About Our Church History
The Foundation of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church
A passage of scripture found in St. Matthew 16:18 reads, “And I say also unto thee, that thou are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
In the year 1930, the Rev. Willie Mack started out with a group of men and women to work for the Master. This was the organization of a little church located on NW 65th Street and 18th Avenue. Their main objective was to save souls for Christ.
The group met and chose the name “Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church." The Rev. Willie Mack served as pastor. Bro. Matthew Johnson and Bro. James Robinson served as Deacons.
The Rev. Walker was called to lead the people. Some of the members that were there during that time were Bro. Adam Williams, Sis. Lucie Williams, Bro. Matthew Johnson, Sis. Elouise Johnson, Bro. James Joseph, Sis. Arizona Joseph, Sis. Ella Moate, Bro. Lewis Mathis, Deacon General White, Sis. Hattie Black, and Sis. Emma Jones. We are sure that there are other members whose names we do not have.
A New Name, A New Beginning
As time went on, he began encouraging the sister and brothers of God to purchase land for a church building. The land was purchased from Mr. Duncan to erect a building on the corner of N.W. 64th Street and 19th Avenue. A house was then moved on the land to hold services. The building was dedicated for services to the Lord.
The Rev. Walker and members were not satisfied with the name “Shady Grove," so they reorganized and renamed the church. The name “Antioch” was given by Bro. James Joseph. .
The Rev. Otis Washington Foster was called. He accepted the call and the challenge to lead the Antioch family. So on one Sunday morning in February 1938, he came to serve as Minister for the Antioch Baptist Church with a membership of fifteen (15). Deacon General White and Deacon L. W. Wynn were serving on the Deacon Board. Then Deacon J. T. Fivash, Deacon D. Lucas, and Deacon Simon were added. Later, the following Deacons: M. J. Summerset, Willie Chandler, Jordan Brown, Charlie Thrower, W. C. Johnson, John Davis, Jonas Thomas, and Hezekiah Lundy were ordained to the office of Deacon by Rev. O. W. Foster. The Rev. Charlie Thrower was licensed and ordained to the ministry of the pastor. And a few years later, the Rev. W. C. Thompson was also ordained under the leadership of Rev. Foster were Bro. R. L. Daniels, Bro. W. C. Ivery, and Bro. W. D. Daniels.
Rising from the Ashes: A Journey of Resilience and Faith
In January 1949, the church was burned to the ground. During that time, we had no place to worship, but God opened the hearts of the pastor and members of the New Shiloh Baptist Church, and they opened their doors and invited us to hold services there. We began services on the third Sunday in January 1949. Services were held at Shiloh for three years. May God ever bless them for their kindness. We are still indebted to Shiloh and the late Rev. Griffin for their kindness.
During that time, we were busy making plans to rebuild the Antioch Baptist Church. Finally, out of the ashes and ruins of the old building, on January 6, 1952, the first phase of the structure we now worship in came forth. This was done under the leadership of Rev. O. W. Foster, Pastorate.
During the years that followed, we added to the Deacon Board Deacons Thomas Ford, Lemon Boston, and Robert Ivery. In 1961, the church, still under the able leadership of the late Rev. O. W. Foster, ordained Brothers James Mobley, Howard Coachman, Roy Ross, Elijah McQueen, and the now Rev. W. L. Strange as deacons. It was a joyous day in the life of the church. Rev. O. W. Foster was doing a tremendous job.
New Leadership, New Vision
In the year 1965, the late O. W. Foster, who was also pastoring Ebenezer Baptist Church in Hallandale, took his leave from Antioch to pastor full time at Ebenezer. The Lord saw fit to place the late Rev. P. W. Wiggins at Antioch.
During the Wiggins administration, the church was urged to build in order to accommodate more people and to have adequate room to house the Sunday school.
After 20 years as pastor in August of 1985, the Lord saw fit to call Rev. Wiggins home from labor to reward.
After much prayer, deliberation, and guidance from God, the church on April 2, 1986, called the Rev. Dr. Jimmie L. Bryant as pastor. Along with his youth and zest for life came a determination to return to scriptures as a daily guide and prayer as our channel for blessings.
In 1987, Deacon Casey Graham accepted his call to the ministry, and in 1988, Rev. Graham was ordained as the pastor’s assistant. In December 2007, Min. Kevin Jackson was ordained to assist Dr. Bryant, as Rev. Graham has since been elected to Pastor at another church.
A Community United
The Young Adult Usher Board, YWA and Young Matrons have been reorganized. We have a thriving and dynamic Young People’s Department with advisors who give of themselves constantly.
Theresa Simmons, Pastor’s Esteem, Sisters Theresa Jones and Betty Harrell, Food Ministry, Dea. Alex Johnson, Evangelism, Dea. Sis. B. Smith and Dea. James Green, Orientation Dept., Dea. Herbert LeCounte, Sunday School Superintendent, Sis. Debra Solomon, Executive Assistant to the President of the Boaz Group CDC, Inc. Sis. Brenda Thompson is the lead musician, and Bro. Melvin Jackson is our Percussionist. We have three Choirs and two Usher Boards.
Dr. Bryant is also serving as President of the Florida East Coast Missionary Baptist Association District Congress of Christian Education through July 1999 through July 2007 and was elected President of the Florida General Baptist Convention—State Congress—April 2007 – 2011.
We are blessed to have a very capable church staff. Our Deacons and Trustees very ably support and assist the Pastor along with Sis. Gladys Penn, Church Clerk, Dea. Herbert LeCounte, Trustee Chairman, Dea. Edward Murray, Vice Chairman Trustee, Sis. Mary LeCounte, Office Manager and Financial Secretary, Bro. Lonnie Floyd, Treasurer, Brothers Richard Adams, Johnny Waters, Building Manager, Bro. Charles Mitchell is our Ground Keeper and Building Manager, and Sis. Iwanda S. Jenkins, Pastor’s Administrative Assistant.
Faith Tested, Faith Restored
August 25, 2001: Antioch Missionary Baptist Church once again went trial by fire. Once again, New Shiloh Baptist Church, under the leadership of the late Reverend Arthur Jackson Jr., provided their facility to hold our worship services at the Arthur Jackson Resource Center, located on the corner of N.W. 104th Street and N.W. 7th Avenue.
Reverend Samuel Atchinson and the Mt. Calvary family provided their facilities for our Bible study, Girl Scout meetings, bimonthly conference, and choir rehearsal.
On June 25, 2002, after extensive renovation, we returned for our first prayer meeting. On June 30, 2002, our first worship service was held in the sanctuary.
Building for the Future: A Church in Worship and at Work
Under the guidance and influence of Pastor Jimmie and Sister Estella Bryant, we purchased land in 2003, built, and now occupy, as of December 2005, our multi-purpose building. Erected to the Glory and Service of God.
We have many workshops and seminars conducted by the pastor and other specialists for training our members to be qualified leaders as we look to God to make us all sanctified servants. A new millennium brings new challenges, yet we pledge to continue to be a church in worship and to respond by being a church at work. With God’s help, the presences of the Holy Spirit, and total commitment from the entire body of believers at Antioch, the Lord will take us far. In closing this year’s history, let us look to and paraphrase Psalm 33:12, Blessed is the Church (Nation) whose God is the Lord, and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
Let us all continue to work for the Lord, because serving the Lord will pay off someday. Remember, unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Psalm 127:1.
