Antioch Mission Baptist Church of Miami Gardens

The Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Miami Gardens is a Baptist megachurch in Lake Lucerne, Miami Gardens, a suburb of Miami, Florida, USA that provides a blend of traditional and contemporary worship. The senior pastor is Arthur Jackson, III.[1] In a 2008 survey, Outreach Magazine ranked the church 97th largest in the USA based on average weekly attendance of 7,000.[2] It also has a campus in Pompano Beach, near Fort Lauderdale.

Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Miami Gardens
Location21311 Northwest 34th Avenue, Miami Gardens, Florida 33056
CountryUnited States
DenominationBaptist
Websitehttp://www.antiochmiamigardens.com
History
Founded1957
Founder(s)James A. Rudolph
Clergy
Senior pastor(s)Arthur Jackson, III

History

The church dates back to 1957, when a group of Christians which at first including both Baptists and Methodists began holding services in a small house. The next year the group agreed to hold separate services for the two denominations, but continued to share the premises and to collaborate on fund-raising drives. The Baptist group was able to open their new church, which they had built themselves, in 1961. Pastors in the early years were the Reverends James A. Rudolph, Albert Essex, John C. Cherry, and Floyd W. Larkin who was pastor from 1985 to 1990.[3]

With a growing congregation, Cherry arranged to purchase two lots adjacent to the church. Construction of a larger building began in 1973 and was finally completed under the leadership of Rev. Larkin in 1985. The congregation continued to increase, and the church purchased three more lots, on which the present building stands, during Larkin's tenure as Pastor. The $2 million 2,000 seat sanctuary and administrative building was built in 1998, and seven years later all debts had been paid off.[3]

The Miami Gardens Campus was in the Lake Lucerne census-designated place,[4][5] in an unincorporated area, until Miami Gardens incorporated in 2003.[6]

By 2010 membership had risen to 7,500.[3]

Community involvement

The church holds an annual Family Fall Festival, which offers families games, rides, prizes, costume contest, music, candy and refreshments.[7] In December 2009 the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church held a National Mentoring Training Day event to encourage adults to become more engaged in the community as mentors.[8] In January 2010 the church held its Annual Fresh Start Fitness Health Fair. The purpose was to encourage activities that help eliminate or reduce blood pressure levels, diabetes, and high cholesterol.[9] The church joined the 50 Million Pound Challenge, a weight loss competition, coming first among churches.[10]

The former Vice-Mayor of the city of Miami Gardens, Aaron Campbell, Jr., is a member of the church.[11] In January 2010 the church was working with the city of Miami Gardens to collect donations for Haiti relief efforts following the major earthquake in the island. The church acted as a collection center for donated goods.[12][13]

See also

References
  1. "Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Carol City". USA Churches. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
  2. "Top 100 Largest Churches". Outreach Magazine. Archived from the original on February 8, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
  3. "Our History". Antioch Mission Baptist Church of Carol City. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
  4. "2000 Census Block Map: Lake Lucerne CDP" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. - Pages 1 and 2 - Compare this map to the address of the church.
  5. "Home". Antioch Mission Baptist Church of Miami Gardens. Retrieved May 12, 2020. MIAMI GARDENS CAMPUS 21311 N.W. 34th Ave. Miami Gardens, FL 33056
  6. "City of Miami Gardens: Demographics". 2009. Archived from the original on October 10, 2015.
  7. "The Antioch Missionary Baptist Church 5th Annual Family Fall Festival". Sun Life Stadium. September 25, 2008. Archived from the original on December 31, 2010. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
  8. "100 BLACK MEN OF AMERICA, THE MICHAEL BAISDEN SHOW & THE NATIONAL CARES MENTORING MOVEMENT ISSUE NATIONAL CALL TO ACTION". Miami Gardens Observer. December 12, 2009. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
  9. "ANTIOCH'S FRESH START: FITNESS HEALTH FAIR". Miami Gardens Observer. January 9, 2010. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
  10. "Join a Team". 50 Million Pound Challenge. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
  11. "Vice-Mayor Aaron Campbell Jr". City of Miami Gardens. Archived from the original on August 22, 2010. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
  12. "City of Miami Gardens Joins the Haitian Relief Effort" (PDF). City of Miami Gardens. January 15, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 9, 2010. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
  13. "Donations for Earthquake victims of Haiti". 7 News. Sunbeam Television Corp. February 9, 2010. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved August 12, 2010.

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