Our Leaders

Yoki is a graduate of SBTS and moved to Durham in June of 2024 in obedience to God and in response to the call to pastor Immanuel Baptist Church. Yoki strives to shepherd God's people with God's word so that they may grow in the faith, hope, and love of Christ. He has a deep passion for equipping the local church to fulfill the Great Commission in its community and to the ends of the world. He has been married to his wife, Dawn, for over 20 years, and they have three children. Yoki loves to meet people, learn their stories, and share life with them. When not at work, Yoki loves to cook, exercise, do martial arts, read books, and listen to podcasts. If asked, Yoki will readily admit that he has a "slight" book addiction.

Pastor Mike Harding became a new creation in Christ in the summer of 2002, and is a graduate of Liberty University. Pastor Mike and his wife, Emily, met while both serving in the US military and have been married since 2013; they have two beautiful and lively daughters, Joanna and Hannah. He is passionate about making disciples of Jesus who seek to reach Durham and the nations with the Gospel of Jesus. Pastor Mike is big on going where the Gospel has not gone. When not hanging with students and cheering them on in their achievements, he loves playing soccer with his girls, lifting weights with anyone who will join him, doing martial arts, studying theology and apologetics, and spending time in nature with his family. Pastor Mike and Pastor Yoki enable each other in their not-so-subtle book addictions.

For over thirty years, Earl Echols has served in Pastoral Ministry.  Earl is a graduate of Southeastern Seminary and has spent his career mentoring young men going into ministry. As a result, many of those men are serving as pastors, church and associational leaders. Earl has been married to his wife, Sheila, for over fifty years. They have two children , four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Pastor Earl serves Immanuel Baptist Church as a Lay Elder as he continues to serve God, his community, and the church.

Laura loves her church family and serves them in her role as the ministry assistant and as the leader of the Addiction Recovery Ministry. Her testimony of how God has worked in her life is what motivates her to do all things for the glory of God. Laura is a loving wife, mother, and grandmother.

Worship through music is a key part of how we gather at Immanuel. Vicki has led the Praise Team and Choir for over 9 years. She has a heart for music ministry and a love for Jesus that overflows in worship through song. She is a second-generation Worship Leader with her mother serving before her. Vicki is married to Scott, and they have two children.