Reaching out to comfort, heal and feed others in the of Jesus.
Our Antioch Church Family is involved in missions around the world, in the Dayton metro area and in our local communities of Brookville, New Lebanon and Trotwood.
Several members have participated in Work Trips within as well as outside the United States.
We join with other Christians to touch over 100 countries with schools, hospitals, feeding stations, disaster relief and long term refugee resettlement around the world.
That God the Father is Creator of the universe and sovereign of all.
That Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is Savior, Master, and Lord of those who choose to believe through the New Birth.
That the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit is present in our day.
That the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are inspired of God.
That a personal relationshop with Christ is not only possible, but necessary for eternal life.
That the church must have a ministry to the whole world through evangelism, missions, and social awareness.
That prayer, bible study and Christian fellowship are essential for Christian growth.
Historical Background
Antioch Church had its humble beginning in the year 1812 when Jacob, Issac and john Shank, together with their neighbors built a meeting house. The Shank borthers had migrated from Virginia in 1808 and settle in the Wolf Creek vicinity. Jacob built his log cabin where Mrs. Etta Shank's farm was later located. Issac built where Ben Thompson later lived on Heeter Rd. and John where the Charles Beck farm was located. The meeting house was constructed of hewn lumber since there was no sawmill and stood on a level spot just below the cemetery where Heeter Rd now meets Wolf Creek Pike.
To understand the primitive nature of the times, is should be remebered that by 1812 the Declaration of Independance had been written only 36 years before, the Constitution was a mere 25 years old, the State of Ohio was just nine years old and Montgomery County streched north to what would become the border with the state of Michigan. The United States was at war with Great Britian. The year before 1812 General, later President, Harrison defeated the Indians at the Battle of Tippecaneo. In 1813 Commodore Perry defeated the English fleet in Lake Erie. Indiana would not enter the Union until 1816 and Michigan would not become a state until 1837.
Wolf Creek Chapel as it was called, depended on traveling preachers who rode through the county on horseback. holding services whenever they came upon a church house. All denominations came but Wolf Creek Chapel became associated with the United Brethren Church of the Miami Conference.
By 1871, after 59 years of service, the "Old Frame Church" had become too small and impractical for future use. Inscribed in a faded school notebook under the date of Fevruary 25, 1871, is a record which is still very legible.
"We, the undersigned subscribers agree to pay to the Board of Trustees, to be appointed by the next quarterly Conference of Lewisburg Circuit, Miami Annual Conference, Church of the United Brethren in Christ, and their successors in the office, the several sums annexed to our names for the purpose of building a church house for the Wolf Creek Society on the above named circut to be located on the north side of the Dayton and Brookville Pike."
The total sum of $2,266.00 was subscribedd to build the new brick structure and work was started. The bricks were baked on the Shank farm across the road and timbers were felled and used in the construction. The new church, in the pastorate of B.W. Way, was incorportated under the name of "Antioch Chapel" on December 11, 1872, and the building was formally dedicated in 1873. In 1876 a special collection of $50.00 was taken to purchase and organ for the church.
Building expansion begins in 1907 when a brick addition was built on the front of the building to house a large Sunday School room, the bell tower and a covered entrance. The bell was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Sam Long and had to be hauled by buckboard from Dayton in the driving rain, which took from 3 in the afternoon until 9 at night.
A grand piano was purchased and a "New Building Fund" was started in 1940. Plans were drawn up to build on to the back of the existing shurch when sufficient funds woud be available.
From 1942 to 1955 Rev. Milford E. Alter lead the congregation in raising money for the upcoming expansion. The next big change was the evacuation of a basement under the entire church No contractor would take the job so the men of the church under the supervision of L.A. Goins began in January of 1948. The entire basement was dug out in less than a month. Foundation walls and concrete floors were laid and partitioned off to make three classrooms, a nursery, a furnace room, restrooms and a kitchen. It was also at this time that the exterior was changed to resemble stone.
In 1946 the Unted Brethen in Christ merged with the Evangilical Church to form the Evangelical United Brethren Church.
Ground was broken in June of 1953. At the rear of the existing building a three story addition was made. The new chancel would seat 300 persons, a new nursery, pastor's study and church office were added to the main floor. A fellowship hall was added below the main floor and sunday school rooms added to the top floor.
On November 18, 1956 the first worship service was held in the completed sanctuary. Both sides of the parkiing lot were paved and a new electronic organ was installed.
In 1987 Antioch saw more renovations. The restoration and painting of the inside of the sanctuary and the installation of carpet.
Antioch is made up of members who remember once coming to church in Ford Model T cars and the struggle to give cheerfully during the depression as well as new members who have been made to feel at home by the spirit of Love and Faith that are so evident at Antioch.