Villa Baptist Church

Presiding Elder

Pastor Emanuel Elizee was ordained to the pastoral ministry on May 13, 1995. His academic preparation includes pre-seminary studies (Diploma in Theology—Barbados Baptist College) and earning a ministry degree (Bachelor of Religious Studies—Central Baptist Seminary, Toronto, Canada).

His ministry experience includes service as Pastor of Meadowcrest Baptist Church (Whitby, Ontario), Secretary of the Fellowship of Baptist Churches, Central Lake Ontario Association (Canada), and his current role as Presiding Elder of the Villa Baptist Church (1996-present). He and his wife, Juanita, have two adult children: Jemal and Amanda.

Purpose

The Villa Baptist Church exists for purpose of glorifying our God with specific reference to the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-40) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). The Great Commandment challenges us to love God and our fellowman. The Great Commission challenges us to evangelism, bringing people into right relationship with the Son of God; to covenant community, bringing people into a right relationship with the church of God; and to discipleship, bringing people into a right relationship with the Word of God.

Eldership and Affiliation

Villa Baptist Church currently has one pastor on its eldership with constitutional provision for a plurality of elders. He is informally supported by the elders of the sister churches of the East Caribbean Baptist Mission.

The Villa Baptist Church is an independent congregation with its own incorporation. However, the church is officially a member of the East Caribbean Baptist Mission through a Partner Church Agreement with the ECBM. This church is historically Southern Baptist in faith and practice.

History

In 1973, the Central Baptist Church of St. John’s, Antigua formed the Villa Baptist Mission. In 1975 the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board provided leadership for the work when it changed status from the Villa Baptist Mission to officially become the Villa Baptist Church.

The church experienced many years of stability until, under local leadership, it went through a major split in 1994, lost half its membership and was without pastoral leadership for approximately two years. However, under the new leadership of Pastor Emanuel Elizee in 1996 the church has stabilized, grown spiritually and numerically. Villa Baptist Church is “Reformed” in theology, subscribing to the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith with a constitutional commitment to a strong biblical ethic and church discipline.

Location

Turn west off Fort Road on Amy Byer Street in the Villa area. The church is a blue and white edifice about 100 yards from Fort Road.

Contact Information

• Telephones:
• 268-461-7773 Church Office
• 268-463-9893 Pastor’s Residence,
• 268-764-2111 Mobile
• Mailing Address:
• P.O. Box 277, St. John’s,Antigua & Barbuda
• E-Mail:villabaptist@baptistantigua.org