MEET PASTOR ODEN
| Pastor Ocie (O. C.) Oden, Jr. was born in Plantersville, Alabama May 26, 1943. He is married to Sophfronia Brown-Oden and the father of four children: Deborah, Beverly, Tina, and Ocie III. He is a proud grandfather. Pastor Oden is a born-again believer and a follower of the ordinances of God. He was called into the ministry in 1978, and was ordained in 1979. Having been called in 1983 to pastor the church in which he grew up, he continues to serve as the spiritual leader of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church. A Visionary, becoming full-time in the ministry and with the aid of Him the Holy Spirit, Pastor Oden has guided the congregation of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, both spiritually and progressively. Under his leadership, the church family has been blessed to purchase 26.13 acres of land in the Glen Oaks Hills area of Fairfield, Alabama, and build a 1.6 million dollar facility. Conjointly, Antioch Missionary Baptist Church has become one of the leading churches of the Alabama Baptist State Convention in supporting the Foreign Mission Board of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. Under his guidance, Antioch has built a three (3) classroom school in Swaziland, South Africa, where one of Antioch’s own members, Sister Julia Williams served as Missionary. |  |
Pastor Oden was formerly educated in the Fairfield City School System. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biblical Studies and a Bachelor of Theology degree from the Birmingham (Easonian) Baptist Bible College. He graduated from the Birmingham Theological Seminary with a Masters’ Ministry Degree. He is a certified teacher/trainer of Evangelism Explosion International.
Pastor Oden enjoys memberships in the Peace Baptist District Association, Peace Baptist Congress of Christian Education, Northwest State Convention, Alabama Baptist State Convention, Birmingham Ministers Conference; he is a Board member of the Birmingham Easonian Baptist Bible College, and sits on the Executive Committee of the Foreign Mission Board, NBC, USA, Inc. Pastor Oden is also a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Fairfield Housing Authority, Fairfield, Alabama.
As a tangible gift to Pastor and Mrs. Oden for 30 years of service, The Antioch Church Family hosted a Bon Voyage at the church to kick-off a seven-day cruise to Alaska for the couple! Several members of the fellowship accompanied them and shared in the celebration.
Upon their return, a 30th Pastoral Appreciation Program coordinated by The Pastoral Concern Ministry, was held on the 1st Sunday of July, Pastor Oden’s actual start date at Antioch.
The following pictures embody our love for our Leading Family and depict the culmination of their 30 years of service at Antioch…
“A Man of God Leading with Joy, A Follow-ship Adhering with Love”
Obey your spiritual leaders and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they know they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this joyfully and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.
Hebrews 13:17 (New Living Translation)