Tucked into the Five Points neighborhood about a five-minute drive north of downtown Raleigh, Emmanuel Baptist Church has gathered under that name since 1950 to worship the living God, study His Word, and equip one another for lives that point to Jesus. The church sits at 2100 Noble Road, where a chorus of ministries for every age and stage of life come together around a single aim: to delight in, display, and declare Jesus Christ.
Delight, Display, Declare
Emmanuel Baptist's identity is shaped by three words that show up across every ministry. To delight in Jesus over everything is to enjoy Him in a loving, personal relationship and gather weekly to worship. To display Jesus with one another is to be transformed by the gospel into His likeness, radiating Him through ordinary relationships. To declare Jesus to everyone is to announce the Gospel faithfully in gathered worship and in the daily stuff of life.
The vision page puts it this way: "We are commissioned, by God's Gospel grace, to make disciples who delight in Jesus over everything, display Jesus with one another, and declare Jesus to everyone." Five foundations underwrite that mission. Emmanuel is Christ-centered, Word-centered, Gospel-centered, community-committed, and Great Commission focused. Practically, the congregation leans into expository preaching, elder-led congregationalism, gathered worship that engages everyone present, equipping believers for a life of mission, going where the gospel is needed, and being personally known and loved among the body.
Sunday in the Sanctuary
The rhythms of the week begin on Sunday morning. Sunday School gathers at 9:30 and runs until 10:15, with classes for adults, youth, and children meeting throughout the building. At 10:30, the main worship service fills the sanctuary and runs about an hour. The service blends modern worship songs and classic hymns with gospel-centered expository preaching - explaining passages of Scripture in light of the whole of Scripture. Some come dressed up, others come casual, and both are welcome.
Nursery care is offered during both Sunday School and the worship service for children from birth through Kindergarten. Children's Church for children in Kindergarten through elementary age meets during the service; kids start in the sanctuary with their families and are dismissed after the musical portion of the gathering. Middle and high school students join the youth Sunday School class upstairs from 9:30 to 10:15.
A welcome desk in the lobby of the sanctuary is staffed by greeters ready to give directions, answer questions, and help visitors find their way. Guests are not singled out or asked to give, though a connect card in the pews lets them let the church know they came so they can receive a follow-up. The Lord’s Supper is observed as often as the elders determine, and baptism by immersion is the second ordinance practiced in the life of the church.
Wednesday Night Around the Table
Midweek, Emmanuel reopens its doors for one of its signature rhythms. On the first and third Wednesday of the month, the Fellowship Hall fills with the smell of a shared meal beginning at 5:15 PM. Dinner costs $5 per person and $15 per family. Sign-up happens online so the kitchen knows how many to expect.
At 6:30 PM the Adult Bible Study and Prayer gathering begins, with the pastor walking through a book of the Bible or another series, followed by a season of corporate prayer. Men, women, and all age groups are invited. While adults gather for teaching and prayer, EBC Youth meets in the basement for games, fellowship, and Bible study, and children in K through fifth grade meet for a Bible lesson, a craft or activity, and games. Nursery care is provided Wednesday evenings as well so that parents of little ones can take part.
Sermons that Walk Through Books
Pastor Josh Scally preaches most weeks, and his pulpit ministry moves book by book. Recent and earlier series covered 1 Kings, the Gospel of John, the Book of Daniel, Ephesians, Exodus, 1 Timothy (titled "How to Church"), the life of Joseph, Jude, the Gospel of Matthew, James, and Ruth. Older seasonal series include a "Hall of Faith" guest-speaker summer and a summer guest series through Genesis. Sermon notes for the current and previous weeks are posted as PDFs, and audio or video of every sermon is available on YouTube and Spotify, with additional archives on SoundCloud.
The approach at the center of these series is expository - more time is spent explaining passages of Scripture in light of the whole of Scripture than explaining topics. The congregation gets to sit under the text week after week, listening to pastors preach through books rather than jumping to the next felt-needs series.
What We Believe
Emmanuel's doctrinal commitments are summarized in seven statements. The Bible is the exclusive, inspired, and inerrant Word of God, and the sole authority for faith and practice. There is one living, sovereign God, eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Lord Jesus Christ is true God, born of a virgin, lived a perfect sinless life, performed miracles, died a substitutionary and atoning death through His shed blood, was raised bodily, ascended to glory, and will return personally and visibly in power and glory.
All people are born lost as sinners and must be saved by the grace of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Eternal life is the free gift of God, received through faith and trust in the work of Christ on the cross and His resurrection. The Holy Spirit is presently ministering, by whose grace believers are regenerated and by whose power they live godly lives. Believers in Christ are united into one church, the visible expression of the Body of Christ on earth.
For further doctrinal depth, the church points to the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 and to The Pillar Network. Members affirm the Statement of Faith each year and are governed by the constitution and bylaws, which set out beliefs about marriage, gender, sexuality, and the sanctity of human life alongside the church's broader doctrinal commitments. The congregation cooperates with and supports the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and the Southern Baptist Convention insofar as doing so does not violate conscience or compromise loyalty to Christ and His Word.
Elders, Deacons, and Staff
Emmanuel Baptist is an elder-led congregation. The elders shepherded the flock, lead by example, teach and exhort sound doctrine, refute what contradicts the truth, manage the affairs of the church, and pray for the sick. The current elders are Josh Scally, Hunter Hays, and David Lee. Together they serve as the body's final interpretive authority on the Bible's application, while major decisions are brought before the members at quarterly members' meetings.
Supporting the elders are five deacons who serve in tangible, practical matters: Scott Haith, Lav McManus, Jim Hoffert, Jeremia Ambuehl, and Nate Hart. The Lead Pastor is Josh Scally, and the Associate Pastor for Worship and Youth is Hunter Hays. Day-to-day operations are carried out by Nettie Barnes (communications and technology) and Colin Vlach (office administration). Micah Musser serves as the Missionary Mediator, helping the congregation engage the work of missions beyond the walls.
Other named servants include Mike Mason (Grounds Coordinator), Ken Clark (Building Coordinator), LaDonna Clark and Ann Morrison (Decor), Martine Strickland (Visitation), Kathy Moore (Church Meals), Tom Smith (Congregational Mercy), Perry Sloop (Treasurer), Laura Ensley (Assistant Treasurer), Jackie Taylor (Clerk), Eddy Taylor (A/V), and John Barbour, David Bailey, and Jim Hoffert (Security). Children's ministry on Sundays is led by Louise Lee, with the pastor coordinating the broader Sunday School hour.
Membership and the Next Steps Path
For those ready to commit to Emmanuel, the church walks through a clear path of baptism, membership, and discipleship. Baptism is the public next step of obedience for every believer and is administered by immersion, picturing the believer's death, burial, and resurrection with Christ. Those who have already been baptized by immersion do not need to be rebaptized.
Membership at Emmanuel is covenantal. Each member affirms the church's Statement of Faith, completes a membership interview with an elder, signs onto the church covenant, and is presented to the church for affirmation by at least three-quarters of the members present. Members receive shepherding oversight, may serve in the church's ministries, and are expected to participate faithfully in the life of the body - committing their time, talents, and material resources to the work of the Gospel. The constitution includes a detailed process for receiving members by baptism, by letter from another church, by statement, and as associate members temporarily residing in the Raleigh area. A rigorous church-discipline process rooted in Matthew 18 is also part of the by-laws, designed to pursue wandering members in love.
Discipleship is described as a four-fold rhythm at Emmanuel: gather on Sundays at 10:30 and Wednesdays at 6:30 for corporate worship, teaching, and prayer; grow through Sunday morning Grow Classes at 9:30; group through monthly Grow Groups; and go through daily evangelism, missions, and service.
Children from Birth Through Fifth Grade
Children's ministry is anchored in the conviction that God values families and that the work of parents is nurtured by the loving volunteers of the church. Nursery care is offered during the Sunday School hour and the main worship service, with all adult workers required to provide a background check. Children's Church for children in Kindergarten through elementary age meets during the main worship service: kids begin the service with their parents in the sanctuary and are dismissed after the musical portion.
Midweek, children in K through fifth grade gather on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 7:30 for a Bible lesson, a craft or activity, and games - a fun way to grow and learn with friends. Each summer the church hosts Vacation Bible School for children ages four through twelve, with crafts, games, music and dance, missions projects, snacks, and a week of gospel-centered teaching. The Psalm-anchored motto hangs over the work: "Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward."
EBC Youth in the Basement
EBC Youth, Emmanuel's ministry for middle and high school students, meets on Sundays during the Sunday School hour (9:30 AM in the youth room upstairs) and Wednesdays at 6:30 PM in the basement. The weekly rhythm combines games, fellowship, and Bible study, with a goal of helping students understand God's will for their lives as revealed in Scripture. Students are encouraged to mature as followers of Christ and to live lives characterized by service toward others and self-sacrifice toward one another.
Hunter Hays, the Associate Pastor for Worship and Youth, oversees this work and brings years of student ministry experience to it. The youth ministry also runs an RBA basketball league - competitive five-on-five games against other area church teams - and offers a summer camp, with previous summers highlighted through recap videos. The youth basketball team requires attendance at a minimum of five youth group meetings to be eligible to play.
Ignite: Young Adults Near NC State
For college students and young professionals, Emmanuel hosts Ignite, a gathering that meets at 12:00 PM on Sundays immediately after the 10:30 worship service. The format is simple: pizza, biblical teaching, and conversation. The meeting takes place upstairs in Rooms 205 and 206 of the church, and Emmanuel's Five Points location makes it only a few minutes from NC State. Whether someone is a college student, a young professional, or simply looking for community with other young adults who want to grow in faith and friendship, Ignite is a place to gather, grow, and be set on fire for God's purpose.
Women's Ministry and Embrace Grace
The women's ministry at Emmanuel exists to help every woman delight in Jesus first, display Jesus to one another, and declare Him to those she encounters. The women gather for prayer, the study of God's Word, and intentional discipleship, with the goal of being equipped for every good work set before them.
Embrace Grace is a particular expression of that mission. Embrace Grace is a biblically based twelve-week program that walks single and pregnant young women through God's love and grace through video lessons, class discussion, encouraging Scripture verses, fellowship, and prayer. Each participant who completes the program is celebrated with a beautiful luncheon and baby shower. Class time is on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 PM, and childcare is provided. Embrace Life, a weekly Bible study for single moms, meets Sunday mornings from 9:15 to 10:30 AM, also with childcare provided. The church receives gently used baby items on the second floor of the church office in the Embrace Grace Room.
Men's Ministry, Senior Adults, and Beyond
The Men's Ministry meets for mutual encouragement, edification, and accountability, with past series including studies through The Disciplines of a Godly Man by R. Kent Hughes and the book of James with video lessons and discussion. The senior adults ministry, coordinated by Nancy Boylan, plans activities and meetings throughout the year designed to encourage growth and fellowship among the church's older members.
Behind the scenes, a personal shepherding team - Martine Strickland (Visitation), Kathy Moore (Church Meals), and Tom Smith (Congregational Mercy) - cares for the practical needs of the body. A financial stewardship team (Perry Sloop as Treasurer, Laura Ensley as Assistant Treasurer, and Jackie Taylor as Clerk) tracks the church's resources. A worship-gatherings team made up of Eddy Taylor, John Barbour, David Bailey, and Jim Hoffert keeps the audio-visual and security aspects of the gatherings running smoothly.
Connecting Week to Week
Realm Connect, the church's online ministry tool, keeps Emmanuel connected between Sundays. Through Realm, members can review upcoming events, sign up to serve, track giving, and connect through a private newsfeed and notifications. The Realm Connect app is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play, and the church also maintains an active presence on Facebook and Instagram. Sermons are posted to a YouTube channel, the Emmanuel podcast on Spotify, and SoundCloud, and Sunday morning services are livestreamed on YouTube for those unable to attend in person.
Resources for Growing Christians
Beyond the gathered ministries, Emmanuel curates a reading and listening list for Christian growth. Recommended articles include pieces by C.J. Mahaney, David Helm, Timothy Keller, Ken Sande, Jerry Bridges, Paul Tripp and Tim Lane, David Powlison, John Stott, Richard Baxter, David Platt, Mark Dever, and Donald Whitney, covering topics from biblical productivity to gospel-driven sanctification, peacemaking, and marriage.
Recommended podcasts include the White Horse Inn, Help Me Teach the Bible with Nancy Guthrie, Just Thinking, The Gospel Coalition, Nine Marks' Pastor's Talk, and Albert Mohler's The Briefing. Books on the shelf include Greg Gilbert's What Is the Gospel?, J.I. Packer's Knowing God, John Stott's The Cross of Christ, Mark Dever's Nine Marks of a Healthy Church, Dave Harvey's When Sinners Say I Do, and Kevin DeYoung's Just Do Something - resources the pastors recommend for mature disciples and curious newcomers alike.
Visiting Emmanuel
For those who want to come on a Sunday, doors open in time for Sunday School at 9:30 AM, with the main worship service beginning at 10:30. Wednesday nights include dinner at 5:15 on the first and third weeks of the month and Bible study at 6:30. Visitor parking is located off Wiggs Street on the east side of the church, with a downloadable parking map available. The church office can be reached at 919-834-3417 or by email at ebcadmin@ebcraleigh.com, and the elders can be reached at elders@ebcraleigh.com.
From a Five Points living room on Noble Road, Emmanuel Baptist Church keeps gathering, week after week, around the same convictions it has carried since 1950 - that the Bible is sufficient, that the gospel is the only hope, and that a local congregation can change a city by simply, faithfully, joyfully pointing everyone to Jesus.