“Welcome to Antioch Baptist Church!” It is more than just a greeting here. Antioch Baptist Church is a beacon of faith, hope, and love.
This church sits at 2500 Lafayette Street Denver. Its story is etched in the very fabric of this community. Imagine the year 1893. A group of African Americans in Cleveland, Ohio, felt a void. They sought a place where their voices could rise freely. They wanted to worship without constraint. Led by Reverend Alexander Moore, they established Antioch Baptist Church. It became Cleveland’s second Baptist church for African Americans.
Dissatisfied with the leadership at Shiloh Baptist Church, a small group began meeting in Henry Myers’ home. Reverend William Ridley served as the first acting pastor. In March 1893 Reverend D. D. Minor, an Oberlin College student, became the first official minister. The growing congregation soon needed more space. They moved to the Odd Fellows Hall. They purchased and remodeled a house on Central Avenue. It was dedicated in July 1893. By 1905, the church needed to expand again. With matching funds from John D. Rockefeller, they built a larger church.
To make way for public housing, the church relocated in 1934. It moved to the former Bolton Avenue Presbyterian Church. This was at the corner of E. 89th St. and Cedar Ave. Antioch Baptist Church became a leading institution in the African American community. Dynamic ministers shaped its path. Reverend Dr. Horace C. Bailey championed civil rights. Reverend Wade H. McKinney served for decades.
Since 1945, Antioch Baptist has sponsored Antioch Credit Union. It is one of Ohio’s largest Protestant credit unions. The church co-sponsors an apartment building with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Antioch has always had an active community outreach program. In 1999, it launched the Antioch Development Corporation. This faith-based agency enhances the quality of life in the Fairfax neighborhood.
The AGAPE Program addressed the HIV/AIDS epidemic. It offered prevention education and testing services. The SAMM project promoted HIV/AIDS education to at-risk youth. The My FAM program provided guidance to African-American males. Antioch sponsored free legal advice clinics. It launched Project Angel Tree to provide Christmas gifts. The church hosted an annual “Hallo-Lujah” Festival. Antioch’s Loaves and Fishes Program continues to feed the homeless.
During Rev. Davidson’s tenure, the church initiated a Worship and Arts Ministry. When Rev. Dr. Davidson accepted a new pastorate in Virginia in 2020, Rev. Dr. Marvin A. McMickle agreed to serve as Interim Pastor.
Antioch Baptist Church stands tall. It stands as a testament to faith. It stands as a testament to resilience. It embodies the spirit of community. Its story continues to unfold.