Join Pastor Allen Bonnell from Immanuel Baptist Church for a sermon on “Joyful Overcomers” from Ezra chapters 5 and 6. Following an inspiring update on Camp 120 and the joy of children in their faith, Pastor Allen draws a powerful connection between their childlike trust and our own ability to overcome worry and anxiety by resting in our Heavenly Father.

He provides a brief history of Israel’s exile and return, setting the stage for the narrative in Ezra where God’s people, after a 16-year delay caused by opposition, are encouraged by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to resume rebuilding the temple. This message reminds us that in this fallen world, we will have trouble, but God’s presence and promises remain firm.

Discover three key points for overcoming life’s challenges:

-- You will have trouble, but take heart: Understand that opposition is a normal part of the Christian life. Pastor Allen explains how God disciplines those He loves and reminds us that our reward is not in this world, but in the next.

-- God will provide for His mission: He illustrates how God not only encouraged the builders to resume work but also commanded their adversaries to pay for the project, proving that where God guides, He provides.

-- Jesus has overcome the world: The sermon concludes by linking the rebuilt temple in Ezra to Jesus’s declaration that He is the new temple. This emphasizes that intimate relationship with God, not a physical location, is the true path to freedom, salvation, and joy.

This message is a powerful call to surrender to God, overcome internal and external opposition, and rediscover the joy that comes from trusting in His sovereignty and the finished work of Jesus Christ.

Join Pastor Scott Cannon from Immanuel Baptist Church as he continues the Ezra series, diving into Ezra chapter 4 to reveal how to navigate opposition when pursuing God's will. Pastor Cannon emphasizes that whenever God's people undertake His work, the forces of darkness will inevitably rise up and oppose it, often with repeated attacks.

This sermon explores four key aspects of the adversary's tactics:

-- Deception: How enemies (like the Samaritans in Ezra) offer seemingly helpful partnerships to corrupt God's work.

-- Discouragement: The enemy's attempts to create frustration and intimidation to halt spiritual progress.

-- Defamation: The use of slander, false accusations, and "half-truths" to undermine God's people and their mission.

-- Decree: The painful reality that even obedience to God's command does not exempt us from severe opposition and setbacks.

Pastor Scott provides current examples of adversaries facing the church today, including disunity, following pastors over Christ, consumer Christianity, lack of discipleship, and sin within the church, noting alarming statistics about church closures and pastoral resignations.

Learn vital responses to opposition: expect it, discern and resist deceptive partnerships, stand firm against discouragement and slander, and trust in God's unwavering sovereignty. He passionately reminds us that whatever it is that the enemy is designed for evil in your life, God desires to use it for good.

This message is a powerful call to stand firm in faith, knowing that the same God who starts a work in us will complete it until the day He returns.

Join Ryan Hanley, Pastor at the Williamsburg campus of Immanuel Baptist Church, as he continues the "New Beginnings" series, exploring Ezra chapter 3. This sermon addresses the profound question: How do we rebuild our lives and spiritual foundations after seasons of wandering or sin? Hanley draws parallels between Israel's return from 70 years of Babylonian exile and our own journeys of repentance and renewal, emphasizing that "you're never too far from the love and the mercy and the grace of God."

Hanley reminds us of our identity as God's chosen people, made by God and for God, with a purpose to proclaim His excellencies to the world. He highlights that forgetting this purpose can lead to drifting, but God, in His immense patience and mercy, continually offers second chances. The sermon emphasizes that true rebuilding begins with repentance and leads to genuine worship.

Discover how the returned exiles in Ezra prioritized rebuilding the altar and laying the temple's foundation, even amid fear from surrounding peoples. This serves as a powerful reminder to prioritize God's presence and His Word in our lives, building upon the "cornerstone of Jesus." Hanley challenges listeners to allow Scripture to shape their perception of life, hope, and worship more profoundly than worldly influences.

Experience the mixed emotions of worship, a blend of joy for God's new work and sorrowful repentance for past failures, all united by God's steadfast love that "endures forever." This sermon is a heartfelt call to respond to God's continuous invitation to return, rebuild, and live faithfully for His glory, recognizing that even a "heap of ruins is a foundation of God's great work."

Join Lead Pastor Allen Bonnell from Immanuel Baptist Church as he begins a new series, “New Beginnings: Renewal, Rebuilding, and Refocusing,” starting with the book of Ezra. Pastor Allen opens with the powerful truth that “nobody is too far gone that God’s grace cannot redeem them”, sharing a personal testimony of his father’s deathbed prayer.

This sermon highlights incredible stories of God’s recent work, from college students finding Christ in Spain where conversions are rare, to record numbers at 1451 Camp, and two students giving their lives to Christ at a public park prayer meeting. These events demonstrate a season of spiritual renewal and rebuilding within the church.

Delving into Ezra 1, Pastor Allen reveals key truths:

-- God is in control: He orchestrates historical events, even using pagan kings like Cyrus, to fulfill His purposes. He cites Jeremiah’s 70-year prophecy as a testament to God’s precise timing and faithfulness.

-- God will provide for His mission: Just as God moved Pharaoh’s heart during the Exodus, He stirs hearts and provides resources, even using the secular world’s wealth, for His work. He often works through a faithful remnant, not necessarily the masses.

-- God calls His people to respond: He invites us to leave spiritual “Babylon” (exile from Him) and return to our first love, regardless of how long we’ve been away. God’s desire is for His presence to be known in every community.

Discover how God is stirring hearts for evangelism, liberal giving, and full-time ministry. This message is a powerful call to surrender to Christ, trust in His perfect plan, and boldly engage in His mission.

Student Pastor Dustin Rife shares an exhilarating message on the impact of youth ministry and the continuation of God's work, highlighted by powerful testimonies from students who attended 1451 Camp. This sermon celebrates how lives are being transformed and how God is actively pursuing people, emphasizing that Jesus truly rose from the grave and is still changing lives today.

Pastor Dustin shares a compelling statistical finding: where you are spiritually by age 18 is likely where you'll stay for life. This underscores the critical importance of investing in the spiritual development of teenagers, with a call to action for both students to take their faith seriously and parents to prioritize God, His kingdom, and His church above all else.

Hear inspiring testimonies from students as they share their "next steps" in faith, including commitments to ministry, sharing the Gospel with friends, releasing worldly distractions, and starting Bible studies.

Drawing from John 12 and the historical "Haystack Revival" of 1806, Pastor Dustin challenges believers to "put wood on the fire" through prayer and continued spiritual growth. He outlines four valuable lessons from the Haystack Revival, emphasizing that God uses:

-- People in the middle of nowhere to plead for souls everywhere.

-- Young people to stir up all ages.

-- Few in number to gather countless for harvest.

-- Invisible and seemingly insignificant events to accomplish His great purposes.

This sermon is an invitation to respond to Jesus, to surrender your life to Him, and to join in fervent prayer for a spiritual awakening in our communities and beyond.

Welcome to Immanuel Baptist Church! Join Lead Pastor Allen Bonnell as he continues the "Unstoppable Church" series with a powerful message on spiritual warfare, drawn from 2 Kings 6:15-17 and 1 Peter 5:8-9. Pastor Allen reminds us that regardless of belief, we all face an enemy, but as believers, "greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world."

In this sermon, Pastor Allen highlights the unseen spiritual battle raging around us, impacting us spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically. He shares the incredible truth that "there is more for you than there is against you," emphasizing God's omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience as our ultimate defense. Learn how God fights for His people, even when circumstances seem overwhelming.

Pastor Allen also exposes common lies of the enemy concerning our worth and relationships. Discover how to resist the devil by standing firm in faith, relying on God's strength, and speaking truth over the enemy's accusations. He breaks down the "PRAY" acrostic for effective prayer in spiritual warfare: Praise, Repent, Ask, and Yield.

Finally, Pastor Allen contrasts the enemy's tactics of condemnation and accusation with Jesus's work of conviction and intercession. Understand that Jesus is actively praying for you, advocating on your behalf, and that you are defined by His scars and His love, not your mistakes. This message is a vital encouragement for anyone facing spiritual opposition, seeking to grow in prayer, or needing to be reminded of God's unwavering presence and power.

Join Lead Pastor Allen Bonnell from Immanuel Baptist Church as he preaches on "Fighting the Unseen Battles in Our Lives" from 2 Corinthians 10:1-5. Pastor Allen dives into the reality of spiritual warfare, emphasizing that many of our struggles, from anxiety and discouragement to relational conflicts, can be rooted in unseen battles.

In this powerful sermon, Pastor Allen reveals that our minds are the front lines of this spiritual battle, where the enemy attempts to plant deception and doubt. He explains how to "take every thought captive to obey Christ" and combat strongholds formed by believing the enemy's lies.

Discover the supernatural and effective weapons God has given us to win these battles:

-- The Word of God: Learn how daily engagement with Scripture can destroy arguments and false doctrines.

-- Prayer and Fasting: Pastor Allen illustrates through the example of Daniel 10 how prayer and humbling ourselves before God can lead to divine intervention against demonic forces.

-- Worship: Understand how gratitude and praise to God can be a powerful weapon against anxiety, fear, and overwhelm, inviting God to fight on your behalf.

This message is for anyone seeking freedom from sin, anxiety, depression, or relational struggles, and who desires to experience the joy and peace that only Christ can give.

Join Lead Pastor Allen Bonnell from Immanuel Baptist Church as he delivers a powerful Father’s Day message titled “What a Man Looks Like.” In this sermon, Pastor Allen explores biblical masculinity, contrasting it with societal ideas of “toxic masculinity” and emphasizing the inherent differences between men and women as designed by God.

Discover what it means to be a man of God in a fallen world. Pastor Allen delves into the five key characteristics of biblical masculinity, drawing inspiration from Paul’s description of Epaphroditus in Philippians 2:25. Learn about the importance of strong male friendships and accountability, the God-given gift of work and purpose, and the spiritual battles men are called to fight. He also highlights the call to live an adventurous life on mission for Christ, and the sacrificial love that motivates true ministry.

This sermon also touches on the reality that “it’s okay to not be okay”, encouraging men to seek help and support when facing challenges like anxiety, depression, or frustration. Pastor Allen emphasizes the courage required to risk it all for Christ, as exemplified by historical figures and modern-day examples like Clayton Kershaw and Charles Pennington.

This message is essential for any man seeking to understand his God-given purpose and for anyone interested in the biblical perspective on masculinity, strength, and service.

Are you struggling to share your faith? Do you feel like Satan is hindering your witness? In this powerful message, Lead Pastor Allen Bonnell reveals how to overcome the lies that keep Christians from being bold witnesses for Christ.

Discover the spiritual armor God provides for effective evangelism, including the "gospel shoes" that give you firm footing in spiritual warfare. Pastor Allen exposes common lies the enemy uses to stop your witness - from feeling "not good enough" to fearing rejection or embarrassment.

Learn the simple 4-point gospel outline: God created, man sinned, Jesus died, my response. This message will equip you with practical tools for sharing your testimony and becoming an unstoppable witness in your community.

Key topics covered:

✅ How to overcome fear of evangelism

✅ The importance of prayer in witnessing

✅ Understanding your role as Christ's ambassador

✅ Identifying true vs. false conversion

✅ Breaking through spiritual warfare that hinders outreach

Whether you're a new believer or seasoned Christian, this sermon will reignite your passion for sharing the gospel and give you the confidence to "snatch others from the fire." Stop letting the enemy silence your witness and step into the boldness God has called you to have.

Watch to discover how an unstoppable church creates unstoppable witnesses who advance God's kingdom with power and authority.

Are you feeling discouraged, overwhelmed, or like spiritual forces are working against you? In this powerful message, Lead Pastor Allen Bonnell reveals the biblical path to spiritual victory through the "Road to Victory" framework. Drawing from Ephesians 6:10-18, Pastor Allen explains how every believer can overcome Satan's lies, temptations, and attacks through God's supernatural power.

What You'll Learn:

-- How to identify and resist Satan's schemes and strategies

-- The biblical truth about spiritual warfare and demonic forces

-- Four practical steps to spiritual victory: ROAD (Resist, Obey, Abide, Draw Near)

-- How to put on the full armor of God for daily protection

-- Why your battle isn't against people but spiritual forces

-- How to replace lies with God's truth and find freedom from guilt and shame

Key Topics Covered:

-- Understanding spiritual warfare and Satan's tactics

-- Breaking free from depression, anxiety, and past regrets

-- Protecting your marriage and family from spiritual attack

-- The power of confession and repentance in Christian living

-- Walking in the righteousness of Christ daily

-- Prayer as a weapon against spiritual opposition

This message is perfect for anyone struggling with temptation, feeling spiritually attacked, or wanting to understand biblical spiritual warfare. Whether you're dealing with pornography addiction, marital problems, financial stress, or overwhelming guilt, Pastor Allen shows how Christ has already won the victory and how you can walk in that triumph.

Scripture Focus: Ephesians 6:10-18, James 4:7-8, John 15:5, 1 John 5:4-5

Perfect for Christians seeking victory over sin, freedom from spiritual oppression, understanding spiritual warfare, or learning to walk in God's power. This biblical teaching will equip you with practical tools for spiritual battle and help you experience the abundant life Christ offers.