Meet the Pastor.
Pastor Raymond Diggs
Reverend Raymond Diggs is the senior Pastor of Antioch, where he maintains membership in good standings. He is an ordained/certified minister (Commonwealth of Virginia). He is a native of Norfolk, VA.
He was baptized and grew in the grace and knowledge of Christianity under the leadership of the eminent and illustrious pastor, Dr. I Joseph Williams. Reverend Diggs has also served and ministered at Antioch under the pastoral leadership and vision of Dr. Mark Churn, Rev. Dr. Charles McKeller, and Dr. James W. Webb.
While under the administration of Pastor Webb, Rev. Diggs was appointed to the position of Senior Associate Pastor. In 2012, Rev. Diggs was appointed to God’s service as Interim Pastor of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church for 3yrs. (2012-15). Rev. Diggs was appointed the position of interim pastor of Antioch in 2017 where he now currently serves in God’s service as Senior Pastor.
In 1992, Reverend Diggs was led by the spirit of the Lord to attend Antioch’s early morning service; there he heard a sermon preached by the late Rev. O.R. Pigford. Under the power of Rev. Pigford’s message, Rev. Diggs cast his lot with the congregation of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, where he has been a faithful member and servant for 28yrs.
Reverend Diggs served in God’s service on the Deacons’ Ministry from February 1995 until July 2001; at that time, he was licensed to the gospel ministry. He has served faithfully on the Male choir, the Unity choir, the HIV/AIDS Ministry, Men’s Ministry, the Men of Berkley (MOB), Men’s Sunday school teacher, and as the leader of New Members’ Orientation.
In his hunger and thirst for the knowledge of God’s Word, Reverend Diggs continued to pursue higher learning for God’s service. He attended classes at Tidewater Community College for The Basics of Sociology, Religions of the World, and received a certificate of Religious Studies from Virginia Bible University, Norfolk, Virginia; an Associate Degree of Theology from Baptist Seminary. With the support and aid of his home church, he received a Bachelor of Theological Studies from Richmond Virginia Seminary, Richmond, Virginia.
He was a member of the Old Dominion Baptist Association Division of Clergy. He holds membership in the NAACP Association, Tidewater Metro Baptist Ministers Conference of Virginia. Antioch Missionary Baptist Ministers’ Fellowship and serves as Chairperson of Antioch’s Mission Outreach for the homeless.
He served honorably in the United States Army (Vietnam vet) and was awarded the Purple Heart. He retired, after more than 22 years as a cargo/Hazmat technician for Navy contractors that serviced the Naval Installations in Norfolk, Virginia.
He is married to the former Brendolyn Horton and is the proud father of four lovely children (one son and three daughters), two wonderful sons-in-law, eight grandchildren and three great-grandsons.
His desire is:
“To serve the call of God to the best of his ability, to fulfill the commission for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come in unity of faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the statue of the fullness of Christ; to lead the church in understanding, growth, and maturity for the goal of accomplishing the great commission to develop disciples for Christ.”
One of his favorite scriptures is Isaiah 43: 1-3:
“But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior.”