Pastor Tommie Wofford
About our Pastor
District Elder Tommie Wofford was born and raised in Bakersfield, California, where he attended Fremont Elementary School, Lincoln Junior High School and Bakersfield High School. After graduating from high school, he attended San Jose State University for one year. He returned to Bakersfield after living in San Jose for one year and obtained his Bachelors Degree in Education from Cal State University. He also holds a Bachelors Degree in Ministerial Studies.
Pastor Wofford began working as a firefighter for the Kern County Fire Department in 1981. He achieved the rank of Captain and retired from the Kern County Department in 2008.
Pastor Wofford was raised in the church and was baptized in Jesus name and filled with the precious gift of the Holy Ghost at the age of 23, under the leadership of Pastor Charlotte Davis-Clemons, founding Pastor of Emmanuel Temple Church. He loved the Lord and faithfully served in the choir, drove the van to pick up members for church services and served as an usher. He became Assistant Pastor to Pastor Harold Clemons in 1986 and became Pastor of Emmanuel Temple Church in 1990.
Pastor Wofford serves as the District Elder of District No. 8 and works tirelessly carrying out the vision that the Lord has set for the ministry at Emmanuel Temple Church.
Pastor Wofford met the love of his life, Sandraleen Norling, in high school. They were married in 1982 and were blessed with three children, Tommie II, Rachel and Immanuel. They also have one grandson, Tommie III.
Our Mission
Our message at Emmanuel Temple Church is to worship God in spirit and in
truth and reach out to the lost souls in the world to tell them about the
goodness of Jesus Christ. It is our desire to deliver a message of hope
with love and compassion.
Vision Statement:
1. Develop, nourish and strengthen our membership by teaching and --------------preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
2. Provide a welcoming atmosphere for non-believers to hear the gospel.
3. Develop strong ministries to reach out to the community to share the --------plan of salvation, and help non-believers grow into mature, devoted -----------followers of Jesus Christ.
4. Provide moral and spiritual guidance.
What We Believe:
WE BELIEVE that the Bible is the inspired, infallible (unalterable) Word of God written by holy men of old, as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
WE BELIEVE in one God who is infinite in power, holy in nature, attributes and purposes, as well as omniscient and omnipresent. We believe that He was revealed to us as Father in creation, as Son in redemption, and as Holy Spirit in His comforting grace that never leaves those who trust Him.
WE BELIEVE that in Jesus dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily for it pleased the Father that in Him should all the fullness dwell.
WE BELIEVE in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. We believe that He ascended on high and has sent His spirit, the Holy Ghost, which was poured out at Jerusalem over 1900 years ago, and it is this same Spirit that is filling the hearts of those who diligently seek HIM today.
WE BELIEVE in baptism in water by immersion in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and in the baptism of the Holy Ghost, speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. This constitutes the new birth.
WE BELIEVE in a holy, sanctified life. We believe in divine healing, communion and foot washing. We believe also in the glorious catching away (the rapture) of the saints when Jesus returns in the clouds in glory to take His people to Heaven.
OUR CHIEF AIM is to glorify our Savior, who is Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
