A Pioneer Black Church on the West Side of Pensacola
Antioch Missionary Baptist Church stands at 625 North D Street in Pensacola, Florida, near the corner of D and Gadsden Streets. Organized on May 10, 1886, the congregation was one of the pioneer Black churches on the west side of town, founded to serve families who had outgrown the earlier segregated worship space on the east side of the city. Under the motto "Reclaim, Retrain, and Retain," the church continues to gather for Sunday morning worship at 9:15 am, with the service livestreamed each week on Facebook. Today the church is pastored by Dr. Tyler V. Hardeman, Sr., a Pensacola native who grew up inside the same congregation he now leads.
A History Woven from Hebrews 10:25
The story of Antioch Missionary Baptist is etched into its red brick walls and the surrounding neighborhood. The church takes Hebrews 10:25 - "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together" - as a kind of foundational text. After organizing in 1886 on the corner of C and Brainerd Streets, the congregation grew under a succession of pastors whose names have been preserved in the church record: Rev. "Father" Henry Aaron, Rev. D. W. Williamson, Rev. D. H. Brooks, Rev. A. G. Robinson, Rev. Sampson, and Rev. F. L. Daniels. Rev. A. G. Robinson dedicated the original sanctuary on October 24, 1915, but just two years later a severe wind and rainstorm demolished the building during Rev. Daniels's pastorate.
Undefeated, the congregation held services in the Baptist Academy at H and Brainerd Streets until 1919, when a new Antioch was built at 615 North D Street. A second sanctuary followed in 1946 under Rev. T. J. Davis, with the cornerstone laid on May 4, 1947, by the Eureka Lodge #6 F & AM under Worshipful Master John Clark. The most transformative era began on January 6, 1957, when Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Smith accepted the pastor's call. Under his leadership a new sanctuary on the corner of D and Gadsden Streets was dedicated on October 30, 1966, followed by a cornerstone ceremony in February 1967 led by King David Lodge #55 AF & AM.
Dr. Smith's pastorate stretched across more than half a century. Ground was broken in July 1997 for an even larger building, and the congregation moved into the present sanctuary at 609 North D Street on April 2, 2000. The cornerstone was laid on June 30, 2002, by the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Florida under Grand Master Alexander H. Smith, and a mortgage-burning ceremony on November 11, 2007, capped nearly fifty years of faithful service. Antioch is also recognized as the parent church of Greater Little Rock Baptist Church and Mars Hill Baptist Church in Pensacola, reflecting Dr. Smith's outward vision for ministry in the city.
Reclaim, Retrain, Retain: The Church's Three-Fold Motto
Antioch's motto - "Reclaim, Retrain, and Retain" - is the lens through which the congregation reads its mission. The first word looks outward: "We reclaim God's people by the authority given to Christ called the Great Commission," anchored in Matthew 28:18-19, Luke 14:23, and Mark 16:15. Re-training means equipping believers through preaching and teaching - "Our pastors and teachers will equip his people for works of service, building up the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12) - while making disciples "aware of the schemes of Satan" (2 Corinthians 2:11). Retaining describes a community that gathers often, encourages one another, and prays daily, drawing on Hebrews 10:25 and 1 Peter 2:9.
The church describes its broader mission as "to carry the gospel message of Jesus Christ, to strive to be a disciple-making church with a passion for God, to promote peace and unity, and to glorify God in all we do." That mission is lived out "through worship, fellowship, Christian education, poverty relief, and other beneficial activities in the community." A verse on the homepage sums up the spirit of the place: Acts 17:11, the Bereans who "searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth."
Worship, Sunday Mornings at 9:15
Sunday morning worship is the steady center of life at Antioch. The single regular service begins at 9:15 am and is led by Pastor Hardeman in the sanctuary at 625 North D Street. The livestream broadcasts on the church's Facebook page, making the service accessible to members who travel, who are ill, or who live outside the area. Music and gospel singing have long been a hallmark of the congregation, and Pastor's wife Lady Natalie Hardeman - a Gospel recording artist and musician - is part of that musical tradition.
Sunday mornings regularly feature special observances woven through the year: a Back to School celebration each August (often with school supplies for students and visiting local schools or fraternities like Omega Psi Phi), Greek Sunday with the Divine 9 of Pensacola in May, annual Youth Day, recognition of Honor Roll students, and the church anniversary celebration each fall. Each January, the entire month is given over to a Pastor Appreciation emphasis, with guest preachers invited from across the region.
The Church Covenant and Statement of Beliefs
New members of Antioch affirm a traditional church covenant that begins with confession of faith and baptism "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost," then pledges a wide range of Christian duties. Members commit to walk together in Christian love, advance the church in "knowledge, holiness, and comfort," sustain its worship and ordinances, contribute cheerfully to the ministry and "the relief of the poor," maintain family and secret devotion, "religiously educate our children," and - in language common to historic Baptist covenants of this era - "abstain from the sale and use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage." Members also agree to watch over one another in brotherly love and, when they relocate, to unite with another church "where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God's Word."
The church states its core values in a series of single-word commitments: Integrity ("doing what we say, when we say we will do it"), Dedication to exceptional service to the Lord and the church family, Safety as a secure environment for Spirit-and-truth worship, Honesty in dealing uprightly with everyone, Leadership through role-modeling "diversity and Christian principles," Loyalty to Christ and one another, and Creativity to nurture new ideas for growth.
Christian Education: Bible Training Union, Midday Study, and Weekly Bible Study
Discipleship beyond Sunday morning takes several forms during the week. The Bible Training Union (BTU) meets by Zoom on Monday evenings at 6:30 pm on a bi-weekly schedule, with downloadable lessons and a recurring meeting link. Mid-Day Bible Study is held in person at the church on Wednesdays from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm, a lunchtime option for workers and retirees who want to dig into the Word without an evening commitment. On Wednesday evenings at 6:30 pm, a Bible study gathers virtually on Zoom, with callers able to dial in from any phone.
A separate in-person group called simply Mission meets on Tuesdays at 10:00 am at the church. Children and youth are also part of the Christian Education ministry. Vacation Bible School has been a recurring tradition; during the pandemic the program moved online as a "Virtual VBS," and VBS has continued in subsequent summers with the theme of helping young people discover "how to become the best version of ourselves in Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 2:10). Students are celebrated through Honor Roll recognition and an annual recognition of graduates and retirees.
The Northwest Florida Theological Institute
In July 2025 the church founded the Northwest Florida Theological Institute, a Bible-and-theology school operating as a ministry of Antioch and recognized by the state of Florida. The Institute's stated purpose is "to glorify God by equipping men and women with a biblical, theological, and practical education empowering them to apply and proclaim the inerrant Word of God for Christian service." It offers certificates, diplomas, and degrees at "valid and affordable" rates and is in partnership with Faith International University in Tacoma, Washington.
The administration is led by Dr. Tyler V. Hardeman, Sr., who serves as President, Director, and Professor; Dr. Johnnie Bradley, Sr., as Vice President of Academic Affairs and Professor; Dr. Charmere Gatson as Dean of Student Affairs and Professor; and Mrs. Olivia Lewis as Administrative Registrar and Secretary. The Institute holds to "the plenary and verbal inspiration of the Holy Scriptures," and its 2025-2026 academic catalog is available for download. The school is located at the church and may be reached at (850) 490-1179 or nwflti2025@gmail.com.
Dr. Tyler V. Hardeman, Sr., Pastor
Pastor Hardeman is a Pensacola native born on December 25 to Mr. Clarence Hale and Mrs. Elsie Hardeman Moody. He was licensed and ordained to the ministry by Antioch itself under the late Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Smith. He completed his theological training across several institutions: a diploma in theology from American Baptist College in Nashville, Tennessee; a Bachelor of Arts in Bible Theology, a Master of Arts in Bible and Pastoral Ministry, and a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Selma University in Selma, Alabama; and a Doctorate of Ministry in Biblical Exposition Preaching from Anderson University Clamp School of Divinity in Anderson, South Carolina. He has also received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Virginia University of Lynchburg and a Doctor of Divinity from Oakdale Bible College in Mobile, Alabama.
Before returning to Antioch, Dr. Hardeman served for nine years as the sixth pastor of Lily Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama. He came back to Antioch as Co-Pastor on July 12, 2009, and was officially installed as the church's Pastor on January 13, 2013. He is a past President of the First West Florida Congress of Christian Education, past President of the Baptist Ministers Union of Pensacola and vicinity, and past Bible Expositor of the First West Florida District Association. He retired in 2014 as Director of Case Management at AMI Kids Pensacola after twenty-two years in alternative education and juvenile justice, and currently serves on the Board of Trustees at Selma University, the Executive Board of the First West Florida District Association, and on the faculty of Dallas Bible Theological Institute. He is a member of Saint John #189 PHA Masonic Lodge and the Beta Omicron #594 chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. He and his wife, Natalie Smith Hardeman - named Teacher of the Year for Bellview Elementary School in 2024-25 - are the parents of three children and have one granddaughter.
An Extended Pastoral Team
A broad team of associate pastors and ministers serves alongside Dr. Hardeman. The Associate Pastors are Rev. Dr. Robert Lewis, Rev. Dr. Eugene Smith, Rev. Dr. Steven Pickens, Rev. Robbin Alexander, Rev. Jamie Smith, Rev. John Smith, and Rev. Kim Yarber. The Associate Ministers are Rev. John Staples, Rev. Samuel Jones, Rev. Marlon Eberhardt, Rev. Kelsey Powell, Rev. Jerald Wade, Sr., and Rev. Quarius Hodges. Antioch also continues to honor the memory of its long-serving predecessor, the late Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Smith.
Reaching Out: VBS, Back to School, and Community Ties
Antioch invests in its city in concrete ways. Each August the church hosts a Back to School celebration, sometimes in partnership with the University of West Florida cheerleaders, the local chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, or with school staff from local schools such as Warrington Middle School. School supplies are distributed to area youth. The annual VBS draws children from across the city and has, since 2020, also been offered virtually. The church celebrates its graduates - high school, college, and theological institute - each spring, and it honors retirees. The church's own mission statement names poverty relief among its core activities, and the long history of parenting congregations like Greater Little Rock Baptist Church and Mars Hill Baptist Church is part of that outward vision.
Visiting Antioch
The church is located at 625 North D Street, just off West Gadsden Street in central Pensacola, with telephone (850) 434-1904. Sunday worship begins at 9:15 am and is broadcast live on the church's Facebook page for those who cannot attend in person. Online giving is available through Tithe.ly, and visitors who want to connect with the ministry team can fill out a contact form on the church's website or call the office. The church's own description of itself - "The Church with a Warm Welcome" - is offered as both an invitation and a long-standing habit. In a city where Antioch has been a fixed point for nearly a century and a half, that welcome points back to a covenant that has bound generations of believers together in worship, discipleship, and service.