Written by Tanya Terry, with photos courtesy of Rev. Dr. Edward McCree
Featured photo: The work Antioch Missionary Baptist Church is doing under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Edward McCree includes a recent food distribution for all community members, held July 28.
Rev. Dr. Edward McCree, the current pastor of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, recently discussed the recent renaming of Grant Street to Reverend Doctor Lewis Randolph Street and its significance to the church and community with the Courier.
McCree explained that this renaming honors the late Rev. Dr. Lewis Randolph, who served as pastor of the church for over 40 years and was influential to many pastors and churches in the area. Additionally, McCree believes this recognition provides the Black and other minority communities with positive role models and inspiration for the youth.
“It gives us something to honor other than the things that are depicted on TV,” said McCree. “It gives us, as I like to say, something to shoot for – so we don’t need someone to shoot at. ”
McCree shared that Antioch Missionary Baptist Church was founded in 1920 and has a rich 105-year plus history.
The church was previously led by the late Rev. L.W. Pryor, who established the Great Lakes District Association and grew the church to over 2,500 members, earning it the status of “mother church” from which many other churches were birthed.
Dr. Rev. Lewis Randolph continued this legacy by constructing the current church buildings.
McCree said he knew Randolph for decades and was inspired immensely by both leaders.
McCree is a family man married to Crystal McCree with four children -his son Davaughn, oldest daughter Makayla, middle daughter Marissa and the youngest daughter Markysa.
He has over 40 years of pastoral experience, having previously pastored churches in Israel Missionary Baptist Church in Detroit and Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Mount Juliet, Tennessee.
He emphasized that his mission is to “minister to the misery of the masses with the mercy of the master.”
Under McCree’s leadership, Antioch conducts various community outreach programs including food distributions, an after-school program serving 50-60 students from the Richfield school area with tutoring that has helped many of their grades to improve and meals, as well as a newly formed children’s choir.
The church participates actively in the Great Lakes Baptist District Association to provide training and common standards across member churches.
McCree shared his vision for the church and the community.
“The vision growth, growth, growth, not just numerically, but spiritually,” he said. “I always tell our church, church would be perfect if it were not the church people. And sometimes it’s a turn off because we try to clean fish before we catch fish.
“The goal and the vision is simple: to offer Christ the Great Commission, to go out into all the world,” McCree continued. “The goal is simple. To take Antioch, not just from being centrally located, but global. With technology, we have people who join in our Bible classes that are on Tuesdays at 6 o’clock, on multiple Facebook platforms website, along with, YouTube, from different continents, different countries, who are already a part of what we call Antioch Everywhere, which you can have full membership to no matter where you are-rights and privileges of being a member.
“The goal is to impact the community because we are in a place where we have food deserts, where there’s no fresh food. Even in the markets that exist, some of them are just substandard. Pharmacy deserts, economical empowerment. I would love to see one day with his own credit union. Housing apartments, some for profit, but some, on the flip side, that have affordable housing involved.
“The church has to expand in a way that reaches us in every area. The ministry goal is holistic ministry, where we’re not just about the soul, but holistically about touching every area of our community…”
McCree stated the vision for this holistic ministry includes everything from exercise programs to coffee places. He even wants to put washers and dryers in the church’s basement to help parents who don’t have washers and dryers to make sure their children are clean for school.
“If you need a hand up, I think the church should be there for anyone who’s trying to improve. But they have to be willing also to receive the message. Now, what you do with it, it’s on you. We can’t force you to take Christ, but you can offer Christ to you.”
According to McCree, he has been at the church since November and already has 50-60 members internationally through Antioch Everywhere, along with the local congregation.
