Christ Emmanuel Christian Fellowship is the result of faithful and generous men and women giving themselves to the vision of building a Church dedicated to Jesus, the Great Head. With each successive person, one planted, one watered, not for personal gain but giving God the glory for the increase! The merger of two congregations began in 1977; Emmanuel Baptist Church and Christ Temple Baptist Church under the leadership of Dr. Michael Dantley and Pastor Ozell Freeman, respectively.

Emmanuel Baptist Church had its early beginnings when the late Pastor Emmet McMullen assumed the pastorate of a work on McGregor Avenue. Under his leadership, the small flock relocated to a building on Florence Avenue. The members worked in faith, sometimes with their own hands, to renovate an abandoned auto garage on Florence Avenue, Walnut Hills. There he worked until the Lord called him unto Himself. Pastor Michael Dantley was called to succeed the late Pastor McMullen in June, 1974.  A Pastor James H. Howell of the Revelation Baptist Church received word that Emmanuel Baptist needed a more suitable facility, and that Christ Temple was in need of more members. He then brokered the merger in 1977, with the need of each congregation fulfilled. Pastor Freeman, concerned with his health, then graciously stepped aside to allow Pastor Dantley to be the pastor of the merged congregations, in the building now known as the Destiny Youth Center (DYC).

Christ Emmanuel doubled its size within five years to a congregation of approximately 350. In 1981, Pastor Dantley experienced for the first time the manifest power of the Holy Spirit, and taught on the Baptism of the Spirit to its members. By 1989, the Dantleys began to realize the need to change to a non-denominational (faith) as we no longer strictly held to exclusive Baptist doctrine, but rather had broadened its beliefs to more charismatic leanings. In addition, the church was in need of finalizing its incorporation with the state of Ohio. Emmanuel Baptist was already registered. Pastor Carol suggested Christ-Emmanuel Christian Fellowship; Christ from Christ Temple, and Emmanuel from Emmanuel Baptist, thus the name Christ-Emmanuel Christian Fellowship. Jesus the Christ has proven Himself faithful to His name Emmanuel (God with us) over the years.

The congregation grew in faith and in number until it was forced to hold three Sunday morning services to accommodate the waiting crowds. Aware that they had exceeded the capacity of their current facility, Pastor Dantley and the leadership began to build a new sanctuary, our current facility. Again, faith prevailed such that then Pastor Dantley asked members to contribute one week’s salary towards the financing of the new edifice! The building itself stands tall as proof positive that Jehovah Jireh is committed to a committed people.

Throughout its history, Bishop Dantley by now, saw to it that Christ Emmanuel Christian Fellowship was a place of preaching, teaching, and worship that opened the eyes of the believer to a living reality of living for God in intimate fellowship, while also bearing witness to the outside world of doing great exploits for God in the market place. People became spirit-filled and empowered and equipped to fulfill their purpose and calling in life.

Christ Emmanuel became one of the first large African American churches here in Cincinnati to hire full time pastors to direct and oversee multiple ministries to serve the church and various community programs. In addition to Sunday morning services classes and trainings were held nearly every day of the week. Approximately 40 ministry and subgroups have been developed over the years for teaching, equipping, and providing services to the Body of Christ.

God has proven Himself faithful to Christ Emmanuel Christian Fellowship; He has truly been Emmanuel from its humble beginnings, reaching thousands with the gospel of Christ, coming out strong from a pandemic, and continuing to “turn the world upside down” through Word, Worship, and Work.