Antioch Missionary Baptist Church
In August 1959, Rev. A. H. Hunter relinquished his duties as Pastor of Second Baptist Church of Erie, PA, to become founder, organizer, and Pastor of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church. An organizational meeting at Calvary Baptist Church drew 97 attendees, and Rev. Jesse L. McFarland moderated a Recognition Council. Antioch was incorporated on October 15, 1959, with Rev. A. H. Hunter serving as the Corporation's Pastor. The church purchased its building from Central Baptist Church, initially paying $1.00, and within 10 months had paid approximately $7,000 as a down payment.
In the early days, weekly meetings, activities, and prayer meetings were held in the Parish House at 1915 Sassafras Street, a property on which the church later established its parking lot. The congregation claimed the property as “ours” on Thanksgiving Day, 1960. After much hard work, effort, and determination, the mortgage was paid off, and a Mortgage-Burning Ceremony was held on November 28, 1976.
Antioch has actively engaged with the broader Baptist community and related organizations. We have hosted two Baptist State Conventions, participated in District meetings, State and National Conventions, the Congress of Christian Education, and contributed regularly to the National Baptist Convention Foreign Mission Board. Antioch was the sponsor of “The Prophet Hour,” a half-hour religious program broadcast on Sunday mornings over radio station WJET for 35 years.
In 1990, we installed and dedicated a cornerstone plaque. In 1992, Antioch became a certified school endorsed by the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc., under the name Antioch Baptist Institute of Learning.
Antioch has been led by five pastors: Rev. A. H. Hunter, Rev. George Davis, Rev. Weyman B. Stephens, Jr., Rev. Marcus L. Johnson, Sr. The only minister to serve as an Assistant Pastor was Rev. W. B. Hobson. On January 10, 2010, Reverend Floyd R. McClure accepted the call to become Antioch’s fifth Pastor, blessing the congregation with a new era of leadership.
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