Beneath Chicago’s skyline stands Antioch Apostolic Faith Church. It is a beacon of faith with a rich history. The story of Antioch Apostolic Faith Church began in 1915. Elder A.R. Schooler led a small group near 30th and Dearborn. They met for weekly worship and Bible study in a home.
Soon the congregation grew. They moved to a two-story building at 3813 South Indiana Avenue. This new place was named The Apostolic Faith Church.
The year 1919 brought racial injustice. John Silas Holly sought a better life in Chicago. He dedicated himself to truth and served God for 59 years. In 1920 he entered the ministry. He served at The Apostolic Faith Church under Elder Schooler. In 1922 John Silas Holly married Effie Genoa Gordon. She was a school teacher. She labored by his side for 57 years.
In 1931 Elder Schooler passed away. Bishop G.T. Haywood appointed John Silas Holly as pastor. He was the Presiding Bishop of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World. Pastor and Sister Holly remodeled the building. It became a two-story church with a 500-seat auditorium. This was a victory through faith. The mortgage was paid off quickly during the Great Depression.
In the spring of 1980 Horace E. Smith became the pastor. His wife Susan Davenport Smith supported him. He continued the teachings. Membership increased. The church building expanded. He was also a pediatric hematologist-oncologist. He balanced family church and career. His love for God gave him strength. Bishop Smith’s leadership revolutionized ministry worldwide.
Antioch Apostolic Faith Church has core values. They include proclamation worship teaching community service and stewardship. Proclamation means telling the story. Worship means giving God glory. Teaching means becoming disciples. Community means making the body whole. Service means becoming salt and light. Stewardship means sharing from the heart.
Today Antioch Apostolic Faith Church continues its mission. It worships God. It creates a Christian community. It transforms followers of Jesus Christ. The church wins souls to Christ. It disciples believers. Christ is pre-eminent in every life.
The Antioch Apostolic Faith Church celebrated Bishop and First Lady Smith’s 45th Pastoral Anniversary. The church offers online Bible study classes. It provides a weekly prayer list. It organizes events like the Senior Saints Society Black History Month celebration. The church streams funeral services. It promotes healthy lifestyles. It offers mental health resources.
Supporting Antioch Apostolic Faith Church makes an impact. It helps locally and internationally. Donations are seeds sown in good soil. The Antioch Apostolic Faith Church stands as a testament. It shows unwavering faith and service. It is a beacon of hope in Chicago.