It felt like a family reunion wrapped in a worship service. On Aug. 10, Antioch Baptist Church in Conway marked 100 years of ministry with an unforgettable celebration at the Conway Expo Center. Nearly 2,000 people — from brand-new members to those whose connection to Antioch spans decades — came together under one roof for the first time in 13 years, filling the room with laughter, hugs and heartfelt praise for God’s faithfulness to every generation.

The day was filled with worship, reflection and moments that will be remembered for years to come — from a mayoral proclamation to a surprise announcement that the church is now debt-free.

The service opened with Austin Neal, Antioch’s new worship pastor, reading from Psalm 98 about the waves and rivers shouting for joy and calling the congregation to lift their voices in praise. “If you have breath in your lungs,” he said, “praise the Lord and celebrate His faithfulness.” The praise team and band then led the congregation in “House of the Lord,” setting the tone for a day of gratitude.

Video greetings from former staff members followed, offering words of encouragement and celebrating God’s faithfulness. Then Shawn Hammontree, director of Education & Small Groups, welcomed everyone and introduced Conway Mayor Bart Castleberry, who proclaimed Aug. 10, 2025, as Antioch Baptist Church Day in the City of Conway.

To honor the generations who have called Antioch home, attendees wore color-coded name tags marking the decade they began attending. As each decade was recognized, groups stood to applause — a living testimony to the church’s impact over time.

The worship team led three more songs — “You Have Done Great Things,” “I’ve Witnessed It” and “Great Are You, Lord.” After the prayer, Austin Neal was recognized by Lead Pastor Jason Aultman for officially joining the staff.

Bro. Jason noted the significance of the moment: this was the first time Antioch’s entire congregation had gathered in one place since Easter 2012. Space limitations typically require two worship services each Sunday at 9 and 11 a.m., making such a unified gathering a rare and special occasion. Preaching from Nehemiah, he reminded those present that the principles found in God’s Word are not only a blueprint for Antioch’s next century of ministry, but also a call for every believer’s personal walk with the Lord. He drew out three key truths to guide both the church and individuals in faithfully following God’s mission:

• Don’t be derailed by discouragement

• Partnership provides power

• God’s ability doesn’t eliminate our responsibility

After a song of response (“Never Once”), Bro. Jason shared a progress report on the church’s debt elimination efforts. At the start of the payoff push, Antioch carried approximately $1.1 million in debt. Just weeks ago, the balance was still around $660,000. The goal was to pay it off in under two years, but unexpected generosity changed everything.

“In fact,” he said, “it won’t take a year, or six months, or six weeks, or six days or six minutes — because last week that debt was paid off! Hey, Antioch! We are debt-free!”

He then shared that when he first learned the debt was gone, he went into his office and, with tears streaming down his face, prayed, “O Lord, You have been good. So faithful to all generations.” The words came from the song “You Have Been Good,” a piece woven deeply into Antioch’s history.

Bro. Jason invited longtime member Doug Hoffmann to join him at the front of the stage, where together they burned the note — a symbolic and emotional moment decades in the making.

The worship team then led “You Have Been Good,” the same song sung at the final service at the church’s former South Boulevard location in 1996 and again at the first service in the current Amity Road facility. The service closed with “Goodness of God,” as everyone rejoiced in the Lord’s faithfulness in the past, present and future. Then all current and former staff who were able to attend — around 35 in total — were invited to the front to be recognized for their service to the church.

Sarah Martin, Antioch’s Preschool director, and Jonathan Moody, director of Operations, were acknowledged for leading the planning and coordination of the anniversary celebration. The 100-year timeline, which featured major milestones, photos and memorabilia, was compiled by Shawn with assistance from Cindy Beckman and Alan Luck and designed by Tonya Hammontree. The event was more than a year in the making.

An estimated 1,500 people stayed for the fellowship meal, enjoying barbecue, pizza and Mexican food, along with desserts. Bounce houses and games kept children entertained while adults visited. More than 200 volunteers served throughout the day — from setup and teardown to preparing and serving the meal — ensuring every part of the celebration ran smoothly. Many described the atmosphere like a joyful reunion — reconnecting with old friends, making new ones, and celebrating the goodness of God together.

Most importantly, at least one person came to faith in Christ during the day — a reminder that God’s faithfulness continues to bear eternal fruit.

Reflecting on the celebration, Bro. Jason said, “Our 100th Anniversary celebration was everything we could have hoped for and more. To be reminded of God’s faithfulness over the last 100 years, and to see so many tangible pictures of His faithfulness right now, was overwhelming. Burning the note on our indebtedness and walking away debt-free was an amazing blessing. Even more powerful was knowing that eternity was changed when a young man came to faith in Christ. From young to old, people reconnected, made new friends and left reminded of God’s goodness to all generations. It was a special day in every way.”

The service closed with the congregation reading Eph. 3:20-21 together: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine… to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

It was a fitting conclusion to a day that honored the past while looking expectantly toward the future. As God has been faithful for a hundred years, we trust He will remain faithful, and may we be found faithful to Him for the hundred yet to come.