THE ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH HISTORY

During the nineteenth century, thirteen years following the Emancipation Proclamation (1876), the Antioch Baptist Church erected two buildings on a parcel of land donated by a white gentleman by the name of Charlie Murphy. This parcel of ground was located on the south side of Mecklinburg Drive where Jim and Edith Woods reside today. The church’s archives did not contain the name of the founding pastor or any pastors prior to 1918. The following is a list of ministers serving as pastor of the Antioch Baptist Church starting in 1918 to present:  

1918-1923 - Pastor Richard Sain;  5 years
1923-1923 - Pastor Jim Brown;   6 months
1923-1933 - Pastor Richard Sain;  10 years
1934-1936 - Pastor Tom Cole;   2 years
1936-1952 - Pastor Early Motley;   16 years
1952-1980 - Pastor Charlie Murphy;  28 years
1980-2012 - Pastor David L Boyle;  32 years
Jan 2014 – Feb 2016 Pastor Micheal Williams;  2 years
Oct 2017 - Present  Pastor Jermaine Shaw

Under the leadership of Pastor Charlie Murphy (wife Lizzie Murphy), a parcel of land (3.06 acres) was purchased from E.L. Stewart, and wife, Nelle Rhea Stewart, on August 6, 1952. Representing the Antioch Baptist Church in the purchase of this land was Pastor C.H. Murphy, Robert Herron, Williams Cross and James Sain. In 1952, the parcel of land located on the Whiteville-New Castle Road is our present location. The officers of the church were:  
 Assistant Pastor: Minister Ed D Boyle
 Sunday School Superintendent: Bro Robert L Spencer, Sr
 Secretary: Sis Irene Riley
 Assistant Secretary: Sis B.M. Norment
 Deacons Trustees:
Bro Tom Sain Bro Gussie Spencer
Bro R. McKinnie Bro A. Norment
Bro R. Herron Bro Frank Spencer
Bro Paul Taylor Bro J.W. Green
Bro Walter Joy Bro F. Taylor
Brow S.P. Walkin Bro E. Neely
Bro J. McNeal Bro Raymond Taylor
Bro Wood Herron Bro Gabe Murphy
Bro Floyd Turner
Bro S. Murphy

Between the years of 1952 and 1980, three additions were added to the church building. First, a corridor including two bathrooms was added to the front of the church building. Secondly, the west end was extended to include a basement area with a kitchen and above the basement there were two classrooms and the first Pastor’s study. Thirdly, the sanctuary southwest session was extended and our first baptismal pool was installed.

Prior to the baptismal pool being installed, new converts were baptized in Mr. Japbo Cross’s pond with members of the church standing on the banks singing hymns as converts were marched out toward the center of the pond to be baptized.

When the church building was erected, the primary heat source was gas and there were several gas heaters located throughout the building. The only source of keeping cool was hand-made fans and raising the windows. This continue until the mid-seventies, at which time we installed a central heat system and approximately two years later a central air system was installed.

During this time, worship was held only on the first and third Sundays, beginning at 1:00 pm. Sunday School was held every Sunday at 11:00 am. Every 5th Sunday, the church participated in the 5th Sunday Union (several churches in the area came together to teach and worship). Some of the positions held during the sixties and seventies were: Sunday School Superintendent, Robert L Spencer, Sr, Church Secretary, Georgia M Murphy, and Musician, Ruby Mitchell.

After the death of Pastor C.H. Murphy in November of 1980, the Lord called and sent to Antioch Baptist Church a new pastor by the name of David L Boyle, Sr. During this time, worship services were still scheduled for 1st and 3rd Sundays only. In June of 1981, we started having worship 2nd and 4th Sundays as well. We continued to participated in the 5th Sunday Union for a short while and then moved to full time worship.

The church, under the leadership of Pastor Boyle, continued to grow spiritually, numerically, and financially. The pastor and the board started discussing plans for a new sanctuary but the Lord interceded and moved upon our hearts to build an educational facility first. So, in early 1987, the board developed a building program and met with Bill Fuller, an architect, with Master Church Builders to design the building.

A building committee was formed and the members were: Brenda Long, Mable Woods, Louise Davis, Robert Spencer Jr, Irene Riley, Geraldine Spencer Taylor, Dixie Spencer, Larry Williams, Teresa Williams, Florida Irons, Barbie Reed, Jeffrey Hamer and Willie Spencer Sr, Chairman. 

The building included ten flexible classrooms, kitchen, pantry storage, bathrooms, storage and three offices. The cost of the building was a little over $200,000, excluding architectural fees. We had saved roughly 50% of the total and the church borrowed $100,278.00 from the Bank of Bolivar to be paid back in ten years. God blessed us to have the loan paid off in four years. (PRAISE THE LORD).

Antioch’s history includes many long time Sunday School teachers, deacons, trustees, ushers, choir members, and loyal lay members. The current deacons are Willie E. Spencer Sr, Charlie Brown Jr, Marvin Polk, and Jasper Murphy. In 2024, there were five men in the congregation identified as perspective deacons. They were David L Boyle, Jr., Kylan Herron, Montez Bufford, Ernest Jones, and Willie Hunter. The ordination is scheduled for January of 2026.  

The leaders of the church continued to envision and focus on the future needs of the church. The Lord placed upon our hearts to seek to purchase additional land. The vision for our new sanctuary was act upon in 1993 by forming a planning committee. Committee members were Marilyn Smith, Teresa Williams, Larry Williams, Frank Long, David L Boyle, Sr, Willie Spencer Sr, Dixie Spencer, Moystella Coby, and Marvin Polk.

On October 10, 1995, we purchased 3.04 acres of land from Elizabeth S Sammons to be used for phase II of our building project (a sanctuary). Committee members met and developed preliminary plans for the building project. The plans also included bathroom (men and women), multipurpose room, four overflow/classroom, Pastor Study (with bathroom and dressing room), Sanctuary (seat up to approx. 380 with space to made possible to convert to overflow rooms), choir stand, stage/platform, First Aid room, drive-thru overhead canopy (front entrance), finance room, secretary area (with bathroom), security system (purchased August 2013), three storage rooms (office supplies, janitorial supplies and furniture/material items), baptismal pool, two dressing rooms for baptisms, coat area, video/audio booth, and pews with stationary cushions.

The Pastor David Boyle, Sr, Willie Spencer Sr (deacon chairman) and Gail Murphy (finance administrator) started meeting with Tri-State Bank of Memphis, TN to get a loan. Master Church Builders of Memphis, TN was selected to be the project contractor. The contractor quoted us $1,130,340.00 for the sanctuary building project. In 2000, the loan was approved for $823,342.48 at 9.25% for 20 years, with paying interest only for the first year, with a loan pay off in the year of 2016. In 2001, the monthly payment will be $7,540.72, including interest and principal. In 2003, loan was refinance with Tri-State Bank for remaining balance of $777,863.18 at 5%, with same date of loan payoff, with paying $6,300.00 monthly. During the year of 2012, Pastor Boyle developed health problems and on November 5, 2012, he transitioned. After the death of Pastor Boyle, the congregation learned that the church was the beneficiary of a life insurance policy. By the Grace and Goodness of God, the loan was paid off early. In January of 2013, Antioch Baptist Church was debt free.

Between 2012 and 2014, Antioch was in search of a new pastor, and in January of 2014, Micheal Williams was selected as the new pastor. Cameras and large screens were installed in the sanctuary in 2013. Land that bordered the cemetery was cleaned off to extend the cemetery between 2013-2014.

Between 2016 and 2017, Antioch was in search of a new pastor, and in October of 2017, Jermaine Shaw was selected as the new pastor. 

In March of 2020, the Covid pandemic hit worldwide and all gatherings were cancelled. During this period, Facebook was used to broadcast the church services. Conference calls/Zoom were used to conduct Sunday schools, Bible Study, and meetings. The congregation returned to the sanctuary on April 4, 2021. Facebook is still used to broadcast the services.

The Kingdom Kids Ministry was started on September 20, 2024. Kingdom Kids is a child and youth friendly worship environment for kids to learn and grow.

In April of 2025, renovation of the Charlie Lizzie Murphy Educational Building and the sanctuary were completed. The changes to the educational building included new flooring, removal of paneling from the walls and painting, replacement of entrance doors, installation of canopies over two entrance doors, extension of the kitchen wall (using the lounge of the existing women bathroom), replacement of new stove, refrigerator, microwave, and sink, painting the three offices, and both restrooms.  The changes to the sanctuary included installation of additional lighting, installation of security cameras and monitoring system and installation of an information hub in the vestibule.