Antioch United Methodist Church ~ Antioch, WV

01/24/2026

01/05/2026

Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett Announces Appointment of New District Superintendent for the Potomac Highlands District

Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett of the West Virginia Conference of The United Methodist Church is pleased to announce the appointment of Rev. Sharmune Burgess as the new District Superintendent of the Potomac Highlands District, effective July 1, 2026. Rev. Burgess will succeed Rev. Scott Ferguson, who has served faithfully as the District Superintendent for the past eight years.

Across the United Methodist connection, Rev. Burgess has been in ministry for over 15 years, beginning first as a Certified Lay Minister, then Licensed Local Pastor and, most recently, ordained an elder in full connection in the West Virginia Conference in 2021. She currently serves as the pastor of First United Methodist Church Romney and Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church in the Potomac Highlands District.

“We are grateful for Rev. Scott Ferguson’s dedicated leadership and service to the Potomac Highlands District and the entire West Virginia Conference,” Bishop Wallace-Padgett said. “Rev. Burgess’ contributions to the West Virginia Conference is rich and meaningful, having served on a variety of local, district and conference-wide teams and committees and as a leader within the Board of Ordained Ministry.”

A native of the Caribbean Island of St. Kitts/Nevis, Rev. Burgess spent many years in the United Kingdom. She holds degrees from South Bank University in London and a Master of Divinity from Moravian Theological Seminary in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. She is a mother of an adult daughter, Mikki-Lee, who is a mental health therapist in New Jersey.

“I am honored to serve, grow, and learn in faith with the pastors and congregations in the Potomac Highland District, Rev. Burgess said. “I am excited to see God’s ongoing handiwork in and through God’s people, to reflect his love in our communities and beyond.”

11/28/2025

A CALL FOR PRAYER FROM BISHOP DEBRA WALLACE-PADGETT
Dear Friends:
Today, we join in prayer for the two members of the West Virginia National Guard who were shot in Washington, D.C. Our hearts are heavy for these service members, their families, and all who are impacted by this act of violence.
As United Methodists, we believe in God’s healing power, the peace of Christ that surpasses all understanding, and the Holy Spirit’s work of restoration in every corner of our world. We lift this situation to God with a spirit of compassion, lament, and hope, trusting that God bends low to hear the cries of the wounded and draws near to the brokenhearted.
Let us pray for healing of body and spirit…
For strength and courage for loved ones who wait and worry…
For wisdom for medical providers and all attending to their care…
For peace in our communities, our nation, and our world…
And for an end to violence wherever it threatens God’s beloved children.
O God of mercy, stretch forth Your hand to protect, to heal, and to bring peace. Make us instruments of Your reconciling love, that in all things Christ may be seen and glorified.
I invite every United Methodist across the West Virginia Conference to pause today and join me in this prayer.
As always, it is a privilege to serve as your bishop.
Blessings,
Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett
Holston & West Virginia Conference
The United Methodist Church

10/22/2025

Children are not a disturbance in the church they are a sign that the church is alive. Their laughter, whispers, and little footsteps remind us that God’s house is not a museum for the perfect, but a home for generations being raised in His presence. When we see children in the church, even when they are restless, it is a testimony that the Word of God continues to reach the hearts of families.

The absence of children in the church is far more troubling than their noise. It means the future is growing silent, and faith is not being passed down. Jesus Himself welcomed the children, saying, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14, KJV). He saw their value, their innocence, and their place in His kingdom.

Let us, therefore, rejoice when children fill the sanctuary. Their presence is the sound of tomorrow’s worshippers, tomorrow’s preachers, and tomorrow’s intercessors. A noisy church is a living church because where there is life, there is hope, and where there is hope, Christ is still at work.

10/20/2025

From the Faith in Action For Pantry
The Food Pantry is in need of a few basic items that we can’t get from Mountaineer Food bank. The first need is tuna or canned chicken second is soup and third is spaghetti and sauce. Thanks to anyone who can donate this. We are open Tuesdays and Thursday is one to three and if you need to drop something off contact me and I will meet you there. 

10/16/2025

Thoughts for today,

05/03/2025

You are invited to join us this Sunday, May 4, as we kick off a new sermon series titled "Called." In this series, we will explore the various ways we are shaped and the calling that God places upon our lives with the Family of God.
This week, we will start with "Your Why, Matters."
As we delve into Colossians 3:1-17, we will encounter a list of do's and don'ts. However, it's essential to remember that Christ came to offer us more than just a new checklist of tasks. Join us as we seek to understand the deeper message being shared with us. Come this Sunday to discover the significance of your calling and why it matters.