THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 2, 1996 TAG: 9605010086
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Religion
SOURCE: BY TRUDY CUTHRELL, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: WINDSOR LENGTH: Medium: 100 lines
FEW LOCAL CHURCHES have a historic heritage like Antioch Christian, on the outskirts of town.
The rural assembly was established before 1700, as a ``chapel of ease,'' by St. Luke's Episcopal Church for worshipers in the parish's outlying regions. In 1734, it became the First Lower Chapel of the enlarged Newport Parish.
A second chapel, built in 1744, fell into disuse after the Revolution and was taken over by the Christian Church of the South after occasional use by their missionary preachers. This church burned in 1827.
The old chapel was replaced on the same site in 1828, by a new Christian Church and was named Antioch. The church's present sanctuary, built in 1852, has been in continuous use as a house of worship since then. Other educational and recreational facilities have been added in recent years to accommodate the growing needs of this thriving rural congregation.
In April 1970, Antioch voted to withdraw from the Southern Conference of the United Church of Christ. In May of the same year, it joined with four other Tidewater churches to begin the Eastern Virginia Christian Fellowship.
Although Antioch is one of the oldest churches in the area, its spirit is alive and well, according to its pastor, the Rev. James T. Dunn.
``These are people really founded in the Scriptures, as well as some new converts,'' Dunn reported. ``We have a congregation that wants to grow and good lay leadership to lead the way.''
Growth is evident when you look at the current Sunday School and worship attendance. Worship attendance is averaging near the 200 mark with Sunday School maintaining over 130 in attendance - a jump of 27 percent since September 1995.
But the high point of excitement and numerical growth at Antioch in recent years has been the church's AWANA program, a vibrant, Bible-based youth organization with groups for preschoolers through high schoolers.
Every Wednesday evening at 7 p.m., Antioch opens its doors for AWANA club members from throughout the community and miles around. Membership has mushroomed to 195, and Antioch's group has received an impressive assortment of trophies and awards for its participation in various local, state and national competitions. Dunn said growth in spiritual maturity and increased Bible knowledge in the lives of both children and leaders has been significant.
Dunn beams with pride as he talks about the AWANA program, for he first introduced the program to Antioch in 1978 as a lay person in the church and served as its first Commander.
Then in 1980, Dunn and his family left for Piedmont Bible College to prepare for the ministry. Since graduation, Dunn has served in several national leadership positions with AWANA and has pastored one church in North Carolina.
When Antioch issued a call to Dunn in August 1995, it was a homecoming for him. Today, Dunn's congregation describes him as a tireless worker.
This unified partnership between pastor and people has ``good things'' to report already - increased attendance, newly installed stained-glass windows for their freshly painted sanctuary and a Homecoming Celebration scheduled for May 19 to rejoice together over God's blessings. Already 350 people have registered for the catered Homecoming meal to be held after morning worship that day. And an afternoon service, featuring music and an oral history of the church, will conclude the Homecoming festivities.
Mildred Cobb, an Antioch member since 1950, said she'd seen ``quite a few changes through the years.'' The biggest change, Cobb noted, was when Antioch became an independent congregation and, in 1970, hired their first full-time pastor, the Rev. Larry J. McCall.
``When he (McCall) first came, we really got into the Scriptures,'' Cobb said. ``Then the Rev. Lindsay Poteat intensified that emphasis, and now that's one of the first things we look for in a pastor,'' she added.
Missions is another major thrust of the church's present ministry. While the congregation supports 23 missionaries around the globe with prayers and finances, members also are involved in home mission projects such as a summer ministry with migrant workers.
Dunn sees Antioch as a good blend of ages, a balance of traditional and contemporary styles in worship and a loving, caring ministry based on a strong Biblical foundation.
Dunn's vision for meeting the needs of his people comes right out of Acts 2: evangelism, education, expansion - both spiritual and numerical and then exultation.
``When you're doing it God's way, the growth will take place,'' he pointed out. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
The Rev. James T. Dunn is the new pastor at Antioch Christian Church
on the outskirts of Windsor.
AT A GLANCE
Antioch Christian Church
Where: 23011 Antioch Road, three miles west of Windsor
(804) 242-6911
Pastor: The Rev. James T. Dunn. Dunn and his wife, Angie, have
one married daughter and two teenage daughters
Attendance: Average weekly attendance of 200
Weekly services: Sunday - 9:45 a.m., Sunday School; 11 a.m.,
Worship Service, Children's Church; 7 p.m., Evening Worship Service.
Wednesday - 7 p.m., AWANA Clubs/Adult Bible Study and Prayer
by CNB