A Parish Church for Our Community

This week, the elders tasked with overseeing the work of Antioch Presbyterian Church met as a group in preparation for the launch of worship services on September 20^th. As part of a very productive meeting, we discussed what it means to be a parish church at the crossroads of Greenville and Spartanburg counties ministering to the growing community west of Woodruff and south of Reidville. At the end of our time together, we left the Church property eager to serve our immediate community.

Though our labors together are in their early stages, Antioch Presbyterian Church has ministered to Upstate South Carolina since the mid-nineteenth century. We are building on an inspiring heritage and rich legacy of gospel ministry in historic Cashville and Woodruff from our strategic location at the intersection of SC-101 and SC-417. What has that ministry looked like? We want to tell that story over the coming months, but first I wish to address another question that was on the agenda at this week’s meeting. What will the ministry of Antioch Presbyterian Church look like in the days ahead?

First, Antioch Presbyterian Church will be a worshipping community united around the Good News of Jesus Christ. This means that we are committed to upholding Antioch’s long history of faithfulness in preaching the Word of God. We are committed to blessing every man, woman, and child in our community with the message of God’s saving grace in Christ Jesus our Lord. As the community immediately surrounding Antioch Presbyterian Church grows, we hope to hold out the light and love of Christ in ministry founded on the Bible as our sufficient rule of faith and practice (including worship).

Second, Antioch Presbyterian Church will be a parish church committed to loving our neighbors. This means that we are committed to serving our neighbors in any way the Lord allows. Whether in day-to-day discipleship, week-to-week worship, or in crisis situations, we wish to be a resource of spiritual support and diaconal assistance. Above all, we desire to bring God’s message of reconciliation in Christ to all those who will hear. We look forward to rejoicing in the triumphs, and comforting through the trials of our neighbors as we labor together for the sake of Christ’s Kingdom.

Third, Antioch Presbyterian Church will be focused on the spiritual mission of the church. We endeavor to let nothing distract us from the spiritual goal of glorifying God by thought, word, and deed in all that we do. Specifically, we are committed to expository preaching, biblical worship, parish evangelism, pastoral care, and discipleship. The Bible is our ultimate standard for teaching, preaching, and the care of souls. The Westminster Standards of historic Presbyterianism will aid us “for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12).

Fourth, Antioch Presbyterian Church will be a loving church. All who are in need of rest in Christ will be welcome to “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8) in our assembling together. In decades past, the officers of this church have ministered to rich and poor, bond and free (as reflected in the historic churchyard adjacent to the church). As we look ahead to decades to come, we long for the Spirit of God once again to draw many people of diverse backgrounds into the Kingdom of Grace through our efforts. We know “that the kindness of God leads you to repentance” (Romans 2:4), and so we seek to show forth His kindness in our love for one another, our families, our neighbors, and our friends.

If you are reading this as one of our neighbors, we do hope that you will consider joining us for our first worship service as a mission work on September 20^th at 5PM. For more information about the church, please contact us at info@antiochpca.com. May God bless you.