Staff

Our PastorDr. Donald G. Proctor (Bro. Donny) was raised in the Panhandle of Texas. After completing four years in the US Army he returned to Texas and received a BA and MA from Wayland Baptist University while pastoring Progress Baptist Church in Muleshoe, Texas. After completing the MA at Wayland Bro. Donny, wife Debbie and two sons, Landall and Shawn packed up and moved to North Carolina to attend Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary where he earned the Master of Divinity. During this time Bro. Donny served as pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church in South Hill, Virginia.

After completing the M.Div, Bro. Donny turned his attention to his doctoral studies in Family Systems at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary (now Palmer Seminary) outside of Philadelphia, PA.

Bro. Donny has served churches in Texas, North Carolina, Virginia and now here in Michigan. He and Debbie are the parents to two grown men, Landall and Shawn, the proud In-Laws to a beautiful “daughter, Jill and doting grandparents to Hudson. Bro. Donny and Debbie are avid non-competitive cyclist. You might see them on the roads when the weather gets better, but you will also see Debbie early in the morning on her daily runs – no matter the weather!

Following is an interview that you might have with our pastor:

AND SO YOU ASK?

What advice would you give someone who is looking for a church?

First, good for you. It may be that you are looking for a church because you are new – new to this area, new to Christian faith, newly married or newly single. Christian faith and church life help us orient ourselves. Real faith provides reliable navigation for life’s journey. Healthy churches are safe places to ask hard questions, even when we suspect (know) that the answers may be long in coming. Churches build authentic community like no other place. So, with all the choices competing for your time, I applaud your search. I want you to know, the destination is worth the journey. In a good church you will find friendships that both challenge you and also validate who and where you are in life. Immanuel is a place filled with honest folk honestly seeking to follow God. For these reasons, I hope you’ll visit Immanuel as a part of your search.

Second, The Ann Arbor area has been blessed with an abundance of healthy, vibrant churches. On the one hand, that abundance is wonderful for the Kingdom of God. On the other hand, that same abundance makes finding the right church for you a little more difficult. I suggest you visit more than one church from more than one denomination. You may discover the place that fits you best is a tradition other than the one in which you grew up. You may discover real and important differences between churches of the same denomination. Ultimately, I trust you will find a place that feels like home – a place committed to sharing life as a family in a way that fits you.

If I attend Immaneul this Sunday morning, what should I expect?

When you walk into the doors you will receive the warm hospitality of people who love God and each other, and who desire to share that love with you. If you come to our 10:00am Sunday school and Bible study hour you will be able to share a time of learning about God’s word for us. We have an excellent team of Bible study teachers who are well-prepared each week.

We have worship services Sunday mornings at 11:00. We believe God is the audience in worship and the congregation direct their prayers and praises to God. Each week our single aim is to facilitate authentic worship of God through Jesus Christ. Our worship service is somewhere between traditional with the singing of hymns and the occasional liturgical reading and praise song. We search for that blend that will touch and bless each person of different age, social and economic circumstance without weakening the message of the Gospel.

What will everyone else be wearing?

You’ll see that the majority of the Immanuel family will be casually dressed. We want you to be comfortable and authentic to who you are.

What should I know about Immanuel?

More and more I believe labels are unimportant and that distinctives are important. Even in a church landscape as rich and varied as Ypsilanti’s, Immanuel is unique. Located in the community she serves, Immanuel has a vibrant mission both on our campus and around the world. We are in partnership with the American Baptist Churches – USA and the American Baptist Churches – Michigan, and the Baptist World Alliance.

While I consider Immanuel a healthy church we are not without our challenges. Like many community churches we have witnessed a decline in the past years but do not believe that God is through with this faith family. It is our desire to reach out and provide young families with the community that helps each of us maneuver the daily challenges of life.

Here at Immanuel you need neither check your brain at the door nor leave your heart in the car.

Is there a place for me at Immanuel?

Yes. Our sense of what God desires for us to be and do has always been larger than we are on any given day. We believe each Christian has been blessed and gifted by God in unique ways to do His work. Your gifts, talents, and abilities can find a home in one of our ministries or missions. And, even more than that, you have a place here. There is a place – not just to do something – there is a place to be. I have found Immanuel to be a family of grace and we will be the family of God for you, if you will let us.

Our motto, “IBC…It’s where you belong” refers to the idea that within all of us there is a place that can only be filled with a faith and action in God, so it is where you “belong”. But, even more than that I believe that we all still (even in the day of modern technology and social media) we need a place that we are a part of. A place that accepts us for who we are and in that way IBC is where you can “belong”.

How can I learn more about Immanuel?

At the conclusion of each service I offer a variety of ways to respond and/ or to seek church membership.

A parting thought…

Even if I were not the pastor at Immanuel, my wife (Debbie) and I would still be members here. We love both the fellowship and the worship we have discovered in the Immanuel family. I hope you will visit us. If you do, please make a point of letting me know about your experience. I would be glad to speak with you on Sunday, meet with you during the week, or correspond with you via email or snail mail. Until then,

Grace & Peace be yours in abundance!

Bro. Donny