| abstract |
Antioch Baptist Church is a non-traditional Baptist church that was organized in November 1977 under the leadership of the late pastor and my father, the Reverend
Dr. Alfloyd Alston in the village of Harlem. In 2005, I became the current senior pastor and endeavored to continue the godly legacy of the church. Because of
the church's reputation of love toward all people with a willingness to give, Antioch is affectionately known as "the church with a big heart." The church is a
ministry with the goal to meet the needs of the people within the community through childcare, aftercare, healthcare, and most importantly, the Word of God.
Antioch has always been a warm and inviting church that consists of disciples within our community as well as the tri-state area. People are drawn to the
ministry because of the Word, good food, and our local community involvement. Over the past two decades, Harlem has experienced an increase in tourism;
consequently, more people visit Antioch to hear gospel music and experience a traditional Baptist worship service. In recent years, visitor feedback has
revealed that the congregation is perceived as welcoming and receptive to short-term visitors of other nationalities. Even though many visitors depart
before the service concludes—they remain for an hour—we strive to be caring hosts. My professional project for the Doctor of Ministry examines the
degree to which Antioch Baptist Church—the church with a big heart—is really creating a culture of welcome for our disciples and visiting guests.
The project has benefited the congregation and the leadership by compelling us to examine the meanings of Christian hospitality and how we treat fellow members
and international guests.
|
