Antioch International Movement of Churches

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The Antioch international movement of churches is a network of evangelical churches[1] based in Waco, Texas founded in 1987 by the couple Jimmy and Laura Seibert. The movement is primarily focused on church planting and is non-denominational.[2] The movement became well-known after two of its overseas missionaries, Dayna Curry and Heather Mercer, were imprisoned by the Taliban in Afghanistan for illegal missionary work, around the same time as the 9/11 attacks on the United States.[1]

Origins[]

The movement's first discipleship school was held at Highland Baptist Church in Waco, Texas, led by Jimmy and Laura Seibert in 1987. The first World Mandate conference was hosted in Waco, Texas in 1988, and following the collapse of the Soviet union, they began their first international church plants in former Soviet Union states.[3]

Jimmy Seibert[]

Jimmy Seibert is the founder and senior pastor of Antioch Community Church in Waco, TX, and the president of Antioch Ministries International. Seibert graduated from Baylor University and a former member of the fraternity Alpha Tau Omega (ΑΤΩ). The Seibert family currently live in Waco, Texas.

His story of founding the movement is found in his first book, "The Church Can Change the World," which has been revamped in the book "Passion and Purpose."[4] Seibert also co-authored "The Three Loves" with Larry Kreider.

Beliefs and practices[]

Antioch has an official statement of faith available on their website.[5] The organization has its doctrinal roots in the Baptist Tradition and the Charismatic Renewal. Seibert often makes references to Waco's world evangelist Robert Ewing as his mentor. Robert Ewing was an independent non-denominational evangelist not associated with the Baptist Church nor traditions. Robert Ewing used the term "New Testament Church" also heavily adopted by Siebert. The movement has a distinct focus on the development of small group communities, called Lifegroups. “Antioch engages members in daily Bible study and prayer, carried out individually and in the church's 100-plus small groups that meet during the week in homes and on Sunday mornings."[6] Lifegroups follow a cell ministry model.[7]

Social activities[]

Antioch is socially active. The church believes in the transformational power of Christ's teachings not simply within the church walls, but also for the betterment of society. Antioch's social activities include:

  • Racial reconciliation conversations and teachings[8][9][10]
  • Aid work amongst migrants and displaced peoples[11]
  • Feeding programs for underserved populations[12]
  • Fighting human trafficking in America and around the world[13][14][15]
  • Mentoring of students who attend under-resourced local schools[16]

Antioch maintains a broad base of relationships with many other Evangelical Churches in the Christian World.

Controversies[]

Stance against homosexuality and gay marriage[]

Antioch recognizes marriage as only between "the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime."[17] Furthermore Seibert has said "...Homosexuality is a sin" and that it is a lie that homosexuality is not a sin.[18] He attributes most homosexuality a result of some type of physical, sexual, mental abuse and has stated "for over 30 years — I have seen hundreds of people personally change their direction of same-sex attraction from a homosexual lifestyle to a heterosexual lifestyle."[19]

As a result of this stance, HGTV celebrities Chip and Joanna Gaines from the show Fixer Upper, who attend the church, released a statement on it.[20][21] It has also been reported a psychologist in Waco meets regularly with a group of self-described “Antioch survivors," noting former members' stories of crises of faith after being made to feel unwelcome by the church, either for life decisions (declining to go on a mission) or for their identity (coming out as gay)[21]

Affiliated churches[]

In 1998, Antioch sent out its first U.S. church planting team to Boston, Massachusetts. The next church was planted in 2001 in Dallas, TX. Since then, churches have been planted across the United States with a vision to see more reproducing churches established internationally. Many of these churches are now planting churches of their own, both in the United States and in other nations. As of 2020, the church's public network list claims "over 40 churches in the United States" despite listing only 39 churches. Internationally, their public listing claims "more than 80 additional locations worldwide" despite listing only 7. The remaining international churches are unlisted non-transparent black sites.

Their public list is as follows:

  • Antioch Phoenix
  • Antioch Little Rock
  • Antioch Northwest Arkansas
  • All Peoples Church (San Diego)
  • Antioch Fullerton
  • Epicentre Church (Pasadena)
  • Epicentre West LA
  • Hope Community Church (Los Angeles)
  • Antioch Ft. Collins
  • Antioch Washington D.C.
  • Antioch Indianapolis
  • Antioch Wichita
  • Antioch Baton Rouge
  • Antioch New Orleans
  • Antioch Beverly
  • Antioch Brighton
  • Antioch Waltham
  • All Peoples Tijuana
  • Antioch Ann Arbor
  • Antioch Detroit
  • Paradox Church (Warren)
  • Waypoint Church (Omaha)
  • Antioch Boone
  • Antioch Raleigh
  • Antioch Norman
  • Antioch Oklahoma City
  • Antioch College Station
  • Antioch Dallas
  • Antioch Ft. Worth
  • Antioch Galveston
  • Antioch Houston
  • Antioch North Austin
  • Antioch South Austin
  • Antioch Waco
  • CrossBridge Community Church (San Antonio)
  • Antioch Salt Lake City
  • Mosaic Community Church North Seattle
  • Mosaic Community Church South Seattle
  • Antioch Sheffield
  • Antioch Cape Town
  • Antioch Stellenbosch
  • Antioch Mongolia.[22][23]

Related ministries[]

The Antioch International Movement of Churches has several related ministries that perform international aid and crisis response:

  • Antioch Ministries International, a “non-profit church-planting organization affiliated with Antioch Community Church”[24][25]
  • Living Hope Ministries, a Texas partner church of the Antioch Movement, Antioch Waco, Antioch Community Church Bryan, Antioch Norman, and All Peoples Church (San Diego), committed to curing same sex attraction (SSA) and heavily criticized for their (now banned) gay conversion therapy web app.[26][27]
  • Acts of Mercy International, "Acts of Mercy is the relief and development arm of the Antioch International Movement of Churches."[28]
  • STARS Mentoring Project[29]
  • Restoration Gateway, a church planting and orphanage project located in Uganda[30][31]
  • Haiti Transformed, a ministry committed to partner with the Haitian people to see their region transformed and redeveloped located in Laforeny, Haiti.[32] In 2011, Haiti Transformed constructed over 100 homes in Laferony, over 30 of which were completed through a partnership with the Passion Movement.[33]
  • World Mandate, a conference “for anyone who wants to worship God and change the world[34]” World Mandate is a popular conference typically hosted at Baylor University's Ferrell Center (when available, which was not the case in 2016). The event is known for its live worship and popular conference speakers, which have included Francis Chan, Louie Giglio, Christine Caine, Max Lucado, and Jackie Pullinger. The conference began in 1989 with 60 people and now draws thousands of attendees.[35] World Mandate focuses on encouraging young people to pray and engage with international missionary work.[36]
  • UnBound is an anti-slavery and anti-trafficking ministry headquartered at Antioch Waco and has local chapters around the world. The organisation specializes in prevention, professional training, and survivor advocacy.[37]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "CNN Programs - People in the News". www.cnn.com.
  2. ^ Sauer, Donelle (17 Feb 2006). "Students dropping titles for nondenominational". The Baylor Lariat. Archived from the original on 21 Sep 2006. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  3. ^ "Our Story". Antioch Movement. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  4. ^ Seibert, Jimmy (2014). Passion & Purpose: Believing the Church Can Still Change the World. Brentwood, TN: Clear Day Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9897277-0-9.
  5. ^ "Beliefs | Antioch Church Planting". Archived from the original on August 1, 2012.
  6. ^ "Old Time Religion...Is It Good Enough for You?". Baylor Magazine, Jan./Feb. 2003 | Baylor University.
  7. ^ "Cell Church Solutions". Archived from the original on August 19, 2011.
  8. ^ "Norman church's community event creates platform for change". Oklahoman.com. 2020-09-20. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
  9. ^ Gruenling, Jessica (14 June 2020). "Nearly 50 local pastors sign letter denouncing racism". KBTX-TV. Archived from the original on 2020-06-16.
  10. ^ Hoover, Carl (4 Mar 2020). "Gospel singer Donald Lawrence to head Unity concert at Antioch". Waco Tribune-Herald. Retrieved 2021-03-05.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ Hoppa, Kristin (7 Jan 2019). "Antioch Community Church team ministers to migrants at Tijuana". Waco Herald-Tribune. Retrieved 2021-03-05.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ Ogletree, Royden (2020-04-03). "Central Texas churches work to feed those in need". kwtx.com. Archived from the original on 2020-04-08. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
  13. ^ Sury, Ken. "Persons of the Year: UnBound and the Heart of Texas Human Trafficking Coalition battle widespread problem". WacoTrib.com.
  14. ^ "'Not In My City' campaign targets human trafficking". kcentv.com.
  15. ^ Lariat, Baylor. "Unsung heroes fight sex trafficking in Waco | The Baylor Lariat".
  16. ^ "STARS". Antioch Waco.
  17. ^ "homosexuality Archives". Antioch Waco.
  18. ^ "Clarity and Compassion". Antioch Waco.
  19. ^ Abad-Santos, Alex (December 6, 2016). "Chip and Joanna Gaines and the anti-gay controversy over HGTV's Fixer Upper, explained". Vox.
  20. ^ Aurthur, Kate. "Chip And Joanna Gaines' Church Is Firmly Against Same-Sex Marriage". BuzzFeed.
  21. ^ a b ""Fixer Upper" Is Over, But Waco's Transformation Is Just Beginning". BuzzFeed News.
  22. ^ "Locations". Antioch Movement. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
  23. ^ "NATION". Antioch Waco.
  24. ^ "Home". Antioch Waco. Archived from the original on August 11, 2011.
  25. ^ Smith, Diane. "Haiti Doctors Fly to Haiti to Help Injured", The Fort Worth Star Telegram, January 21, 2010.
  26. ^ "Partner Churches support Christians struggling with same gender attraction". Retrieved 2021-03-05.
  27. ^ Browne, Ryan (2019-03-29). "Google removes anti-gay app that promoted conversion therapy after backlash". CNBC. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
  28. ^ "Acts of Mercy - Antioch Community Church". Antioch Community Church. Retrieved 2016-02-14.
  29. ^ McKethan, Parker (2018-05-01). "Impacting our City - STARS Mentoring Project". Antioch Waco. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
  30. ^ "Selvey inspired by Uganda mission work: Naples Photo Galleries: Naples Daily News: Local Naples, Florida News Delivered Throughout the Day". Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
  31. ^ Sandra Sanchez (January 27, 2011). "Waco missionaries restoring life in Uganda one brick at a time". Waco Tribune. Archived from the original on 2013-02-08. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
  32. ^ "Haititransformed.org". www.haititransformed.org.
  33. ^ "One Year Later: Homes for Some Haiti Quake Victims". www.christianpost.com.
  34. ^ "World Mandate". World Mandate. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
  35. ^ "The Baylor Lariat | The official student news source".
  36. ^ Manya Brachear. "Where It All Began For Heather Mercer and Dayna Curry". Beliefnet. Archived from the original on 2012-07-20. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  37. ^ "Who We Are". UnBound. Retrieved 2016-02-14.

External links[]

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