History of Emmanuel Presbyterian

Emmanuel Presbyterian Church began as the First Presbyterian Church of Euless on Sunday, March 31, 1963 with 86 members. For more than a year, the congregation met in a condemned school auditorium, under the leadership of Rev. David Englehardt. In July 1964, the church moved to a newly constructed building on Simmons Drive. The master plan called for three buildings on the site: a Sanctuary, a Christian Education Building, and a Fellowship Hall. The Fellowship Hall was the first and only building constructed on this site.

In the 1970’s, the mid-cities area was growing fast. The Simmons Drive location was determined to be a hindrance to the development of the church. With the construction of Airport Freeway and the opening of DFW Airport in the early 1970’s, the projected growth in the mid-cities was north of the current location.  In August 1974, the property was sold to the city of Euless for a park and the acreage on Harwood Road in Bedford was secured by Presbytery.

From August 1974 to July 1976, worship was held in a former bank building near the Wilshire area of Euless on Highway 10 while a new building on Harwood Road was being constructed. The junior high class actually met in the bank vault.

A committee received suggestions for the naming of the new church. Emmanuel, God with us, was submitted by Lois Sieverling and chosen by the congregation. The steeple from the Euless church was moved to the new church, and now stands in a grass island just outside the front doors.

On August 8, 1976, the first service was held with about forty attending.  The church congregation grew and a new addition to the main building was dedicated on February 14, 1982. This addition included SoRelle Hall, classrooms, the pastor’s office, and kitchen.  By the end of 1985, there were 351 active members. A second construction project, the Christian Educational building, was dedicated in May 1989.

The mid-cities continued to grow in the 1990’s and so did Emmanuel.  By 1995, the active membership rose to 474.  Volunteers from Emmanuel started participating in the Trinity Habitat for Humanity in 1995 and that effort has continued through today.  Emmanuel has helped build one house each year and has done so since 1995. In 1999 and 2000, the church fully funded and provided all volunteers for the construction of houses.

A rift in the congregation developed in the late 1990’s that resulted in the loss in membership.  By 2005, the active membership had declined to 243.

A renovation of the sanctuary in 2004-2005 included an enlarged table area, with new carpet, chairs, sound system and organ.  Emmanuel is a ‘green congregation’.  It was certified as a PCUSA ‘Earth Care Congregation” since 2011.

In 2013, the 6:8 Project was established in the Greenway neighborhood of Ft. Worth.  The mission is to “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly.” (Micah 6:8) Emmanuel sponsors a summer lunch program and enrichment activities for the neighborhood kids. They do neighborhood cleanups twice per year, work with many partners to do neighborhood revitalization on MLK Day. They also have a scholarship fund for those attending colleges or trade schools.

Emmanuel has 94 active members as of the end of calendar year 2020.