We are a body of born again baptized believers of Jesus Christ according to Romans 10:9-10
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
Our prayer is that our website will serve as a tool to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Please tour our site to find out more about our church and how we can serve you.
The Antioch Freewill Baptist Church was organized in 1890 under the leadership of the Reverend C.W. Frazer. Antioch began as a storefront on Fike Street, which has since been renamed Division Street. The church burned down, and all of the
records were lost in the fire. After that, the church bought the land where Antioch stands today. Initially, there were two houses on the land; one was used for church services and the other was used as a church parsonage. The Reverend Frazer
served as pastor until 1896, resigning due to illness. The next pastor called to preach at Antioch was the Reverend John W. Kirk. Under his leadership, the church moved to a new house for services, where the parking lot is now. Later, with
dedication, faith, and hard work, they were able to purchase the building that stood where the church is now located.
Antioch was chartered in 1915. The officers' names on the charter were: Eli Bowler, Sal Toliver, J.H. Jones, James Ford, Harry Kirk, William Gains, George Lee, and George Thomas.
Under the leadership of the Reverend O.R. Tipper, Antioch installed a baptismal pool and newly stained glass windows. The windows remain in memoriam of former members of the church who actively served.
In 1968, Antioch called on the Reverend Langhorne to serve as pastor. With his leadership, Antioch obtained a better accounting system for the church’s finances. Under
Reverend Glenn’s leadership, the church purchased a parsonage and new pews. He also assisted in the development of new bylaws, as the first set was destroyed in the fire. In 1974, Antioch purchased two houses on Hill Street, with the
thirty-year mortgage being paid in three years with the help of Mr. Albert Craig.
Through prayer and faith, a handicap ramp was constructed to assist those with difficulty climbing the stairs. An upstairs bathroom was also built. Other renovations by Antioch included implementing a central air system, paving the church
parking lot, and installing a computer room.
With the support of pastors and congregation members, our missionaries began donating their time to serving meals at the Bethlehem Haven women’s shelter. This is something that our missionaries still do today.
Over the years there have been various improvements made to the rental properties and the church.
In 2010, the KIRK-COTTOM-GREY scholarship was established by Darlene Grey. The scholarship served to honor the Kirk, Cottom, and Grey families, members who worked hard and served in the church for multiple years.
In 2014, Antioch purchased a basketball hoop for the parking lot for our youth. The church also purchased a house at 401 Sprott Way (owned by former member Mrs. Ida Harrison) and rehabbed the property. This brought the total number of
properties we own to four: three single-family homes and one duplex. The Sprott Way property was sold in 2016. Also, we had a welcome mural designed by Blaine Frank painted in the church vestibule. The year 2020 was the year of the COVID–19
Pandemic, and the church was online virtually from March until December. However, Antioch was still blessed in that we were able to purchase a new sanctuary laptop for services and install a security system for the church. In 2021 we purchased
new podiums for the sanctuary in 2022 we had our pulpit chairs refurbished.
For over 132 years, Antioch has found that trusting in God will allow us to have all our needs met through his riches in glory. Antioch cannot thank God enough for the wisdom he has bestowed upon us as we continue to trust in him for a blessed
future. As we continue this Christian journey, let us pray that God continues to let us be in one accord with the Trinity, i.e., the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Revised 2/2022
Abbreviated history
Pastor Verton L. Dean, Sr.
A native of Coraopolis, PA, Verton Lanford Dean Sr. was born and raised fifth of six children into a home grounded in God. His
parents, the late Sarah Ann and the late Cleophus Dean Sr., have now gone home to be with the Lord. As a product of Cornell
High School’s 1977 graduating class, and moving on toward higher education, he always knew there was a call from the Lord in
his life to preach the Word and work within the ministry.
In 1981, Reverend Dean accepted the call to the ministry of preaching the gospel, licensed under the leadership and guidance of
the late Pastor W.J. Moncrieff at the Coraopolis Church of God in Christ. In 1983, Minister Dean was ordained by the late Bishop
G.E. Vaughn in the Church of God In Christ. Elder Dean continued his technical training in the Pittsburgh area to receive his first
associates degree in electronics. During this time, Reverend Dean worked in his home church focusing on the youth, becoming
president of a community ministry Youth for Christ, and a member of the Crusade Outreach Ministry. While working in the
ministry, Reverend Verton L. Dean met and fell in love with Sister Catherine Marie West, a spirit-filled, drum-playing songbird.
They were united in marriage by her late Pastor, Bishop J.E. Bass Sr., and the late Pastor W.J. Moncrieff. God began to bless
them as one, and God’s anointing continuously followed them. Reverend Dean was then promoted as president of the Young
People Willing Workers (YPWW) in his local church and within the Aliquippa District, gathering under the leadership of Pastor
J. Watkins Sr. (District Superintendent).
In 1990, during the illness of his pastor, Reverend Dean played a major role in holding the church together. He began Saturday
morning prayers, started a new convert members class, held revivals, continued joy nights, and worked with the YPWW in the
absence of their leader. When Pastor Moncrieff regained his health, he dubbed Revered Dean with the highest honor by
appointing him as his first administrative assistant. Reverend Dean and his wife Catherine worked together with the young
people at the church and within the community, reaching teenagers with the Word of the Lord. They taught them how special
they are, not to settle for less, how much God loves them, and that the only way to make it into heaven is through our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ. God blessed those young people, and the seeds that were planted led many of them to Christ. God then
began to open doors evangelistically for Reverend Dean. At times, God took him and his family out to many churches to minister
the Word of the Lord in song, teaching, and preaching. This would lead Reverend Dean to evangelize at the Union Baptist
Church of Monessen, PA while Pastor Spencer Harris Jr. was recuperating from a lengthy illness. On June 8, 2004, after serving
at Union Baptist on scheduled Sundays for approximately one year, God’s decision was to place Reverend Dean at Union Baptist
permanently. On November 27, 2005, one year into pastoring Union Baptist, Reverend Verton L. Dean Sr. was ordained and
installed by the Ordination Council as a senior Baptist pastor.
The church improved and grew under his leadership, as numerous souls came to Christ and over forty baptisms took place under
Pastor Dean’s call to Union Baptist Church. Many came, and some moved on, but Pastor Dean continued to stand steadfast in the
Lord; spreading the gospel, encouraging, and inviting souls to find the Lord. Increase in the ministry consisted of senior choir
membership, Bible study attendance, and trustee and usher board membership. After ten years of a void, the missionary board
was also reassembled. An establishment of several youth auxiliaries, including the junior choir, was formed. Union Baptist also
experienced and added increase in their property ownership between 2007-2009. Several lots were anonymously purchased and
donated to the church, and four of the dwellings purchased by the church were demolished. This was all in preparation for the
vision - God’s plan that Union would soon be blessed with a new parish while the merger of Fellowship Baptist Church of
Monessen and Union Baptist Church of Monessen became one. Before his departure in December of 2012, Dean pastored Union
Baptist Church of Monessen nine and a half diligent, committed years.
After National Cash Register ( NCR) and Shandon Lipshaw (his place of work as a technician for several years) changed state
locations, Pastor Dean was employed by Westinghouse/Cutler Hammer, now named Eaton Electrical Corporation. He has been
employed there for 23 years. He currently holds two certificates of training in ministry from the Mount Hope Bible Center and
RHEMA Correspondence Bible School. Pastor Dean also holds two associates degrees in electronics technology.
Outside of the ministry and work, Pastor Dean is a fan of football, baseball, and basketball, which he played as a young man. He
especially loves the Pittsburgh Steelers. It brings him much joy and he has loved to watch his own sons play ball on the field
throughout high school and college. Pastor Dean enjoys spending time with his wife on their date nights, movie watching, their
very own created trips, and eating her homemade cooking. Pastor Dean loves and enjoys all six of his children: Stacia (Stephen
Dorsey) of Pittsburgh, PA - successful daycare owner/ multi-business owner, Ava (Rev. Julius Ralph II) of Atlanta, GA -
successful multi-business owner, Verton Dean II (VJ) - supervisor at Eaton Electrical Corporation, Thomas - Eaton electrical
employee, Ramone - junior at Edinboro University, and the last of the Dean Dynasty, Jeremiah - senior at the Moon Area High
School. The talks with his two sons- in-law are priceless and can sometimes be full of humor. Pastor Dean has a lot of
fun and plenty of memories to cherish with his two grandsons, Brandon Marshall-Lanford and Brody Marshall-Jordan Brock.
The two of them, along with the family dogs, keep “Pap-Pap'' on his toes.
Pastor Verton Dean’s goal is to always please God first and reach as many souls as he possibly can through teaching the
unadulterated Word of God. Pastor is a loving, understanding, peaceful, God fearing-spouse and a true man of God, as he
believes with all of his heart. “He and his entire household shall serve the Lord.”
