Emmanuel Baptist Church came into existence through the vision of Bro. Ruel Conner. Bro. Conner, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, desired to reach the people of Eastern Kentucky with the truth of the Gospel. He desired to establish a New Testament Baptist church in this area.
Upon receiving authority from Southland Baptist Church, in Livermore, KY., Bro. Conner began looking for a place to establish a New Testament Mission. After three years of holding services a Bloomington and seeing several souls saved, the first being Sister Esther Patrick, Bro. Conner decided it was time to organized the Mission into a New Testament Baptist Church. A meeting was called together on Monday evening, March 17, 1958 at the Trace Branch schoolhouse, for the purpose of organizing a church.
The organizational meeting was opened with the following ordained ministers acting as the Presbytery: Bro. Harry Hille, Bro. Carl Noel, Bro. Wilford McGary, Bro. George Galloway, Bro. Warren Redding, Bro. Elton Wilson, Bro. Warren A. Wilkerson, Bro. Ray Marquesse, Bro James DeBorde, Bro. Ruel Conner, and Bro. M.L. Ray.