The Antioch A.M.E. Zion Church located in Eastover, South Carolina, known as the “Church That Gives Hope to All People” celebrated its 200th Anniversary April 26-28, 2024. The three-day commemoration shepherded by the pastor, Reverend Dr. Robert T. Benton was dubbed as a “Legacy Weekend”, whose theme was “Standing on Faith, Sharing Our Hope and Serving in Love”. 1 Corinthians 13:13. Dr. Benton and his helpmeet, Reverend Melissa S. Benton have brought stellar leadership to this congregation for the past eighteen years. Having been in existence for 200 years, Antioch has evolved from a pre-civil war church, where both black and white people worshipped together. Since 1824 Antioch continues to stand as a beacon light of hope within the Lower Richland Community.
The Legacy Weekend started off on Friday evening with worship, praise and celebration, then concluded with a high and holy worship service on Sunday. The Friday night worship included a son of the church returning to bring the opening message, Reverend Sherman B. McBeth, who once pastored Antioch and now serves as pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Eastover, SC. After the singing of the combined choirs, Antioch and Mt. Zion, Rev. McBeth delivered a power-packed sermon by posing the question, “Neighbor How is Your Church?” The praise and celebrations continued at the Seawell’s Restaurant and Banquet Center in Columbia, SC. A festive Legacy Awards Luncheon was held to recognize some of the pillars of the church for their many years of dedicated and consistent services rendered to God and the Church. The awards were: Hope presented to Frank Billie, Faith presented to Dr. Robert L. Scott and Love was presented posthumously to the family of the late Frances Woodard. A special ‘Living Legacy Award’ was bestowed upon the most senior member of the congregation, Anna L. Wilson, who is 93 years old and a life- long member of Antioch.
Then on Sunday morning the culminating worship service brought confirmation that surely the Lord was in the place. The electrified congregation was blessed and elated to have two Episcopates in the service, Bishop Hilliard Dogbe of the Western West Africa Episcopal District and Senior Bishop Kenneth Monroe of the South Atlantic Episcopal District and the Eastern North Carolina Episcopal District. Bishop Dogbe, who was presented by Reverend Dr. Alvin McLamb, Presiding Elder of the Columbia-Camden District, brought a warm and heartfelt introduction of Bishop Kenneth Monroe. Bishop Monroe commended the Pastor and the Antioch congregation on their steadfastness and the church’s existence for 200 years. Some of the guests recognized during the service included Missionary Supervisor Shelia Monroe, Presiding Elder, Reverend Dr. Sandra K. Benton, (Retired), Reverend Vanessa McLamb, Nadine Green and Dr. Jermaine Johnson, SC House Representative of House District 70. Rep. Johnson read, then presented a resolution to the pastor of the church, Rev. Dr. Benton and the Antioch congregation.
Bishop Monroe’s very profound and fitting message came from Genesis 28:1-17 with the subject, “Finding God in Unexpected Places”. He expounded on these three points. (1) “The Presence of God is Manifested in Unlikely Places, (2) “The Presence of God Can Come at an Unlikely Time”, and (3) “The Presence of God Can Be Found in Unexpected Experiences”. Bishop Monroe eloquently reminded the congregation that we serve a God that is not limited to time and space, and that the presence of God should be felt not only in the Church, but in our homes, in congress in so many other unlikely places. He also said that, “God’s mighty presence must be evident in our lives”. Surely, the Lord has done great things for Antioch A.M.E. Zion Church.
