Antioch Progressive Church turns 40 this year, a milestone marked by new leadership and a renewed sense of purpose.
The Meadowview congregation, known as a spiritual home and civic anchor in South Sacramento, will go forward under Senior Pastor Don F. Harris, elected in November to succeed his father, the late Dr. Curtis J. Mitchell.
Harris grew up in the pews of Antioch Progressive. He joined the church in the mid-1980s when his father became pastor, and the church’s ministry ethos shaped every aspect of his life.
Newly appointed pastor Don F. Harris speaks to the congregation gathered for Sunday service at the 40th anniversary celebration. Russell Stiger Jr., OBSERVER
“My mother was a social worker, and my father was a pastor, so from a young age I believed everyone woke up each day to help people,” Harris said. “That was normal to me. It formed the foundation of how I see the world and what ministry means.”
With the 40th anniversary theme “Honoring Our Past, Rebuilding for the Future” from Isaiah 58:12, Harris takes the pulpit with a clear focus on continuing Antioch Progressive’s legacy and its commitment to the community.
The celebration started Dec. 12 with a meet-and-greet, followed by the 40th anniversary banquet Dec. 13 and ending with the anniversary worship service Dec. 14.
During the latter, Councilmember Mai Vang presented the church with an official resolution from the city recognizing Antioch Progressive as a pillar of community service.
“For four decades, this church has been more than a place of worship; it’s been a pillar in the South Sacramento community, not just offering hope and faith, but also service and a true sense of belonging for so many generations of families in this region,” Vang said.
The most striking part of Antioch Progressive’s story is the building itself. It was constructed with capital from the Nehemiah Corp., under Harris’ leadership at the time. The church was built without bank financing.
“This is a church in America that was built for us, by us,” Harris said.
Harris recalls his father envisioning 100 years of continuous ministry, building not just a church but a foundation on which future generations could stand.
Antioch Progressive’s mission statement is “To meet the community’s spiritual, emotional, and physical needs by making and growing healthy disciples.”
“We are talking about doing things that are not just focused on the people that attend the church, but the impact on the neighborhood,” Harris said.
Under his father’s leadership, Antioch Progressive has served for decades as a major partner of the Sacramento Food Bank, distributing food every Tuesday to families in Meadowview. The church has hosted health symposiums on breast cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, convened forums on political and social issues affecting the Black community, and operated as a polling place.
Vang said she has seen the church offer assistance and love to members of the community. She honored Harris, his late father, volunteers, and members of the church for their unwavering commitment to the community.
“When I first became a councilwoman, I worked with Antioch church to bring COVID vaccination to this community because I represented the ZIP code with the highest cases of COVID,” Vang said.
Sacramento City Councilmember Mai Vang presents Pastor Don F. Harris with a resolution. Russell Stiger Jr., OBSERVER
Even at 40, Antioch Progressive is expanding its footprint in Meadowview. Harris outlined several major projects underway: physical, spiritual, and civic.
Within months, the award-winning child care organization Single Mom Strong Inc. will move into Antioch Progressive’s child care wing. The church also is renovating its worship center to restore its original multipurpose design, allowing it to convert into a gymnasium.
Longer term, Antioch Progressive is working on a master plan for its 14 acres that includes 40 new affordable homes, 40 accessible dwelling units for rental use, new neighborhood retail, and commercial development along Freeport Boulevard.
For Harris, Isaiah 58:12 is more than a verse; it’s a blueprint.
“When COVID hit, a lot of churches experienced decline, and then not too long after, our long-term senior pastor passed away. There was a moment when we wondered what the future looked like,” he said.
Harris did not expect to step into his new role.
“I was completely happy being the volunteer executive pastor,” he said. “Let’s go find somebody other than me to be the senior pastor. But God clearly had other ideas.”
Sacramento City Councilmember Mai Vang addresses congregants at Antioch Progressive Church’s 40th anniversary celebration. Russell Stiger Jr., OBSERVER
He was convinced by the counsel of other Sacramento spiritual leaders such as Bishop Parnell Lovelace, Pastor Tecoy Porter and Pastor Phillip Goudeaux, who reminded Harris he understood Antioch Progressive’s 100-year vision better than anyone.
Harris now interprets “repairing broken walls” as both spiritual and structural work.
“If I’m hungry, I don’t care if I’m red or blue. If I’ve got physical needs, politics doesn’t help me,” he said. “The church should be leading, not following.”
Harris pointed to the turbulent political climate as the biggest challenge.
“We are clearly under attack,” he said. “All these unnecessary actions like revoking free National Park Day on MLK and Juneteenth, just to signal to the Black community that ‘We want to diminish you.’”
He believes such symbolic cuts, along with disparities in health care, housing, and economic stability, affect not only families but also the churches that support them.
Yet, Harris remains hopeful.
“If there’s a group of people in America with a collective testimony about God delivering us in impossible circumstances, it’s the Black church,” he said. “This is a season where we need more prophetic voices coming out of the Black church.”
Ten years from now, Harris envisions a fully realized campus. He aims to keep all facilities in use throughout the week to support a wide range of programs, services, and opportunities for community engagement.
“I see basketball leagues and summer camps; I see partnerships with charter schools,” Harris said. “I see outreach dealing with community health issues. I see our facility being used not just for worship on Sunday but as an event center for weddings and community events.”
He said he expects the congregation, which is in one of the region’s most diverse areas, to become “increasingly multicultural” as Meadowview evolves.
As Antioch Progressive celebrates 40 years, it stands as an engine of social impact, ready to rebuild, reconnect, and restore under new leadership. Its renewed mandate is as urgent and vital as the needs of the community it serves.
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