Church History

The original Antioch Baptist Church was located on the highway between Goobertown and Brookland. New Antioch Baptist Church was established August 24, 1906 on property donated by the Mobley family to the Goobertwon School District behind the existing school. There were 37 charter members. Oscar Reynolds was the first pastor and F.M. Johnston, J.M. Fowler and J.A. Thompson were the first deacons. The deed for the church property was not recorded in the county clerk's office until the 1920's.

The original building was a typical one-room country church with a belfry. Few modifications were made until the late 1940’s when the church acquired the school property when the building was enlarged. In the 1960s the overall appearance of the church began to change and over the next 30 years classrooms, a new front with vestibule, a baptistery, choir area and bathrooms were constructed. Still later, more classrooms and a basement for fellowship were added onto the back.

In December 1998, the church called Larry Ring as pastor and his first worship service had 29 members. In 1999 the church began to experience phenomenal, if not miraculous, growth in membership. Because of this growth, in 2000 construction began on a new sanctuary that included classrooms, bathrooms, a baptistery and offices. The former sanctuary was remodeled and a kitchen was added to serve as a fellowship hall. The building front was extended and more classrooms and bathrooms were added. The parking lot was paved and a dedication was held in September 2001. In 2003 New Antioch Baptist Church was once again debt free.

Early in 2005, construction began on the Family Life Center with two-storied classrooms, a kitchen, restrooms with showers, storage areas, basketball and volleyball courts and offices for the pastor and secretary. A dedication was held during the 100th Birthday Party of New Antioch Baptist Church on August 20, 2006.

This is the history of the physical place that is New Antioch, but a church is not a building. It is the people. We now average over 200 on Sunday morning. Over one hundred years ago the seeds were planted and New Antioch has continued to grow.