New Location

We are pleased to announce our new location!  We are now on Sandy Bottom Rd. in Coventry, RI.  Please, come and join us as we pursue a deeper relationship with God.  We look forward to meeting you!

Meeting Times:

Sunday

Sunday School     9-9:45am

Worship Service  10am-12pm

Tuesday

Breakout Kids Church     7-8:30pm

Adult Teaching & Prayer  7-8:30pm

Wednesday

Awaken: Youth & Young Adults Ministry     7-9pm 

"No matter what age you are, there is a place for you!  So, come and discover what God has in store for you at Genesis Church!"   - Pastor Nickie Farley

Rhode Island's History

How is it that we have not been taught our own church history in America?  Out of curiosity I found some books in the American History section at the Warwick, RI public library.  One of the books called Roger Williams and the Massachusetts Magistrates contains letters written by Roger Williams (a minister in early New England) and those who knew him.  Roger Williams said he "simply felt that 'forced worship stinks in God's nostrils' and he did not wish to separate the peace and purity of the state.  He insisted on the separation to maintain the purity and integrity of the church."  Roger Williams believed that "every one should have the liberty to worship God according to his own conscience."  He didn't think it Biblical to force someone to attend church or pray when they weren't even a true believer.  He believed in a personal relationship with God.  Yet, people have now taken statements like the one Roger Williams made and are trying to take God out of our country.  They obviously don't know this country's history.

Roger Williams left Massachusetts and founded Rhode Island as a place of religious freedom, not freedom from religion.  He had spoken out against the churches of New England because they were still connected to the corrupt church of England at the time and he believed that the New England churches needed to separate from England and cease being simply "religious" and become covenant relational with God.  "During his years of exile in the wilderness of Rhode Island Roger Williams had come to see the importance of religious liberty in ways which he had only dimly sensed while a young minister at Salem."  Roger Williams said to the Magistrates "(through the Lord's assistance) he shall be ready to not only to be bound, and banished, but to die also in New England, as for most holy truths of God in Christ Jesus."  Roger Williams was known as a prophetic minister and teacher of the gospel.  He desired that people would not "do" church, but would "be" the Church. 

Roger Williams is one of many who believed this way.  There were others who followed him to Rhode Island.  The outcasts within the refugee settlements at Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island lived under a tradition of freedom that was established by Roger Williams.  Samuel Gorton's plantation, Warwick, Rhode Island, was a haven for "personal encounter and direct communion with God by searching out God's purposes in Scripture and walking in the spirit with the infilling of Holy Spirit."  They believed in prophecy and William Coddington said, "stinting or limiting the Spirit of Prophecy in any place in New England, thou lookedst at it as one of the horridest acts as was ever done in New England, and would be as great a Token of God's forsaking New England as any."  New England was thought of as "a city on a hill" and Rhode Island "exhibited itself as a culture of Holy Spirit."  "By 1658 Newport, Rhode Island could be referred to as one of the 'strongest places in this land,' and Rhode Island was affectionately set down in Quaker writings as 'that Island, where we ever found a place to rest our heads when weary we have been.'"

That was just a brief overview of what was the beginning of the church in New England, especially Rhode Island.  Amazingly, Warwick, Rhode Island, the area of which we are planting Genesis Church, was meant to be a place for growing a deeper relationship with God and experiencing the supernatural.  Rhode Island wasn't perfect, but the people's hearts were in the right place, Jesus Christ.  I believe that God desires to Awaken that again just as He breathed on the valley of bones and they came to life.  I have heard so many times that New England is "dead and dry" but I believe with many others that another great Awakening is coming to New England that will sweep across this nation.  I believe that this time we must keep it living so that future generations will be sons and not orphans.  It's time that people know their history and run the race that was begun so long ago.  These "radical" people believed that we are to get back to the basics and be the Church Jesus intended.  That is the only way this nation can be saved is through Christ.  We must not make the same mistake New England once made: they were not unified!  The spirit of disunity is what has kept the church in America from being as strong as it could be.  It's time for unity in the Body of Christ and an Awakening in this hour!


Written by
Nickie Farley

First Service

RHODE ISLAND GENESIS CHURCH

A Place of New Beginnings

Date: Sunday, January 23

Time: 10am

Place: Fairfield Marriott Inn & Suites

4 Universal Blvd.

Coventry, RI

(Between BJ's & Home Depot)

All Are Welcome

Free Tea & Coffee

rigchurch.com

Our Meeting Place (click for link)

We have great news!  We have our first meeting place for RIG's Sunday services!  After checking out the area and looking into different places, God has opened a door in Coventry, RI: 

Meeting Room

Children's Room

Revelation 3:8

“I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name."

We are so grateful for everyone's prayers, and as you can see God is giving His answer!  The following was said by someone in Rhode Island involved in helping us get this place:

"I just took the time to look at your website and it is phenomenal!  I love it and I even played the song over and over that is in your media section.  Also, I watched the video about love and the rain outside my window started to drum harder and harder, there was even thunder!  What you are doing is very moving and compelling!!!"  -Anonymous-

Called to Love (click link)

HATE.  "Hate" is a strong word.  The definition for hate is: an intense hostility usually derived from fear, anger, or the sense of injury.

In a class I am taking, I heard some pretty strong words today.  They made me cringe, because I could hear the hate in the person's voice that said them.  A couple students were talking about holidays and the professor mentioned that Good Friday is now only considered a religious holiday and not a federal one.  Good Friday is the day Christians remember Jesus being crucified at Calvary.  Someone else chimed up and said "but, Black Friday is a nationally recognized holiday!"  Black Friday, by the way, is NOT a federal holiday.  It simply is the day after Thanksgiving in which retailers make enough sales to put them "into the black ink".  The student sitting in front of me turned around and I heard him say "all Christians should go back to Hell!"  The statement made me cringe.  I watched as he repeated what he said to someone in front of him and looked around with a smile on his face as though he were seeing who had heard him.  Yet, despite his words, I felt compassion for him.  I don't know why he said what he did or what compelled him to say these words, but I did know he did not understand the meaning of what he was saying and it was coming from something in his heart.

Who can avoid hearing the hatred so many people are voicing?  We hear it on the news, we see it on signs, etc.  Jesus told us to "love those who persecute you".  What good will it serve to fight hate with hate?  The definition for "hate" above says it is derived from fear, anger, or a sense of injury.  You don't just hate for no reason.  By loving others, you aren't operating out of fear, anger, or a sense of injury.  In fact, by choosing to love, you are overcoming these things.  So, the next time you feel the urge to say "I hate...", stop and think where that is coming from.  I can guarantee it is coming out of one of three things: fear, anger, or a sense of injury.  Don't allow hatred to spill from your lips.  Remember that out of the abundance of your heart your mouth will speak.  If there is evil in your heart, then evil will spill from your lips.  Stop: Hatred!

Written by

Nickie Farley 

Call To Prayer

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.  But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.  Whatever he does prospers.  For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous."

Psalm 1:1-3, 6a

As someone who has grown up in church, I have heard this passage of Scripture many times.  Each time I hear these words I get a picture in my mind of this huge tree.  If you know anything about trees you will know that large trees have a pretty large root system under them.  When I think about the roots of this particular tree, I imagine that the roots are like wisdom and the more that I spend time reading and studying the Bible, and praying/listening to God, the deeper these roots grow.

When I read a Psalm, I try to also read a passage in Proverbs.  So, lets jump over to that book.  Read Proverbs chapters two and three.  The theme of these two chapters is on wisdom.

"For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.  He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of this faithful ones."

Proverbs 2:6-8

If you look at what is being said in Proverbs chapter 2, you will see that there is a correlation between wisdom and walking the path of a Christian.  But, notice that verse six says, "the Lord gives wisdom."  So, it isn't our own wisdom that helps us walk this path.  We can only receive the Lord's wisdom when we seek him.  This is the most important reason why the Rhode Island Genesis team has been meeting together weekly to pray and seek God's will for RIG.

"For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.  Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you."

Proverbs 1:10-11

For anyone to think they can reach a territory without first seeking God and asking for his wisdom is foolish.  "Do not be wise in your own eyes."  (Proverbs 3:7a)  The Bible clearly states that we must trust in the Lord with all of our hearts and lean not on our own understanding, that we are to acknowledge him and he will direct our paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).

***This is a call to prayer.  RIG is currently meeting and will be meeting for the next several months at 10am downstairs at Genesis Church, Bloomington IN before the 10:30am worship service.  If you feel led, please, join us as we seek for God's wisdom in this church plant.

Written by Nickie Farley

Vision: Sheep On The Battle Front (click for link)

So, we had our weekly prayer gathering for RIG this morning before church service in Bloomington.  Before we started to pray, Pastor Dotty spoke about praying for purpose.  So, as we joined hands and began to pray together, God gave me a vision for New England.  Now, don't look at the word "vision" and think "oh, no", because the Bible says without vision the people perish (Proverbs 29:18).  If you still don't understand what vision is, read these 10 Keys To Developing Your Vision which talks about finding God's vision in ministry.  So, while we were praying, this is what the Lord showed me.

As we stood together in a circle holding hands I saw a white pillar standing in the middle of us.  I looked up and saw that it reached to a ceiling that then expanded out onto other pillars that surrounded behind us.  Between the pillars were flames of golden fire.  I was suddenly seeing the place where we were standing and praying from a distance.  I could see that we were inside this pillared building upon a tall, skinny, rock mountain.  I knew that we were not only praying in our physical self, but that we were in a place in the heavenlies interceding.  This was that place.

Suddenly, the main pillar that stood in the middle of the place where we were standing was gone and Jesus stood there in its place.  He was covered in blood, as he would have appeared on the cross.  I felt a moment of fright to suddenly be confronted by this scene, but then looked into Jesus' eyes and saw how piercing they were and I felt rather than heard him speaking to me.  Then, he reached forward and put his arms around me and I felt perfect peace.  He was clothed in robes of white and full of glory.  He spoke into my ear, "will you follow?" 

Then we were facing a field.  I could see sheep scattered throughout this field.  The sky was covered in grey clouds which made the place seem dark and I could see shadowy figures standing throughout the field.  We all suddenly walked into the field and struck down the shadows with our swords.  Behind these shadowy figures we found sheep that had been hidden behind them.  They seemed hurt and frightened.  I reached out with my hand and touched a sheep on it's side.  I brought my hand away and saw an imprint of red blood that was there for a moment and then dissolved into the sheep's wool (John 1:29, Romans 3:10-12,23; 5:9, Colossians 1:20, 1 John 1:7, and Revelation 1:5; 5:9).  Suddenly, the sheep was transformed into a person.  They were clothed in armor.  I watched as we all saw this happen to all the sheep that were in the valley.

Then, we gathered to the top of the next hill and looked over.  A dark, wide valley full of sheep spread out before us.  The same shadowy figures we had encountered in the last valley were there.  But, this time they were not just hiding the sheep from us.  They were torturing and devouring the sheep.  We listened to the call to attack from the generals posted along our lines.  Then, we ran forward with a loud roar and struck down every evil thing.  Again, we saw the blood restore the lost sheep.

When the darkness was defeated in that valley, we gathered to the top of the next ridge and I saw a horrible sight.  There were sheep gathered on the shores of the ocean.  I saw the shadowy figures like before, but these were giants.  They were picking up the sheep and throwing them into the water.  The sheep were screaming and I watched as when they hit the water they were transformed into people crying and trying to escape the water that seemed to be pulling them under.  I looked out farther onto the water and saw giant, dark ships shooting cannons at the people in the water, trying to kill them.  

I then looked to the right and saw the Lord on a white horse with fire in his eyes.  A great battle cry rose up from him and we all joined in.  We charged down to the beach.  As I attacked and struck down the evil around us, I watched others doing the same and saw the sheep on the beach being saved.  Then, I noticed soldiers racing right out onto the water, running across it as if it were another field and not something they could sink into.  They reached down, pulling people out of the water and embracing them.  Then, again I looked farther and saw more people charging the ships with torches and burning the ships.

 

When all the dark figures had been destroyed and the light returned, we looked around at each other and saw many people we had never met but felt close to.  We had all fought together and the battle was won!  We couldn't help but raise up a victorious cry!  

We knew it wasn't quite finished, because there were many more places to cross through, but we had grown together and realized the significance of being the Body of Christ.

 

Then, were were again in the pillared place on the mountain.  But, this time, we were not alone!  There were countless people also there, praying and lifting their hands worshiping God.  I looked and saw that the pillared place was much larger than before and that even the mountain itself had grown.  I knew that God was bringing together the Body of Christ.  



So, you may have found revelation within this vision.  I encourage you to share what you felt by leaving a comment below.  I believe this vision was a reminder that we are to find Jesus' lost sheep and fight for them.  The one thing we can most assuredly be guaranteed is that the battle is already won!  But, we can't do it ourselves.  We must have the Lord guiding us and we must walk in unity.  It isn't about this church or that church, or this pastor or that pastor.  It's about the Body of Christ being knitted and joined together.

"He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love." Ephesians 4:16

Written by Nickie Farley