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804-222-8835

antioch@antiochvarina.org

Antioch: A Missionary Baptist Church

As a Missionary Baptist Church, it is imperative that we do not lose our evangelistic influence on the world in which we find ourselves. This church is not in any way, or in any stretch of one’s imagination, to be allowed to become a secular social station rather than a soul-saving station. The ideas, concepts and principles that govern secular organizations are not always the best for directing the accomplishment of the church’s mission. For it is God’s intent for the church to set the pace for the world rather than have the world set the pace for the church.

Help our community

Worshipping

Every member seeking fellowship with God in spirit and in the truth by way of praying and praising.



Learning

Every member is committed to studying God’s word in Bible Study and Church Sunday School


Soul winning

Every member is to show his/her Christian duty by applying the EACH ONE REACH ONE principle. Every member is to show his/her love for God by touching the untouched and reaching the unreachable.

Tithing member

God’s way of financing the work of his kingdom is through tithes.

Every member is to work to become a ten percent tither.

A Very Rich History

1922

The founders met in December 1922 to organize a church for the spiritual good of the community. They were Brothers Lawson Goode, Levi Goode, Sr., John Goode, Sr., Henry Jeter, Fletcher Moody, Arthur Carter, Randel Washington, Sisters Mary E. Goode, Alberta Goode, Viola Jeter, and Lucinda Jackson. Chatsworth School was used as a temporary place to hold worship services on the second and fourth Sundays of each month.

1925

Members decided on second Sunday in September 1925 to name the church Antioch Baptist Church and Rev. Henry Randolph was called as its first Pastor. Rev. Randolph served as Pastor for three years.

1928 - 1930

Rev. D. W. Cotman of Charles City, Virginia accepted the mission of ministering to the people of Antioch. We moved forward under his pastorate. After serving for two years and eleven months, the Lord called him home to eternal rest.

1934 - 1941

After being without a pastor for four years, Rev. W. L. Tuck of Richmond, Virginia was called to the pastorate of Antioch.

1943 - 1965

In April of 1943, Rev. E. M. Charity became Antioch’s fourth pastor. During his guidance the church made many improvements to

the physical plant as well as to the spiritual growth of the church. After 23 years of dedicated service, Rev. Charity retired as Pastor of Antioch.

1966 - 1975

In 1966, Rev. Robert C. Davis of Richmond, Virginia was called to the pastorate of Antioch. One of the first objectives of our

fifth pastor was to establish a church code of ethics. Rev. Davis also implemented plans for an addition to the church. Much of the construction of the building was done by members of the church family.

1975—1983

In September 1975, Rev. William Hunter Smith of Richmond Virginia was called as Antioch’s sixth pastor. Many outstanding improvements were accomplished. Rev. Smith also pursued the purchase of land adjoining the church property.

1984—1986

In June 1984, Rev. Reginald D. Terry of Arcadelphia, Arkansas was installed as the seventh pastor of Antioch. Two major accomplishments were achieved during Rev. Terry’s ministry: the purchase of adjoining land and replacing the church roof. 

1986 — 2023

On Sunday, October 12, 1986 Rev. Dr. James Lewis Sailes was installed as Antioch’s eighth Pastor. In addition to his ministering to the people of Antioch, many projects have been successfully completed: Heated baptistery, installed water purification system, purchased land adjoining the church property including the historical Chatsworth School, launched a building and renovation project that enhanced the church with a new multi-purpose room, six classrooms, library/study, a new kitchen, enlarged the pastor’s and the secretary’s offices, choir stand reconstructed, added a new parking lot and upgraded the church’s audio and visual equipment.

1998—2020

Antioch Learning Center founder and Executive Director, our 1st Lady, Rev. Gail Sailes.

2011

On Thursday, August 18, 2011, Pastor Sailes led us, after the ribbon cutting ceremony, into our new sanctuary. On Sunday, August 21, 2011, our first Worship Service was held with a crowd of over 600 attending. Along with the new sanctuary is a state of art sound system, baptistery, stained glass windows, and an administrative wing for offices and classrooms. Pastor Sailes most recent expansion was the purchasing of property and home, on the corner of Chatsworth and New Market Road.

2022

On Sunday, October 9, 2022, we celebrate the 36th Pastoral Anniversary of our Pastor, the Reverend Dr. James L. Sailes.

DECEMBER 10, 2022

On Saturday, December 10, 2022, we gave thanks to God for allowing the Antioch Baptist Church to celebrate 100 Years of Serving Him. This historic event was held in the Banquet Hall of Cedar Street Baptist Church, Richmond Virginia. THANK YOU LORD! WE GIVE YOU THE HONOR AND THE GLORY!!




2023

On Sunday, October 8, 2023, we were blessed to celebrate 37 years of service by Pastor Sailes and Rev. Gail. Their dedication to God, Antioch and the surrounding community will always stand out as a major part of Antioch's growth through the years.  On December 31, 2023, Pastor Sailes retired.




2024

On January 1, 2024, Pastor-Elect Rev. Dr. Paul D. Flowers, Sr. stepped into his calling by God to shepherd the flock of Antioch. Along with 1st Lady Monique Flowers and their family, God has blessed Antioch again with a God-fearing and willing heart to serve as Pastor. 



On February 24, 2024, Pastor-Elect Flowers and the Antioch Church Family bestowed the title of Pastor Emeritus on retired Pastor Rev. Dr. James L. Sailes. 




On Saturday, March 23, 2024, Rev. Dr. Paul D. Flowers, Sr. was installed as the ninth Pastor of Antioch Baptist Church.




On Sunday, June 30, 2024, Pastor Flowers and Antioch celebrated the dedication and naming of the Administration Wing after Pastor Emeritus Dr. James L. Sailes.

Our Mission

This church shall advance the Christian faith and religion; extol and magnify Christ and His teachings; and promote the spiritual and moral welfare of all.

 

Our Pastor

REV. DR. PAUL D. FLOWERS SR.

“Pastor Paul” as he is affectionately called is the elder son of Rev. Dr. Gloria and Deacon Alvin Flowers, Jr., husband to the former Monique Meekins, and father to Paul Jr., (Bonus daughter, Alexandra), Andre Malik, and Erica Shani and the proud PaPa of Paul D. Flowers, III. He is a native of Virginia and a product of the Henrico County Public School System. He is a 1985 graduate of Henrico High School, a veteran of the United States Air Force, and a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies.


Understanding the importance of life-long learning, Pastor Paul earned his Masters of Divinity degree from the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond in May 2006 and was conferred the Doctor of Ministry degree from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio on June 2, 2012. His research emphasis explored the creation of A Model For Fostering Faith Maturity Using Multi-Dimensional Faith Formation Interventions. 


On March 29, 2009, Rev. Flowers was installed as the twelfth pastor of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Mechanicsville, VA. Dr. Flowers has served as the Director of the Doctor of Ministry program for the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University. He served as the Chair of Contextualized Theology and currently serves as an Assistant Dean and the Director of Field Education and Ministry Formation in the School of Theology.  In October, 2023, he graciously accepted the call to serve as the ninth Pastor of the Antioch Baptist Church, Varina and was installed on March 23, 2024.


Rev. Flowers’ testimony is “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God” Galatians 2:20.


His personal motto is “I’m not tired yet!”

Our Ministries

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Colossians 3:17

Children & Youth

  • #AYO Youth Ministry

Adults

  • Men's Ministry
  • Women's Ministry
  • Elders of Grace Ministry

Service

  • Audit Ministry
  • Diaconate Ministry
  • Doorkeepers Ministry
  • Emergency Relief Ministry
  • Floral Ministry
  • Kitchen Ministry
  • Parking Ministry
  • Pastor's Aide Ministry
  • Safety & Security Ministry
  • Transportation Ministry
  • Trustee Ministry



Christian Education

  • Sunday Morning Bible Study
  • Tuesday Noonday Bible Study
  • Wednesday Evening Bible Study
  • Young Adult Bible Discussion Group

Outreach

  • Food Pantry Ministry
  • Grief Ministry
  • Health Ministry
  • Intercessory Prayer Ministry
  • Media Ministry
  • Missionary Ministry
  • New Members Ministry
  • Sharing The Love Ministry

Fine Arts

  • Liturgical Dance Ministry
  • Sunbeam & Youth Choirs
  • Gospel Choir
  • Male Chorus
  • Senior Choir
  • Voices of Praise

Historic Chatsworth School

Chatsworth School is the only one-room schoolhouse for Blacks remaining in the Richmond Area.

Chatsworth School is a one-room schoolhouse located in the Antioch Community of the Varina District in Henrico County. It was built in 1915 to educate African American children in grades one through four during the segregation era of public education. A teacher taught all grades in this one room. The curriculum consisted of a variety of subjects, from bookwork to banking. The School had no electricity, running water, nor a restroom. Chatsworth was one of approximately 23 schoolhouses supervised by the visionary educator, Mrs. Virginia Randolph, a Henrico County resident. The school closed in 1956.


The Chatsworth property was acquired by Antioch Learning Center, which is a branch of Antioch Baptist Church. The Church recognized the historical significance of the property and endeavored to preserve this treasure to show the historical significance of the school to the community, civil rights history and the historical culture of African Americans. 


Chatsworth School was restored in 2018. Many original materials were used during the restoration to retain the integrity of the structure. The school was added to the Henrico County Historic Register in 2003. Chatsworth School was added to the State and National Landmark Registers in 2022.

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