In the year 1911, Elder G.E. Peters came to Durham and erected a tent on the corner of Pine and Piedmont Streets. A few accepted and were baptized. The charter members were the Toraine, Robinson, Parnam and Wallace families. The ten or fifteen members under the leadership of Elder Peters met from house to house. Then they met at the old Odd Fellows Hall on Pine Street.
Mrs. Leana Robinson, whose mother was a charter member, donated a lot on the corner of Lincoln and Massey Streets. A very small but attractive church was built.
In 1929, Elder J.G. Thomas held an Effort here and more members were baptized and added to the church. The church was then enlarged.
In 1935, in the basement of the old church, a church school was started. Mrs. Lucille Rogers was the teacher and taught school there for 15 years.
Efforts were held by many that increased the membership. In 1954, the need for a new and larger edifice was noted under the leadership of Elder I.J. Johnson. So the former church, on the corner of Lincoln and Massey Streets, was built.
In 1969, under the leadership of O.U. Holness, a Day Care Center was started. Mrs. J. DeShazor Jackson was the Director with Miss Kathryn Crump and Mrs. Doris Whitley as capable assistants. By September, 1971 the enrollment had grown to 58 children.
Some of the evangelists who served us are as follows: Elders J.G. Thomas, E.E. Cleveland, P.H. Morgan, M. Phipps, etc. Ministers were Elders Peters, Abney, N.B. Smith, J.G. Thomas, F.A. Osterman, S.G. Winston, M. Green, H.D. Singleton, H.M. Barker, J.T. Powell, R. Franklin, D.M. Jones, O.U. Holness and J.O. Best.
In 1973, the church was dedicated debt free under the leadership of James O. Best. Elder Best continued to serve as Pastor until 1975.
The now Rear Admiral Dr. Barry Black, Chaplain of U.S. Senate, served as Pastor from 1975-1976.
In 1976, Pastor Robert Sloan, who retired in 1989, planted the seed to build a new structure in another location. Elder Jeffrey Baskins was the Associate Pastor from 1985 through 1986.
From 1989 to 1994, the seed continued to germinate and the building program continued under the watchful eye and leadership of Pastor Alvin Freeman.
In 1994, Pastor David A. Smith came to Durham and continued the task of feeding, watering and nurturing the seeds of growth and expansion that began many years ago. On January 9, 2000 we had a Ground Breaking Ceremony at the present site of the Immanuel Temple SDA Church. With much prayer, sacrificial giving, and diligence, the Lord blessed us to open our new church on July 28, 2001, at 2102 S. Alston Avenue,. Pastor Smith continued to serve as our pastor until January 2003.
On March 8, 2003, Dr. Larry E. Johnson became the pastor of Immanuel Temple SDA Church. He came with a zeal for evangelism and a burden for souls. Through his commitment to his calling and with the full cooperation of the church body, two Revelation Seminars were conducted simultaneously in different parts of Durham County. We were blessed to experience Net 2004 at the conclusion of the seminars. Many precious souls have been baptized since then and to the present time.
In 2004, Pastor Johnson saw the need to utilize the old church building in yet another way. The church body agreed and voted that we would explore the possibilities of using that facility as a community outreach center. With the assistance and expertise of some dedicated and talented young adults of Immanuel Temple, the vision has been realized. Immanuel Temple continues to be a beacon light in Durham.
