Photo by Yvonne Kemp
On Sunday, October 17, 2021 Antioch Missionary Baptist Church hosted its 75th church anniversary at the church, 2033 W. Congress Ave. The theme for the anniversary was “Upon This Rock I Will Build My Church,” (Matthew 16:18) and was hosted by Antioch pastor Rev. Victor Manns and First Lady Lisa Manns.
The church was founded on October 8, 1946 by the late Reverend Dr. Louis Samuel Beauchamp, with only three members which included his wife, Mrs. Pearl Beauchamp. The first worship service was held in a one-room building located at 1844 North 7th Street. It was an old and outdated building that had to be remodeled. Antioch MBC was chartered by the State of Wisconsin in 1949. As the membership continued to grow, the church would move a number of times until it finally settled at its current location, it acquired from Augustana Lutheran Church, that closed on February 15, 1984.
On August 21, 1990 God called Dr. Louis Samuel Beauchamp from labor to rest. Through the years the clergy who have been called to minister at Antioch include Dr. Earl Thomas (1992-1995), Dr. Andrew Calhoun (1996-1999), Reverend Maurice Gladney (2000-2001), Reverend Alexis Morgan (2002-2011), Reverend Steven Harris (2011 – 2015), and finally current pastor Reverend Victor Manns.
