Church History

A vision, dedication, faith, trust, ambition, desire, and integrity-all describe the marks of a humble beginning for the First Genesis Baptist Church.

The church origin began at the home of Rev. and Mrs. Clarence Gavin on June 5, 1974 at their kitchen table. The kitchen is where so much love is shown to everyone who enters.

The meeting was opened by Rev. Vincent Minter who read Psalm 90. Prayer was offered by Rev. Gavin. Then the business started with brainstorming to identify the church’s name. Several thoughts were shared; St. Marks Missionary Baptist, Macedonia Missionary Baptist, Holy Ghost Missionary Baptist Church, First Genesis Baptist Church, Exodus Missionary Baptist Church. The name submitted by Tanya Gavin was chosen: The First Genesis Baptist Church.

As most churches are formed, a governing body is immediately put together. At the June 5th meeting it was motioned and seconded that Mr. Samuel McCullough, Mrs. Mary Ann Gavin, Mrs. Lillie Gavin, and Ms. Queta Gavin are temporary Trustees. The motion was carried that Mrs. Lillie Gavin also served as President and Mr. Samuel McCullough as Treasurer. Also, it was carried that Mr. Samuel McCullough become our first Deacon and be responsible for leading devotions. Tanya Gavin was our first Minister of Music with Claren Gavin as her assistant. Rev. Vincent Minter became the first Superintendent of our Sunday school.

At the start, the few members served as heads of various posts. Mrs. Lillie Gavin became the president of the Usher Board and Toska Gavin the secretary of the Sunday school. Rev. Vincent Minter served as Assistant Minister of the church.

This small band of twelve members represented the founding members of First Genesis Baptist Church. They were young, energetic, dedicated and committed. The number also represented the twelve disciples: Rev. Clarence C. Gavin, Pastor, Rev. Vincent Minter, Assistant Minister, Superintendent of Sunday School, Mrs. Mary Ann Gavin, Trustee, Mrs. Lillie P. Gavin, President Trustee and Usher Board President, Deacon Samuel McCullough, Deacon and Trustee, Ms. Tanya Gavin, Minister of Music, Ms. Claren Gavin, Assistant Minister of Music, Ms. Toska Gavin, Sec. Sunday School, Ms. Queta Gavin, Trustee, Ms. Thais Gavin ,Member, Ms. Janice Howard, Member, Mrs. Ophelia Minter, Member.

It was 1975; the church grew by leaps and bounds. Many new members were added to our family church roll at 57 Bartlett Street. These new members soon took on leadership responsibilities, helping to keep our family intact. Sis Mary Britt became the Superintendent of the Sunday school; Mother Vera C. Smith our first mother on the Mother’s Board. The Mission was formed and grew under the presidency of Sister Bernadine Jones. Our choir was established under the directorship of Brother Samuel McCree.

From 1974-1977, we stayed at 57 Bartlett Street, growing in God’s grace before moving to 292 Hudson Avenue. Our church motto was “To Serve This Present Age”. Services were as follows: Sunday school 9:30 am to 10:45am, Morning Worship 11am to 12:30pm, Bible Study 7pm to 9pm on Thursdays.

There was a number of auxiliaries busy working in the vineyard. Our BTU was one of the strongest and most active in the Rochester area.

Some of the auxiliaries established during these humble years from 1974-1978 along with a fine ministerial staff were: Deacon and Deaconess Boards, Mission Board, Mother’s Board, Pastor’s Aide, Publication Committee, Scholarship Committee, Senior Choir, Harembee-Aires Choir, Sunday school, Trustee Board, Usher Board, Youth Choir, Youth Ushers and Missionaries.

Some of our first members (1974-1979) who are still very active are: Rosemary Babers (and Family); Alma Coles, Lillie P. Gavin, Patricia Ghee, Eyvette Hayes, Janice Howard, Patricia Walker, Marge Chappell, Shirley Burnett (and Family), Eloise Gilliam, Dwight Hubbard, Joyce Magee, Willie Shelton, and Lucreasie White.

Growing in Grace

The membership grew from 1980-1989. We had several divinity students who we grew to love and cherish. The first divinity student from Colgate (“the Hill”) was Rev. Wayne Davis and his wife Norma. There was Rev. Michael Graham, the saxophone player and Rev. Christopher Bullock.

There were many upgrades to the church during this period. The Fellowship hall was renovated with a new floor, lighting and baptismal pool. In 1979-1980, the roof was re-shingled. Two neighboring lots on Wilson Street were purchased to give us more parking spaces. The original mortgage was burned during the morning service. What a blessed event! Also, we purchased pews (those connecting wooden chairs were difficult to sit on) and new carpeting was installed.

It was a time when some of the members explored other leadership opportunities and established another church and formed the Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church. However, we knew that we were a strong, spirit filled and a God loving family. We embrace this changed as something very positive.

Regeneration

We were getting land-locked and so we purchased the buildings at 300-316 Hudson Avenue and 7 Helena Street. We saw numerous changes within our surrounding community. Our membership had grown to over 350. There were consistent ministers on the roster as many of them came from within the body. Deacons, ushers and the like had this yearning to do the will of God and spread the good news. Our last divinity student came in 1993, completed his studies and returned to Washington, D.C. To get our parishioners to and from church activities, we purchased a new 15 passenger van. There were many upgrades to the church including a new furnace, computers and air conditioning. Our members learned about stewardship and first fruit offering. Many of our members started to really trust God as evidenced by tithing.

We embarked on spreading our world mission focus. The Catholic Charities group was funding people from Sudan and asked Pastor Gavin if he could assist with the sponsorship. We immediately turned the properties at 300-316 Hudson Avenue and 7 Helena Street into housing units for these refugees. There were 34 people that came to the USA under the sponsorship of First Genesis Baptist Church. Those people found employment and education and started making a way for themselves and learning about Jesus.

The Trustee and Deacon Boards collaborated with Pastor Gavin to plan the renovation of our sanctuary. After much determination and hard work, we entered a new sanctuary with a large balcony in the fall of 1999. There was “stars” on the ceiling, new pews and other furniture, sound system, extended choir loft, carpet, furnace enhancement with electrical upgrades.

Transition

Through 33 years as pastor, Rev. Clarence C. Gavin accomplished much. Many souls were saved; marriages performed; births and deaths celebrated and rejoiced. It was time to search for a new pastor; one who enhanced the founding pastor’s vision and one who could truly be a servant of God and teach His word.

On January 10th 2008, the church led by the Holy Spirit called Rev. Dr. Fredrick Johnson Sr. as the second pastor to lead the First Genesis Baptist Church. Dr. Johnson, his wife and three children were members of Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church. Pastor Johnson used the existing church foundation to continue the work of the kingdom of God and shared with the congregation the vision for First Genesis Baptist Church.

The First Genesis vision is to be a teaching and worshipping community where Jesus Christ is Lord while making disciples for the kingdom of God. The ministry vision includes the building of a campus facility which will contain a Family Life Center, administrative offices and training facility for Christian education.

The church transitioned from auxiliaries to ministries for the kingdom of God. There was a change in names such as Pastor’s Aide to Willing Workers; BTU to Youth Ministry. The church developed new ministries to support the growing membership such as the FAITH Ministry, Kingdom Women, and Women of Destiny. Community Outreach ministries such as Straight from the Heart the ministry that provides clothing and meals for community residents. The Alpha and Omega ministry which is a jail diversion program focused on the development of youth. The First Genesis Development Corporation was re-commissioned to work on community based projects that are focused on church ministry and community outreach.

The Christian Education offering was reorganized. The Understanding God’s Word (UGW) program graduated 60 students. Bible study took on a new look, instruction moved from the fellowship hall to the sanctuary. Bible study was extended from one offering to two offerings on Wednesday and renamed Word Alive from 7pm to 8:30pm and Hour of Power from Noon to 1pm. The Genesis Leadership School extended from annual courses to semi-annual courses while expanding the course offerings that solidify the Baptist tents and meet the needs of the church membership and community.

Two vans were purchased to meet the needs the membership and community. The result is transportation is provided to Sunday worship service, Wednesday bible study and ministry fellowships. The building at 292 Hudson was in need of a new roof and the church membership pooled its resources and replaced the roof and chimney, what an awesome God!

One deacon was ordained and three deacons in training were added to the deacon board. Seven evangelists were licensed to assist with outreach, teaching ministry of the word. The church expanded its church fellowship to include Baptist, Methodist and Pentecostal churches for we all are one body in Christ. First Genesis Baptist Church has a rich history embodied with love of individual, passion for the disenfranchised, individual integrity and stewardship and commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord.

Let us continue to move forward with God’s vision in hand, making disciples for the kingdom for the best is yet to come.