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From Vision to Victory, History of the Church

 

In July 1978, the Lord spoke to Pastor Barney from 1 Chronicle 28:10: “Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build a house for the Sanctuary: be strong, and do it.”

Through much prayer and consideration, Pastor and First Lady Barney accepted the challenge of pastoring a very small congregation at the Oakcrest Community Baptist Church in Laurel, Maryland. At the time, the congregation consisted of approximately seven members. As a result of Pastor Barney's unwavering family support and daily outreach to the Lochearn, Baltimore, and Laurel communities, church membership began to flourish.

As the years passed, the majority of the congregation continued to travel from Baltimore City and County to attend services in Laurel, Maryland. Pastor Barney and his members prayed to God for a way to relocate the ministry, and in 1986, God allowed the church to acquire four and a half acres of land on Old Court Road in Randallstown, Maryland. By January 1988, the congregation had relocated its worship service to Deer Park Middle School on Winands Road in Randallstown.

In March 1988, the congregation officially changed its name from Oakcrest Community Baptist Church to New Antioch Baptist Church of Randallstown. The church continued to see God's extraordinary blessings in action, thanks to:

  • Pastor Barney's close relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ;
  • The fantastic support of his wife and children; and,
  • A holy and enthusiastic congregation.
 

The Birth of a New Era 

 
On July 14, 1991, New Antioch Baptist Church of Randallstown began to construct its new facility at 5616 Old Court Road. Remarkably, the congregation continued to grow. Even before the first phase of the foundation was complete, it was clear that additional seating would be needed. Pastor Barney, being led by the Lord, presented the need for expansion to the facility, and it was unanimously agreed to proceed.

The next year signaled the birth of a new era for New Antioch Baptist Church of Randallstown – “A Church Anchored in Christ.” The Lord enabled the completion of the next expansion in 1995 – at which time God continued to increase the membership of the church to more than 4,000 members. It became necessary to have two Sunday morning worship services to accommodate the emerging church family. Yet, hosting two services did not resolve the need for additional seating and activity space within the sanctuary.

Therefore, in November 1998, Pastor Barney, being led by the Lord Jesus Christ, presented the need for a new facility for a congregation that had already outgrown its current home on Old Court Road. God opened the door for nine acres of land to be acquired, and construction on a new and much larger structure which would accommodate a growing membership, flexible choir space, and Sunday school classrooms for children — began on a property across the road from the existing church.

On March 7, 1999, New Antioch Baptist Church of Randallstown broke ground on construction of its newest building located at 5609 Old Court Road.  On December 28, 2003, members of New Antioch Baptist Church of Randallstown celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony and its first worship service in the new location. With seating for more than 2000 saints in the main sanctuary, 13 classrooms on the lower level, an onsite Christian Bookstore, and an administrative wing, God has truly blessed the New Antioch Baptist Church family.