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"Reaching Up and Reaching Out!" Antioch Baptist Church of Rochester, NY
Welcome:
Antioch Missionary Baptist Church is a church that cares, showing God's grace and love through worship, discipleship, evangelism, and Christian service!

It's located seven blocks north of downtown Rochester and four blocks north of the Amtrak Station. All entrances to the beautiful edifice are wheelchair accessible. The spacious, comfortable sanctuary is located on the first floor. Each entrance to the sanctuary is also wheelchair accessible. There is an elevator to assist those who need help getting to other floors of the building.

Our congregation is large but friendly. Our Security Team will assist with parking. The Hospitality Committee and Ushers greet members and visitors as they enter. The Deacons and the Praise Team lead the congregation in song, prayer, and praise. Our Choirs and Musicians sing and play inspirational, soul-stirring music to the glory of God and the edification of His people. Our Pastor, Rev. James L. Cherry Jr., teaches and preaches the word of God without compromise. We have ministries that "equip the saints" for work within the church and outreach to the community.

We have much to offer. Feel free to join us as we "make a joyful noise unto the Lord"!

Mission, Vision, & Church Theme
  • MissionThe dual calling of the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church is the evangelization of unbelievers and the perfecting of believers for the work of the ministry so that this congregation presents a godly, powerful witness to the world and edifies the body of Christ.

    VisionThe Antioch Missionary Baptist Church seeks to fulfill its Mission by building and maintaining an environment that:
    1. Accepts the Bible as the inspired Word of God without error, the complete revelation of God's will for the salvation of men, and the divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life
    2. Develops and maintains ministries and programs that:
      1. Present our Savior to unbelievers in a manner that allows them to make an informed decision about Christ
      2. Enable believers to mature in the faith so that they become effective workers within the church and the community
    3. Assists its members in determining their spiritual gifts and talents
    4. Directs its members into ministries and programs that allow them to fully develop their spiritual gifts and talents
    5. Enables new methods and processes that align with scripture to be evaluated for long-term use within the church
    Church ThemeSince believers are "kingdom people", Antioch has adopted the theme "Kingdom Set Time" as the guiding, unifying principle for execution of its Mission and Vision:
    StewardshipTeaching
    EvangelismInspiration
    TithingMinistries
     Excellence
    "...and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14b)

Beliefs

What We Believe and Teach:

  • God--There is one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in three Manifestations: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
  • Jesus Christ--Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary. He died on the cross, the complete and final sacrifice for sin according to the Scriptures, arose bodily from the dead, and ascended into heaven, where, at the right hand of the Majesty on High, He is now our High Priest and Advocate.
  • The Holy Ghost--The ministry of the Holy Ghost is to glorify Jesus Christ, and during this age, to convict men of sin, regenerate the believing sinner, indwell, guide, instruct, and empower the Believer for godly living and service.
  • The Bible--The Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are the inspired Word of God without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men, and the divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life.
  • The Church--The true Church is comprised of two components: The Head, Jesus Christ, and the Body, which consists of those who have been regenerated by the Holy Ghost through saving faith in Jesus Christ.
  • Man-- Man was created in the image of God but fell into sin and is therefore lost. It is only through regeneration by the Holy Ghost that salvation and spiritual life can be obtained.
  • Salvation--The shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only means of justification and salvation for all who believe, and only those who receive Jesus Christ by faith are born of the Holy Ghost and thus become children of God.
  • Baptism and The Lord's Supper--Water baptism by immersion shortly after accepting Christ as personal Savior is a testimony of death to sin and resurrection to new life. The Lord's Supper, Communion, is a memorial service depicting Christ's death in a sacred and symbolic manner, which should be observed by all true Believers and only Believers.
  • Marriage--God created marriage in the beginning, as a blessing for both man and woman, before any sin/rebellion entered the world. He created marriage to be between one man and one woman, who enter into a covenant relationship, complement one another, serve one another, and sanctify one another for as long as they both shall live. Therefore, any attempt to redefine marriage as a union between people of the same sex or as a union between more than one man and one woman is rejected.
  • The Return of Jesus Christ--The personal, premillenial, and imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ is our hope and has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the Believer.
  • Future Events--There will be a bodily resurrection of all the dead; of the Believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord, and of the Unbeliever to judgment and everlasting, conscious punishment.

Church History



  "A Sure Foundation"

  Founded: 1945

  Founding Pastor: Rev. Samuel Wilson

  Years Served: 1945 - 1962

  Founding Leaders: Rev. Samuel Wilson, Dea. James Beaman, Dea. John Beamon, Dea. Esau McAbrew, and Dea. Oscar Watson

  Boards/Ministries/Departments: Deacon Board, Trustee Board, Senior Usher Board, Senior Choir, Gospel Chorus, Junior Choir,
  Sunday School Department, Mission Department, Nurses Guild

  Edifice: Vienna Street (print shop), Ormond Street (house), and 144 Baden Street (upstairs only)



  "Firmly Established"

  Pastor: Rev. Willie Frank Cotton

  Years Served: 1963 - 1995

  Boards/Ministries/Departments: Youth Department, Laymen League, Male Chorus, Willing Workers, Pastor's Aide Club, Baptist
  Training Union, Young Women's Auxiliary, Scholarship Committee, Kitchen Committee, Homeless Food&Clothing Ministry,   Transportation Ministry, Men's Day Committee, Women's Day Committee, Bible Class, Matrons Auxiliary, Sunday Morning Youth
  Ministry, Youth Retreat, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Christian Scholars

  Edifice: 144 Baden Street (total remodel), Air Conditioning, Parking Lot Expansion, Major Addition/New Sanctuary (1985)



  "Solid Growth"

  Pastor: Rev. Joseph Henry Carter

  Years Served: 1997 - 2007

  Boards/Ministries/Departments: Audio Ministry, Credit Union, Computer Education Ministry, Men's Fellowship Ministry, Women's   Fellowship Ministry, Hospitality Committee, Praise & Worship Team, New Members Class, Minister of Music, Mass Choir,
  Women's Chorus, Youth Basketball Team, Scholarship Committee renamed the W.F. Cotton Scholarship Committee

  Edifice: Pastor's Office Expansion, Secretary's Office Expansion, Elevator Construction, Sanctuary Enhancements, Kitchen
  Renovations, Dining Room Name Change to S.W. Wilson Fellowship Hall, Address Change to 304 Joseph Avenue



  "New Horizons"

  Pastor: Rev. James Lee Cherry, Jr.

  Years Served: 2009 - Present

  Boards/Ministries/Departments: Ministry Organization Chart, Morning Glory (Prayer Service), The Covenant Connection (in-depth
  Bible Study; Leadership Training), Christian Education Ministry, Evangelistic Explosion, SAC Attack (Saints Against Crack),
  AIDS Ministry, Creative Arts Ministry, Media/Videography Ministry, Girl Scouts (reinstated), Softball Team

  Spiritual Expansion: State of the Church Address, Church Theme, Daniel's Fast, Passover Seder (The Last Supper), Family Life   Conference, Walk For Christ

  Edifice: Cameras&Screens in the Sanctuary, Camera&Screen in the S.W. Wilson Fellowship Hall, Media/Videography Studio,
  Joseph H. Carter Church Library