Country United States Founder(s) James A. Rudolph Phone +1 305-624-8170 | Denomination Baptist Senior pastor(s) Arthur Jackson, III | |
Address Miami Gardens, FL 33056, USA Similar Calder Race Course, Bethel Baptist Institution, New Birth Missionary Baptist C Profiles | ||
The Antioch Mission Baptist Church of Miami Gardens is a Baptist megachurch in the Carol City neighborhood of Miami Gardens, a suburb of Miami, Florida, USA that provides a blend of traditional and contemporary worship. The senior pastor is Arthur Jackson, III. In a 2008 survey, Outreach Magazine ranked the church 97th largest in the USA based on average weekly attendance of 7,000.
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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 and John C. Cherry, who was pastor from 1968 to 1985.
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 in 1985. The congregation continued to increase, and the church purchased three more lots on which the present building stands. The $2 million 2,000 seat sanctuary and administrative building was built in 1998, and seven years later all debts had been paid off. By 2010 membership had risen to 7,500.
Community involvement
The church holds an annual Family Fall Festival, which offers families games, rides, prizes, costume contest, music, candy and refreshments. 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. 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. The church joined the 50 Million Pound Challenge, a weight loss competition, coming first among churches.
The former Vice-Mayor of the city of Miami Gardens, Aaron Campbell, Jr., is a member of the church. 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.