I ❤️ Antioch Orlando

Author: Antioch Orlando

  • I never thought I would be known and loved in the way I am now. -E.L.

    I never thought I would be known and loved in the way I am now. -E.L.

    In 2018, I moved to Orlando for college. At the time, I began to ponder more about life, its meaning, and my purpose. I remember being so excited for what I imagined college to be like. I will say none of those plans involved God. Despite my worldly plans, there was a part of me that was increasingly interested in God. I think I always knew He existed and was there, but I never wanted to admit it or be held responsible for the implications of a God who watches every action and knows every thought. As the weight and pressure of school began to overwhelm me, so did the desire to know more about God.

    It was during my spring semester of my freshman year that I first visited Antioch Orlando. I was invited by a few friends I had made in Cru earlier that fall. Little did I know this would be the church where I would find my deepest fears and insecurities exposed and the greatest understanding of God’s grace and love for me and His children. I would have never imagined that this would be the place I would experience friendship in a way that not many people get to experience. I would have never thought that I would truly begin to understand who God is and the implications of who He is. Those implications are breathtakingly beautiful. The freedom, the peace, and the greater understanding of myself and my need were more than enough to stir a newfound lust for life. But not just any life. It was a life orchestrated and directed by a good and gracious God, whom I get to call my Father and my friend.

    This shift in how I saw and thought of God developed over the years through discipleship. These are smaller group meetings where you get to talk in detail about what God is teaching you, along with things you are struggling with. Others speak directly into your life, encouraging you through scripture and God’s character. I would say this is likely where I have seen some of the greatest transformation in my life, as well as the greatest hardship.

    I had never had to share myself in the way I have through discipleship conversations. Going in-depth on how I feel, the thoughts I am having, and the things I am struggling with is something I did not have to do until I was 19 years old. My life beforehand was riddled with “How are you?” and “That’s good,” and then moving on. At Antioch, there is a culture of sincere concern for others and their walks with God, which initially made me extremely uncomfortable. Who are these people, and why do they care so much about me? This was a common question I would ask myself. However, I understood that it would be here that I could finally have the courage to uncover deep-rooted insecurities and hurts that I had held onto for so long. Over the years, through uncovering and talking through these things, I became more familiar with God’s grace and care for me as an individual, and the way everything I have experienced in my life serves a purpose.

    Two years into my walk with God, in 2021, my older sister became tragically ill and passed away on January 27. I was devastated. I did not know how to move on or how to process it. My initial instinct was to push through and move on, as if it were just a normal event. Thankfully, I had an amazing friend and lifegroup leader who encouraged me to talk through how I was feeling and to process it with the Lord. I had never experienced something so heartbreaking, and neither had she. Yet something that really stuck with me was her willingness and eagerness to be there and sit with me in it. She not only asked how I was doing, but pressed in to help me truly delve into the loss and confusion I was feeling, despite not always knowing exactly what to say or being able to relate to me.

    This was the moment I realized that these women, who I had been growing in friendship with, are women who truly and wholeheartedly rely on God. They rely on God for the words to say when there is nothing we can say or fix in our human capacity. They rely on God when it comes to carrying the heavy burdens of others and being there for them. I became incredibly aware that there was nothing special that could be said to me to fix anything, and yet these meetings were what grew my connection with God. It was through these meetings that I learned I could grieve with God and experience His comfort even when circumstances did not change. Through discipleship, both formal and informal, I grew to know God as my closest friend.

    I have always had a fear of being known. That is why I avoided God for so long. That is why I avoided deep relationships for so long. It was nerve-wracking. I never thought I would be able to be known in the way I am now known, or loved in the way I am now loved, not only by my Father, but by His children. What a great blessing it has been to be adopted into this family, and I truly see God’s hand in placing me in this church just as I was beginning to know Him. I see His purpose and intention in doing so.

    I am forever grateful for the friendships I have been blessed with within this church family. I am forever grateful for the culture of humility, honor, grace, hunger, and joy. It has been life-changing to see the way God has moved and worked in the lives of others, as well as being pursued and loved as myself. I pray that whoever is reading this also gets to experience the richness of a community that is known and loved by God and strives to know and love others. 

    Thank you, God, for this family.

  • Antioch was the turning point that brought me back to faith. -A.C.

    Antioch was the turning point that brought me back to faith. -A.C.

    Growing up, I started attending church around the age of six or seven. At first, it was more of an after-school program because my parents were busy in the afternoons. My relatives, including uncles and aunts, also attended that church, so I joined the program. One memorable experience was participating in a drama about Jesus and His disciples. I was thrilled to be one of the disciples and encouraged my parents to come watch on Sunday. That experience brought my family closer to the church, and we attended for several years.

    When I was about twelve, my family moved to Daytona Beach, and we found a new church there. I already had family in the area, so it was an easy decision. I got involved in the youth group and the worship team starting around fourteen or fifteen and continued that involvement until I was about nineteen. Though I was a Christian, I wasn’t living a Christian life. I rarely had a real relationship with Jesus in the five years I was there. At nineteen, I had a significant falling out with the pastor and became frustrated, which led me to distance myself from the church and drift away from my faith.

    In December 2022, at the age of twenty-two, I moved in with my girlfriend, who is now my wife. My father’s only request for us moving out was to find a church nearby. We started attending Antioch Community Church in Orlando, since the cousins who had been part of the Daytona Beach church had moved to Orlando and attended Antioch. I quickly became close with the community, and it was amazing to have friends.

    A turning point came when my then-girlfriend, now wife, felt convicted about living together in sin. This conviction led her to move out, which was a significant and challenging moment for both of us. It forced me to reflect deeply on my own life choices and the financial and emotional investment we had made. Ultimately, her decision and the resulting separation helped me realize the importance of aligning my life with my faith.

    As I began to reconnect with my faith, I started attending Antioch Community Church more regularly. This was a turning point that rekindled my spiritual life. I embraced daily Bible reading, discipleship, and mission work, which transformed me deeply. Through this journey, I learned the value of community, the importance of aligning my life with God, and the peace that comes from faith.

    Looking back, it’s amazing to reflect on how, during the years I struggled with anxiety and depression, faith became the true source of healing and strength. God’s transformation in my life is a testament to His grace and love.

  • The first thing I noticed wasn’t the building or the greeters—it was the peace of God. – T.F.

    The first thing I noticed wasn’t the building or the greeters—it was the peace of God. – T.F.

    If you had told me a few years ago that an ordinary high school in north Oviedo would be where the embers of this Brazilian’s faith would suddenly blaze into a deeper, steadier fire, I wouldn’t have believed you. Yet there I stood, weeping during worship as people I didn’t know encouraged me with the Word of God on Palm Sunday, April 2022.

    My name is Tatiana. For the past three years, Antioch has been the place I call my church home. How I got here took a lot of patience, prayer, and love from a dear friend of mine, Lauren. We met eight years ago in a small house church. We got close quickly, the kind of friendship where you can hang out and talk about anything, including faith, life, fears, and dreams. I was even one of her bridesmaids. She has always been that steady, loyal friend God sent with a purpose that changed my life. She was supposed to move out of state, but God revealed His plan for her to stay local. She started attending Antioch, and every time we talked, she told me about what God was doing in her life there. But honestly, it wasn’t her stories that convinced me, it was her heart. I watched her grow deeper in love with Jesus and Scripture. I watched her share the Gospel with a boldness and compassion I hadn’t seen before. I watched her love people in a way that felt fuller.

    A few months later, she gently invited me to visit, knowing I was searching for a new church after our house church dissolved during COVID. I went twice before 2022 and decided it wasn’t for me. The truth? I was fearful. Afraid of starting over, of opening my heart again, of doing the vulnerable work of building new friendships. It felt easier to say no than to risk being known. But the deep hunger I felt to be in a local biblical church that followed Jesus always came up, and I pleaded with the Lord for help. Everything shifted at Lauren’s wedding in February 2022. I surrendered that fear right there on the dance floor, surrounded by people from Antioch who didn’t know me yet. Their warmth was genuine. Their love for Jesus was evident. That evening, as I watched Lauren and Caio celebrate surrounded by loved ones, I heard God clearly: give it another try. So I finally did, two months after their wedding day.

    The first thing I noticed that warm Sunday morning wasn’t the building or the faces of the greeters. It was the peace of God. A gentle and humble presence that enveloped me as soon as I sat down in the auditorium where the service takes place. Now, three years later, I look back and see how God used this community to shape me in ways I would never have imagined. My journey didn’t start loudly. It began in small, steady ways. People who asked how I was doing and actually stayed long enough to hear the answer. Life Group was more than just a group of people meeting on a weeknight. We were family who sharpened one another. They walked with me through seasons of painful trials.

    I desperately wanted to go on international mission trips but couldn’t because of my complex immigration process, and that disappointment felt heavy. But instead of letting it turn into discouragement, my Life Group helped me see that obedience isn’t tied to geography. God had work for me right here in this city, too. God placed me in local outreaches where I learned what it looks like to love people without expecting anything in return. He put Boys Town on my path, where tutoring became less about homework and more about showing consistency in a world where instability is normal for these kids. He opened doors for me to serve the homeless, giving them resources and the priceless gift of the Gospel. He gave me space to grow creatively, letting me use video and storytelling on the creative team to capture moments of God transforming lives. And in kids ministry, I get to teach a classroom of little ones and tell them about a God who sees them, knows them, and delights in them. Their simple faith taught mine how to be childlike again.

    Seasons of beauty. Seasons of stretching. All of them were necessary for my walk with Christ. What I find at Antioch isn’t a perfect church but a consistent one where the Word of God is preached with boldness and lived out with love. It’s hard to stay unchanged when you’re surrounded by that kind of transformation. God has used this church to keep reminding me of the one thing that matters: Himself. Jesus knows exactly where to place us so He can do His mighty work and get all the glory.

    I’m grateful. 

    Grateful for what He’s done. 

    Grateful for what He’s still doing. 

    And grateful that in this community, the Cross is not just preached. 

    It’s lived.

  • I experienced people who genuinely wanted me to know who Jesus really was and what He really said. – M.B.

    I experienced people who genuinely wanted me to know who Jesus really was and what He really said. – M.B.

    Before coming to Antioch, I would have considered myself a cultural Christian, knowing religious ideas but not having, or even knowing, what God really wanted, which is a personal relationship with me. Honestly, I was fine with that because I believed that as long as you profess Jesus, you should be good.

    When I was invited to come to Antioch Community Church, I saw something different. People not only professed Jesus, but dedicated their lives to knowing Him and making Him known, and they wanted that for me as well. Looking back now, my heart was very hardened to change, but I experienced people who genuinely wanted me to know who Jesus really was and what He really said. These people, who did not know me, wanted to demonstrate love to me by dedicating time to help me understand the true gospel message. They were convinced that Jesus can truly change someone’s life for the better, all of which I personally didn’t take too much time to look into myself.

    When I started to read the Bible for myself, I began to realize that God truly desires to change His people and make them holy for Himself. His desire is to transform minds through the Holy Spirit and to replace hearts of stone with hearts of flesh. The personal miracle I received from God was watching Him remove my desire for the world and replace it with a desire to love Him and see others saved.

    Over the next few years of walking with Him, He removed my security in riches, lustful relationships, and personal pride. He gave me a desire to know Him, make Him known, and love righteousness rather than sin. I genuinely have the people of Antioch to thank, who dedicated time to knowing God first and foremost and then proceeding to love other people out of a place of loving God first.

    Attending this church now for ten years, I have come to understand how important it is to tell people to put real thought into their idea of who God truly is and to know that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I take this as a core value now because of the people who showed me love and prayed for me, no matter how long it took me to understand. I have also dedicated myself to God’s people. Whether I go through times of uncertainty, times of offense, or hardships, trials, and persecution, I am fully confident that as we seek God’s wisdom together as a family, we can grow and get through any difficulty that may and will come our way.