business women – Mrs Hallie Husk and Mrs.  Angoldia Smith. We studied in their homes rotating at different times. In the Husk home we found another real interest in the husband of Hallie Husk. This couple was so very happy as they studied the Bible together. Bro Mitchell Husk asked many interesting questions. He even began to prepare sermons to give to the young people in our youth meetings. He was always encouraging others.
     One day, Hallie Husk gave me the names and addresses of 37 of her friends. I was thrilled to get these names. From the 37, I gave Bible Studies to 33 of them. This was a thrill.
     I, as a small business woman, had to follow-up these interests. I operated a small nursery. In order to meet my Bible Study appointments I would take my nursery children with me and they would remain in my car while I gave my Bible Studies, delivered and picked up the Faith Lessons. My heart really thrilled as I graded the lessons and worked with the people week after week. I loved every minute doing this missionary work. From these studies we began to meet on Sabbath in the home of Sylvia Earl. The interest grew, and again we needed a larger meeting place.
     It was Angoldia Smith who made her home available. I will never forget Angoldia covered her large living room and dining room with beautiful red carpet. Her home was made welcome – I do mean welcome to all. We had wonderful meetings there. It seems as though, even now, I can hear Hallie Husk singing the special music.
     At this point, we still had only the one baptized member, Sister Sylvia Earl. It was at this time that I wrote to the Southwest Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in Dallas, Texas for help. Elder L. D. Henderson came in response to our request. The interest began to grow and we now needed a larger place for meeting. We then rented a little brown building that had to be cleaned and fixed up. The building cost us $15.00 per month. With the help of all, the faithful work and giving of Brother and Sister Lear of the sister Church, we were able to keep going.
     The Brown's and Footman's families from Shreveport had moved to Keene, Texas. They really brought strength to the group. Sister Brown came in from Shreveport on fire. She and her whole family had been baptized in Shreveport by Elder Henderson when he pastored there.
     Sister Brown went to work and it wasn't very long before Sister Husk was ready for baptism. She, along with several others were baptized. Hallie was the first to be baptized from these studies. Hallie loved this church.
     Brother and Sister Frye were also faithful workers and givers to help move the work forward. In 1968, they solicited the help of some of the African-American students at Southwestern Union College in Keene, Texas. Two students responded to the call, Judy Hayes and Billy Wright (now Elder Billy Wright, a former president of the Southwest Region Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, May 2000 – May 2011).  During the hot summer days, they distributed tracts and Bible Study Enrollment cards.
     The Domino's and Battle's families, Taylor brothers, Audrey Thomas, and a number of the young people from the college did much to help lay the foundation of the work that led up to the Tent meeting conducted by Elder Henderson in the Summer of 1971. The Lord blessed the meeting and a number of precious souls were baptized. Today, Cleburne has a Church Home for the believers. In the church family are 73 loving, hardworking members (December 23,1972).
     Time will not permit me to call every name of those who have helped to make this day possible. So, please accept this big THANK YOU to all of you for all that you have done for the work of Christ in Cleburne.
     This is a brief but most exciting history of the Cleburne Church as given by the late Mrs. Violet Stone and read by the late Mrs. Hallie Husk.*
 

Our present pastor is Elder Billy E. Wright.
Our membership stands at 213 members as of February 1, 2021.
 

*This “Brief History of Cleburne Church” was copied from the original document provided by the late Mrs. Hallie Husk to Susan Bevins, church clerk of Cleburne Emmanuel Seventh-day Adventist Church, April 18th, 2005.