Antioch Baptist Church Pastor Reverend Dr. Paul S. Briggs

Antioch Baptist Church - All Are Welcomed

Our Pastor - Reverend Dr. Paul S.Briggs

UPWARD and ONWARD IN CHRIST: Relevant, Contemporary, Spiritual

Upward and Onward is the vision I have for Antioch. My prayer is that Antioch will continue to move Upward, that is, to grow spiritually. We live in times when religion is under fire, skepticism is at an all time high, and moral relativism is strengthening. Yet the needs that were met by religious traditions a century ago still need to be satisfied, now more than ever as our modern lifestyles increasingly bombard us with less and less opportunities to quiet our minds and let our souls search for divine peace. Christianity has answers within its traditional doctrines and in the scriptures of the Judeo-Christian heritage that only need to be made Relevant for today’s listeners. Antioch strives to make practical applications for everyday life.

The doctrines have not changed but culture and technology have changed so fast in the last 30 years that the world is an entirely different place for people only 50 years of age. So we can no longer use the same approaches to ministry used 30 years ago. We must use the technologies and cultural savvy to share our truth to be sure that believers, and youth especially, do not reach challenging times in their life without the spiritual foundation needed to absorb intangible emotions. Approaches to God must be doctrinal and scriptural and yet we must be Contemporary. Creating modern parables will often mean using contemporary stories and recent technologies.

Claiming a particular religion does not make one spiritual. But going deeply into and truly understanding the religious practices of one’s faith is essential to more profound faith. Religion is made up of the practices, doctrines and literature that has served to provide people with the means to be in the world but not of the world. That is, religion without practice will not bring one the Spirituality needed to remain at peace. Spirituality then, is not the capability to sit with ones eyes closed for long periods of time, but the ability one gains from a life of prayer to remain at peace during the most difficult times of life. This is a peace that overflows in thanksgiving and worship to God.

I see Antioch as a place where any and all, regardless of class, race, creed or color can gather together as people gathered around Jesus and were at peace in His presence. The church should yet be a place where all can come to be moved intellectually and spiritually, to feel love and forgiveness and to gain a family and friends.