New church built by congregation

Pastor Jonathan Stitzel, flanked by Keith Fitch and Mike Carr, stand in front of the new Emmanuel Baptist Church being erected in Clarkson on Route 19, just south of Lawrence Road. Originally consisting of 14 people, the church now numbers over 50 members and needs more room. The building is being constructed with voluntary labor, primarily by Fitch, as lead builder, and Carr as his assistant. They work for Continental Mission Builders, an organization sponsored by the General Association of Regular Baptists, who help construct church buildings where needed. Church members are helping where their talents can best be used. Pastor Stitzel stated: "I estimate that the 5,100 square foot building would cost about $700,000 to construct, but, because of the assistance being provided it should cost the parishioners about $300,000." Ground was broken in June, 2006 and the pastor expects the building to be completed in April or May 2007. Photograph by Walter Horylev.

New church built by congregation

The Hamlin Baptist congregation that first gathered in a living room on Hidden Creek Lane 15 years ago will finally have a place to call its own.

The Emmanuel Baptist Church has been under construction on Lake Road in Clarkson since June and the 5,100 square feet building already seems to fill a field across from Lawrence Road.

"It will be a place we can call our own," says Selma Patrick, church member and treasurer. "It will be home."

The five families that founded this once itinerant congregation first held service on the Klotz family couch, before they relocated to the fold-out chairs of the Hamlin Exempt. Five families grew to seven and seven to ten, and from there, they moved to Merritt Hall and soon after to the old Brook's drugstore in Hamlin Plaza, where they now pray and wait to fill the pews in their own church, set to open for service next summer.

"Every time you pass by, you see that more and more has gone up," says John Klotz, in whose home it all began. "It's coming together. It's an exciting time."

With the help of treasurer Selma Patrick, who joined the congregation not long after their Missionary Pastor, Jonathan Stitzel, about eight years ago, Emmanuel Baptist Church amassed over $300,000 in just over a decade through grants, mortgage loans and voluntary contributions.

"The money is only for the materials," says John Klotz. "All the equipment, the labor - that's all volunteered."

The church broke ground in May of this year and construction was underway soon after. Aided by the unflagging effort of their pastor, the congregation made all the necessary preparations to build their church. They hired an engineer from Schultz Associates and an architect from Renauto & Fenity, both from Spencerport. All the proper permits were culled, signed and registered - they spent six months on paperwork alone, says Pastor Stitzel. And lumber, usually a major production investment, was purchased at cost from John Grimes of Cazenovia, near Syracuse.

From the zoning permits to the wheelchair ramps, Emmanuel Baptist Church was designed and built by its own, on their time and their terms.

Along with volunteers from their congregation and others from Fulton, Albion and across the state (some from as far as Ohio and Pennsylvania), Emmanuel Baptist welcomed a small crew from the Continental Baptist Builders, a missionary construction crew of volunteers from Rockford, Michigan.

"We travel all over the United States and build churches," says Keith Fitch, lead builder with Continental Baptist Builders. "It's a ministry that God called us to and we love it. We meet a lot of nice people and travel and see a lot of different things in the United States."

With the roof shingled and the doors installed, the volunteers plan to insulate, plaster and wire the interior during the winter. Fitch still scours the aisles of local hardware stores for the best deals on the last of their materials.

"I think it will attract new people," says Selma Patrick of the church, "and give us more opportunities for outreach and more varied programs for children and adults."

With the last work on the facade set for spring, Emmanuel Baptist Church should welcome its congregation for service by June 2007.

Note: Pastor Jonathan Stitzel asked to have the following message appended to the article:

"For the second time in recent weeks, the construction site of Emmanuel Baptist Church has been broken into and thousands of dollars of tools and equipment stolen. Even though we have had these setbacks, God still continues to amaze us by providing the materials, funds, and volunteer workers to complete the building of our church. While these robberies have slowed our progress, we know that God's work continues in Clarkson. We continue to look to God for His strength in overcoming these setbacks.

Our special prayers go out to the persons who are responsible for the loss of God's tools and equipment. We pray for their salvation. As we are taught from the Bible we forgive them, and God will forgive them if they only ask Him."