HONORING ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH

On 2026-10-09, Representative Cleo Fields (D-LA-6) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH" in the House.

HONORING ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 159 (Friday, October 9, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 159 (Friday, October 9, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E1051-E1052] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH ______ HON. CLEO FIELDS of louisiana in the house of representatives Friday, October 9, 2026 Mr. FIELDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Antioch Baptist Church of Shreveport, Louisiana, one of the city's oldest and most historically significant African American religious institutions. Established on April 23, 1866, only one year after the end of the Civil War, Antioch was born in a transformative moment, when formerly enslaved African Americans were building independent institutions in which they could worship freely, educate their families, develop leaders, and strengthen their communities. For 160 years, the church has remained a symbol of faith, perseverance, independence, leadership, and service in Shreveport. The congregation traces its beginnings to 73 formerly enslaved Black members of First Baptist Church of Shreveport who were honorably dismissed for the purpose of establishing a church of their own. On April 23, 1866, these men and women organized what was first known as the First Colored Baptist Church of Shreveport. Their decision represented far more than the creation of another place of worship. It was an expression of freedom, self-determination, and institution- building by newly emancipated people working to define their place as free citizens. In an era when opportunities for Black citizens remained severely restricted, the church became a center not only of worship and prayer but also of education, fellowship, civic engagement, leadership development, and mutual assistance. In 1871, the congregation adopted the name Antioch Baptist Church, a name that would become permanently associated with African American religious life and community leadership in Shreveport. Antioch's ministry extended well beyond its own membership. Churches including Avenue Baptist, Evergreen Baptist, Trinity Baptist, and Union Mission Baptist developed from Antioch's ministry and congregational legacy, and for this reason Antioch has often been recognized as the ``Mother Church'' of African American Baptist life in the city. Its influence reaches through those congregations and the countless families connected to them, forming a network of faith institutions embedded in neighborhoods throughout Shreveport. As the congregation grew, its members sought a permanent house of worship that reflected the strength and aspirations of the church. The historic sanctuary, designed by Shreveport architect Nathaniel Sykes Allen and completed in 1903 in the Romanesque Revival style, stands as one of Antioch's most recognizable features. It was completed only 37 years after the church was founded by formerly enslaved men and women, a testament to the determination, sacrifice, and collective investment of the congregation. In 1982, Antioch Baptist Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places, formally recognizing the church not only as a religious institution but as a historic resource worthy of [[Page E1052]] preservation and an important part of Shreveport's architectural, cultural, and African American heritage. Across generations, Antioch has been a spiritual home where children have been introduced to the faith, families have celebrated baptisms and marriages, and members have gathered to honor loved ones. Through biblical instruction, Sunday school, and ministry activities, the congregation has passed its faith and traditions from one generation to the next, developing ministers, church leaders, educators, and civic participants whose influence has extended beyond the church. Its longevity is a tribute to the pastors, ministers, deacons, trustees, officers, musicians, volunteers, and families who have sustained the congregation since 1866 through Reconstruction, segregation, two world wars, the Great Depression, the Civil Rights era, and the many changes of the modern era. Like other historic African American churches, Antioch has stood as a pillar of community advancement in times when Black citizens were excluded from many public institutions. A new chapter began in 2017 when Reverend Bruce C. Carroll, Sr. was elected pastor. Under his leadership, Antioch continues its tradition of worship, Christian ministry, fellowship, and community engagement while preserving and celebrating its extraordinary legacy. Today, Antioch is both an active congregation and a historic landmark, a living institution in which new generations worship in a church founded by men and women born into slavery. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Antioch Baptist Church and its congregation on 160 years of faith, freedom, and service to the people of Shreveport. From the 73 founding members who organized in 1866 to the congregation that worships there today, Antioch stands as a lasting testament to what generations of committed people can accomplish through faith, sacrifice, leadership, and service. ____________________