A small community group who found themselves with no place to worship founded Antioch Baptist Church, prior to the establishment of of Antioch Baptist Church they worshiped with other religious groups in the Barnesville area including another Antioch Baptist Church which was White.  They grew weary not having a place of their own to worship and decided to purchase land to build a church home.  

December 15, 1886, a deed of trust was entered for the purchase of land to build Antioch Baptist Church.  The deed of trust was between William F. Kennedy of the first part and Adolphus Lindsey, Jarvis Stephens, John Riddle and Henry Willis trustees Antioch Baptist Church of the second part.  

Through the early years of Antioch Baptist Church, some of the leaders were Reverend John Dibinion, Reverend Reuben A. Lindsey and Reverend Tom Perdue.  Others who came to help build Antioch were Brother Abe Myers, Deacon Willie Myers, Brother Pete Bush and Deacon Hull Simmons.

The Lord blessed us and our membership continued to grow. Other families moved into the community and joined the church. Some of these families were The Walker Family, The Lindsey Family, The Battle family, The Jones family, Sister Willie B. Robinson and Sister Mary Thurman.

Tragedy struck and our church was burned. This left us with no place to worship again. By invitation from the Upson County Board Of Education, we worshiped in the schoolhouse and God increased our membership so much that we built a larger building but this building also burned.

Being faced again with no place to worship, each member pledged to give a load of timber to rebuild our church. A supportive white friend, Mr. Emmett Kennedy, gave us framing for the building and the Upson County School Superintendent provided flooring, pews and a roof.

Brother Adolphus Lindsey assisted with the rebuilding of Antioch Baptist Church  and opened his home to one of the first teachers of color in the public school system, Mrs. Thelma L. Jesters. 

Reverend A. C. Daniels labored long and hard, without pay, to see that this building was completed.

On the 4th Sunday, December 1974 ,  under the leadership of Rev. P. L. Randall  we marched into a new building.  This building was made possible by the power of God and the dedication of the members of Antioch Baptist Church.  God also blessed us to ordain five new deacons, Deacon Johnny F. Caslin, Sr., Deacon Johnny B. Fryer, Deacon Samuel L. Lindsey, Deacon Willie Myers and Deacon John P. Walker, Sr.

Under the leadership of Reverend D. L. Driver, we continued to improve our church building.  We made many accomplishments; we installed central heating and air, opened a new fellowship hall, bought new furniture, installed a PA system, tinted windows, draperies, carpet and laid a corner stone. Our greatest accomplishment was the beginning of our Sunday School and the ordination of 2 new deacons, Deacon Hewlett Fletcher and Deacon Fred McKenzie.

Under the leadership of Reverend Jerome Garland, we installed a telephone, security system and began our weekly bible study class. For a short time we were without a pastor, however, Reverend Hewlett Fletcher’s devotion helped to keep our congregation together; not one member left our service.  Reverend Robert Releford also gave unselfishness of his time and came by many Sundays to lead us in worship service.

Under the leadership of Reverend John Phillips, Sr. we built and furnished a new fellowship hall, added and furnished a pastor’s study, installed a new baptizing pool, expanded our sanctuary, purchased new furniture, installed new carpet and windows, began our weekly prayer service, women ministry, children church, vacation bible school and ordained 4 new deacons, Deacon Clarence Lindsey, Sr., Deacon James E. Lindsey, Deacon Morris Myers and Deacon John P. Walker, Jr..   

October 1998 we again found ourselves without a pastor. We were no stranger to this process by this time so we immediately band together like links in God’s chain and prayed that God would send us a leader.

December 1998 a preacher by the name of Reverend Stanley Moore graced our pulpit. God must have sent Reverend Moore because during this time our eldest member, mother Katherine Fryer made her journey home and Reverend Moore was there with encouraging words for our church family. 

April, 1999, Pastor Stanley Moore was called to pastor Antioch Baptist Church.  Under the leadership of Reverend Moore, Antioch became a full time church. We installed a second Usher Board, upgraded our PA system, and installed a second heating and air condition system. We held our first Women’s Conference, our first Community Outreach Ministry, our first Watch Night Service to bring in a new century, the year 2000. A new choir was formed, The Voices of Antioch. Our membership increased significantly which includes 4 associate ministers, Reverend Robert Releford, Reverend Willie McKind, Reverend James Edwards and Reverend Charles Carter.

November 2000, three new deacons were ordained, Deacon Jimmie L. Caslin, Deacon Bobby Chambliss and Deacon Arthur Moore, we also expanded our church building.
In 2001 we completed several classrooms and began our media ministry. 
In 2002 we ordained 2 new deacons, Deacon Darrell McMullen and Deacon Willie McKind, Sr.  In 2004 Minister Robin Lindsey accepted her call into the ministry and preached her first sermon thus becoming the first woman associate minister in the history of Antioch.  In 2005 Minister Duane Larkin accepted his call into the ministry and preached his first sermons, Rev. Xavier Johnson and Minister Angela Johnson also joined the staff of associate ministers.

In July 2005 God elevated pastor Moore and he was moved to Iowa, we were again without a Pastor. 

December, 2005, God send a dynamic man of God to us, Pastor Keith Battle. Under the leadership of Pastor Battle we are committed to going higher and to following the vision that God has sent us by way of Pastor Battle.  In 2005 we were blessed with 6 new members, an Adult Dance Group, and a male chorus.
February, 2006 we held out first Valentine Banquet, June 2006 we held out Women’s SPA Retreat, August, 2006 we held our second Community Outreach Ministry, A Sounds of Joy Festival, we also began leadership class and child safety seminar.

 

Formers pastors of Antioch are: 

Reverend Reuben A. Lindsey                           Reverend D. R. Strickland

Reverend Tom Perdue                                    Reverend P. L. Randall 

Reverend John Dibinion                                  Reverend D. L. Driver           

Reverend D. F. Fuller                                     Reverend Jerome Garland

Reverend Penn                                             Reverend John Phillips, Sr.

Reverend Rucker                                           Reverend Stanley Moore             

Reverend A. C. Daniel