Antioch Freewill Baptist Church was organized in 1924 under the pastoral ship of Rev. Dunn.  Its original meeting site was the Deland Masonic Hall which has since then been demolished.  Land for the original sanctuary was purchased from the Lockhart family.  On that property a small building was erected known as “Brush Arbor.”

 

          Following the pastoral ship of Rev. Dunn, there was a fine line of pastors.  They were Elder Burns, Elder Sylvester Bright, Elder Carter, Elder Collins, Elder Davis, Elder Lang, Elder Ray and Bishop Simmie Tillman.

 

Under the pastoral ship of Elder Ray, the sanctuary’s size was increased and a church parsonage was built on Parsons Street. Pastor Ray served faithfully until he went into retirement after a lengthy illness.

 

The first lengthy leadership was brought to the church by Pastor E.T. Brown Sr. He pastored for 29 years.  Under his pastorship the church was moved from its former location on Parsons Street to its present location on Beresford Ave. Elder E.T. Brown Sr. was called home by an untimely death.

 

Elder E.T. Brown Sr. was succeeded by three pastors.  They were Elder Burns, Elder Davis and Bishop Tillman.  Not much is known about Elder Burns and Elder Davis; however, Bishop Tillman pastored for approximately 10 years.  During his tenure a very modern and spacious parsonage was built.  The church went through a period of prosperity and growth.  After some time, unrest among the membership caused the church to go through a separation.  Out of that separation a new house of praise was formed and the remaining membership was scattered.

 

In 1985, following the separation, Elder Sylvester D. Bright was called from the field of evangelism to pastor the remainder of the scattered flock. Elder Bright Sr. was called home to be with the Lord in 1996.  In 1996, Pastor Stefan Tyler pastored for three years.  In, 1999, Raymond T. Baker became pastor of Antioch.  Bishop Baker served as District President of the South Florida A Conference, District II.  At that time, he was a member of the annual executive board while serving as the vice president of the Sunday School Convention.  In, 2002, Elder Andre Stoudemire became pastor of Antioch. 

 

Elder Andre Stoudemire was the supply pastor for Antioch before Elder Burt McBryde became the pastor.  Elder Burt McBryde was filling in and taking Elder Stoudemire’s place when he couldn’t make it to Deland. Elder Burt McBryde was officially announced as Antioch’s Supply Pastor on March 29, 2004. Elder Burt McBryde and his wife, Marie McBryde’s first Sunday was April 11, 2004. It was an Easter Sunday and there were over 50 people in church. This was amazing because in the beginning when Elder Burt McBryde started in Deland there would be 5 members in church. Sis Katie Allen joined the church on this Easter Sunday. She was the first member to join under Elder McBryde’s leadership.

 

Elder McBryde would come to Deland on Tuesday nights for bible study and there would only be five of people there. God has been extremely good to Elder Burt McBryde and the Antioch family. Elder McBryde was ordained on November 17, 2004 at the General Conference in Ft. Lauderdale. Antioch chartered a bus and went to the ordination service. One of the most life changing experiencing Elder McBryde has ever had came on January 9, 2005. This is when he was installed as the Pastor of Antioch Free will Baptist Church. This was a trying time for him because his wife, First Lady Marie McBryde was in the hospital at the time with double pneumonia and his pastor; Bishop Charles Brown held another installation service in Miami. Mother Burneva Carter was right there by his side during the installation service.

 

Elder McBryde says that becoming Senior Pastor of Antioch has changed his life in so many ways. He gave up a lot to follow the Lord’s leading. Elder McBryde left his job of 20 years and all of his family in Polk County to move to Deland. It has truly been a journey but he’s so thankful for the many lives that God has allowed to cross his path. Antioch has had so many people to come and go through the doors. In the last month alone Antioch has had at least 30 people to join the church.  Elder McBryde wants to make disciples out of the members that join Antioch.  There are currently four ministers under Elder Burt McBryde’s leadership and they are, Minister G. Williamson, Evangelist A. Graham, Minister P. Johnson, Minister L. Harris and Minister J. Fudge.  Also, under Elder McBryde’s leadership, Antioch was able to purchase a much needed church van.  When Elder Mcbryde arrived at Antioch, there was no musician or drummer and Antioch sang congregational songs without music.  Now, Antioch has a musician, a drummer and a praise and worship leader.  Antioch now has over 200 members and the church is continuing to grow by leaps and bounds. 

 

This history would not be complete without mentioning the special treasures that touched Elder McBryde’s life in one way or another and they are: Deacon Carter, Mother Johnson, Mother Pierce, Mother Young, and Bro. Dan Givens. All of them will forever be remembered at Antioch.

 

Antioch is a church that’s on fire for God. Antioch believes in letting God have His way. Elder McBryde is looking forward to what God has in store for Antioch. In the future, Antioch would like to build a new sanctuary and to have its own television ministry. Antioch needs your continued help and support to bring this vision to pass. Elder McBryde would like to thank Antioch for making him what he is today.  Elder McBryde says that we should continue to love God and each other and there is no limit to where Antioch can go next.