‘A good shepherd’

The faint sounds of music drifted out of a historic, downtown church located at the corner of Culpeper and West streets on Sunday.

Inside, the Antioch Baptist Youth Choir swayed side to side clapping their hands in unison as the members sang several spiritual songs during the devotional.

While the music was customary, the celebration was special.

More than 150 parishioners honored Antioch’s pastor Rev. Milton L. Branch’s seventh anniversary with praise, food and music.

Sunday’s celebration included a Thanksgiving dinner with all of the trimmings.

The aroma of mixed greens, ham, turkey, sweet and mashed potatoes, rolls, apple and cherry pies and two cakes filled the 19th century church.

The three-hour event also included a number of worshipers from the First Baptist Church of Manassas.
Sitting in his office before the service, Branch shared Antioch’s main goals of providing proclamation, fellowship and service to the community.

“And this (celebration) is part of it,” he said. “Whatever God will do, God will do. It’s the body of Christ. It’s not just about Antioch.”

With a mother as a Methodist minister and a Catholic father, the Washington D.C. native grew up worshiping in church.

“I remember when we moved into one particular neighborhood, my mother took my sister and I by the hand and said ‘we’re going to find a church home in this neighborhood,’” Branch recalled.

And they did.

Branch’s childhood church became St. Paul’s Baptist in NE Washington.

After moving to Fredericksburg, Branch became a member of Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site).

By 2001, he began leading Antioch Baptist Church in Culpeper.

Pastors work is never done
First Baptist Church Rev. Keith A. Savage delivered the guest sermon with a theme that likened pastors to divine leaders.

“What a wonderful opportunity that you can celebrate the one who God has used to bring you thus far,” said Savage, one of Branch’s college buddies from Virginia Union University. “Rev. Dr. Milton Branch is the real thing.”

Savage listed a few characteristics a good shepherd should possess. He said they must be genuine.

“The same qualities you find in the good shepherd are the same qualities you find in a good pastor, who is the shepherd of the local flock,” he said. “I want to encourage the Rev. Dr. Milton Branch Sr. and first lady Branch to continue to work together in moving God’s kingdom forward,”

Savage added that a pastor’s work is never done.

“This is 24-hour love,” he said. “And Antioch you’ve got yourself a real shepherd.”

A special thanks
During Sunday’s service, a number of Antioch worshipers expressed their gratitude to Branch, showering him with monetary and practical gifts.

Before the service, Associate Minister Judith Freeman Moss — who joined Antioch earlier this year — said it’s a blessing to be a part of the Antioch family.

“It’s a move of God that is in place,” she said. “I’m honored to be a part of what God is getting ready to do. It’s a blessing to work with a man of God who truly believes in God.”

Antioch Deacon Finney Scott agreed.

“(Branch is) a very spiritual person,” Scott said. “And I’ve learned a lot from him.”

During the service, Antioch financial clerk Thelma Moss read four letters from various churches — as far away as the Big Apple — to Branch as he sat next to his wife in the first pew.

Moss read a letter from Pastor John S. Walker of Christian Friendship Missionary in New York.

“To the great Antioch Baptist Church family, I take much pleasure in being asked to offer thoughts on the anniversary of Pastor Milton Branch,” Moss read. “I have found Dr. Branch to be a scholar, a teacher, a musician and a pastor of great talent, but most of all a strong and prophetic preacher.”

During the service, Branch stood and clapped his hands as the First Baptist Church Choir sang soulful versions of spiritual songs.

Before leading Antioch, Branch’s job took him and his family abroad for 10 years.

As a Department of Defense Dependent Schools employee, Branch worked in Italy, Japan and England.

Branch earned his bachelor’s in special education and geography from the District of Columbia’s Teachers College; his master’s of art in teaching from Howard University; master’s in theology from Virginia Union University, and doctorate in ministry from Baptist Theological Seminary.

He is married to Jeanette for 33 years and they have two children: Milton Jr. and Jessica.

Rhonda Simmons can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 125 or .