Antioch (Syria)

Antioch was pivotal because: (1) it was where believers were first called 'Christians'; (2) it became the first major Gentile church; (3) it launched the first organized missionary movement; (4) it served as Paul's sending church for all his journeys; (5) it modeled a multi-ethnic church with Jewish and Gentile believers worshiping together. Antioch represented the church's expansion beyond Jewish boundaries.