EMANUEL ASSEMBLY OF GOD
The Emanuel Assembly of God had its beginnings in 1979 with a small group of Portuguese emigrant brothers. The brother who led this small group was Manuel Martins, who is currently the pastor.
Pastor Manuel Venade Martins was born on June 17, 1938, in Lovelhe, a parish in the municipality of Vila Nova de Cerveira, in the district of Viana do Castelo, Portugal, where he was also baptized. Raised in the traditional Roman Catholic Church, he married Maria Fernanda Ribeiro Costa on February 28, 1965. From this union, his firstborn daughter, Adelaide, was born in Portugal.
On November 23, 1969, the couple emigrated to the United States of America, where two more children were born: Fernando and Isabel. In 1973, she completed her secondary education, equivalent to a high school diploma, from Brentwood High School under the auspices of the University of Albany, NY.
Brother Martins’ conversion took place in 1977 at the Church of Dios Vivo, a Hispanic Pentecostal Movement, led by Pastor Luiz Rodriguez. He soon felt the desire to be baptized in water, thus fulfilling what is written in Mark 16:16, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.”
He soon felt a desire to embrace the Master’s work, dedicating all his available time to it, and was supported by the local pastors of the church to which he belonged.
In 1977 he attended the theological course of the Assemblies of God at the Ebenezer Bible Institute in Bayshore, New York, and was consecrated as co-pastor by Pastor Wildsom Alves on June 27, 1982.
On January 14, 1979, the first service in Portuguese was held, and in 1981 Pastor Martins joined the Convention of American Assemblies of God Churches. Meanwhile, he met Pastor M. Folgado, with whom he formed a great friendship that greatly helped him in his ministry.
He completed his pastoral training in 1984.
The Emanuel Assembly of God has prospered throughout these years and currently has two more places of worship, one in Farmingville and another in Mineola. And so it continues in the strength of the Lord and always with a well-defined goal, working and praying to win souls for His Kingdom.
We are grateful to all who helped us, but especially to Him who lives and reigns forever and ever and who will soon return to rescue His faithful Church. To Him be all glory, honor, and praise.