Hello my intrepid readers.

In this short article I discuss a church that meant a lot to me in my development as a Christian and as a man; how it molded me, grew me and has been a safe and healthy spiritual place for so many. I hope you enjoy.

I grew up going weekly to this church. As an infant I was raised and dedicated at the pulpit by then-pastor David Medina.

My parents had a strong sense of duty and devotion to God. They taught me to read my Bible and pray every day. I learned all about sin, repentance, heaven and hell from them and from Antioch Church.

At first, I merely did what my parents said and didn’t doubt their teachings . As I was getting older, however, I began to question things: ‘is heaven really a good place?’ ‘If it’s like church I’m not sure I want to go, church isn’t always fun or enjoyable. Why should I want to go?’ ‘Why do so many Christians not act like Jesus if they have the Holy Spirit living in them?’

You know, the usual questions. They answered them as best they could!

Antioch Church, though the main sermons went over my preteen head, still created a safe and deeply spiritual environment where I could feel close to God and imagine what He was like, and what He wanted me to do.

What I inferred from those many sermons and classes was a set of virtues: responsibility, honesty and patience, peace and obedience. God wasn’t just there to give us what we wanted, but rather, we are expected to follow His lead and act like His children.

Even in my Sunday school the teachers always faithfully read to us from the material and asked us questions to engage our young minds with the stories. We read and discussed so many of them; David and Goliath, the Conversion of Saul and the Fall of Jericho to name a few. (All were wonderfully illustrated with colorful flash cards by Zondervan.)

The Sunday school also provided a place where I could hear about the Bible at my level by a caring teacher. The teachers loved me by the way! 😄

Not to mention, our church would do yearly field trips. One childhood memory of such a trip was our excursion to Hempstead Park for a picnic! My mother and sister also got to go on the Antioch women’s retreat to Niagara Falls!

Sadly, my family and I left Antioch and New York City in mid 2002. When we did my father and mother were invited to be honored for all their contributions to the church. They were given a very respectful send off. My father, ever the eloquent spokesman, gave a hopeful speech about he and my mom going off to do the Lords work in their next mission field (with me in tow).

When I returned to Antioch in early 2009 I was met with a warm embrace by many older members of the church who remembered me. Even younger members who were my age had a faint touch of memory recalling me. I shook their hands and made new acquaintances as well. It was good to see familiar and new faces of people living life: serving Jesus Christ and keeping that fighting Brooklyn spirit alive. It revived my interest in the church. It was especially good to see the adult Sunday School teacher, Danny Morales, again. He had been a long time friend of our family.

Just like my father before me, I also left New York City. But, I didn’t leave without saying goodbye and wishing many people good lives and giving heartfelt farewells. I was off to begin college in Idaho and many at Antioch supported me and encouraged me on my journey.

I returned once more in the summer of 2012 when I took summer break with my family just before my senior year.

It felt as though I hadn’t missed a beat. The services were alive with high attendance and heartfelt worship. My heart leapt for joy to see new members attending, old members still faithfully contributing and a new vigor alive in the congregation.

I visited a few times afterwards in 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2019. Always, Danny Morales would keep me up to date with all that was going on in church. He always had words of encouragement for me and he never looked down on me when I doubted myself or God.

It is my deepest wish to go back and attend a service; see familiar faces and praise God in a place filled with reverence.

We shall see what the future holds for us.

If you are in the New York City area and looking for a Christian place of worship that values family, tradition and camaraderie I recommend you check out Antioch Church on the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Court Street.

They are open welcoming, their services are bilingual and they engage with the community like during Atlantic Antic (summer street festival).

I wish I could say more about this great church that helped mold me, grow me and encourage me during so many trying times. But, you’ll have to see for yourself!

Thanks for reading.