Leadership

Pastor Tom Guess

Tom Guess grew up in Waverly, Virginia and came to Antioch to preach as a supply pastor in November 2019 which led to him serving as our interim pastor from April 1 – October 1, 2020, through the height of the Covid pandemic.  During the first 4 months of the Covid pandemic Antioch was one of the few churches holding parking lot services where Tom could be found on Sunday mornings preaching from a gooseneck trailer in the parking lot.  This affectionately became known as the “Gooseneck Ministries” and was attended on Sundays by as many as 36 car loads of people from as many as 5 different churches.  On October 1st of that year, Tom was called to serve as Antioch’s Pastor. 

Tom retired from the U.S. Coast Guard in 2008 after serving 21 years on active duty.  Upon his retirement he went to work for the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.

His education includes a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a Master of Science in Leadership Studies from Southwestern College, Winfield Kansas and a Master of Arts in Theological Studies and Biblical Studies from the Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, Liberty University in Lynchburg.  

Tom was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry by Oakland Baptist Church on March 10, 2019.  Tom served as a supply pastor in the Petersburg Baptist Association preaching nearly every Sunday at a church in the area prior to coming to Antioch.  

Tom is passionate about sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and remaining focused on being a Bible preaching, Bible believing, Christ centric, and compassionate church.  

Tom has been married to his wife, Ellen, for 32 years and they have two children, Emily and Thomas. 

In his spare time Tom enjoys spending time with his family, hunting, fishing, RVing and anything outside enjoying which allows him to spend time in God’s beautiful creation.  

Tom’s favorite Bible verse is Numbers 6:24-26 ²⁴ “The Lord bless you and keep you; ²⁵ The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; ²⁶ The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.” This has become his primary closing verse and blessing on his congregation after each Sunday worship service.