Faith-based real estate development is still a fairly new idea in Rochester. But this year, First Genesis Baptist Church stepped boldly into that space, launching an effort that embodies a deeply biblical vision of community flourishing.
Through its newly formed economic development arm, First Genesis Development Corp. (FGDC), the church is building 22 single-family homes in a historically underserved neighborhood near Hudson Avenue and Upper Falls Boulevard.
This $13 million project, supported by state and local funding, is a partnership with Rochester Management, Atlas Construction, and Passero Associates.
The goal is to expand homeownership, strengthen neighborhood stability, and support generational wealth in a community shaped by decades of disinvestment and redlining.
The goal is to expand homeownership, strengthen neighborhood stability, and support generational wealth in a community shaped by decades of disinvestment and redlining.
For Rev. Dr. Fredrick Johnson Sr., pastor of First Genesis and longtime faculty member at Northeastern Seminary, this step into development is not a departure from ministry, but an extension of it.
In Buffalo and other cities, churches have long been catalytic partners in housing efforts. Rochester is now beginning to follow their lead, recognizing the unique trust, presence, and perseverance that faith communities bring to neighborhood revitalization.
“He takes his ministry outside the walls of the church.”
This vision is rooted in Scripture. At a Northeastern Seminary seminar last year, Rev. Dr. Johnson described the theological grounding for the project:
Jeremiah 29:5 “Build yourselves houses and dwell in them” has become a guiding text for FGDC’s mission. The project’s six-year journey to groundbreaking reflects what Rev. Dr. Johnson calls the church’s role in “consistency and perseverance,” qualities that build trust and demonstrate faithful leadership.
Community leaders have expressed strong support. The development includes a mix of two-story and ranch-style homes, with several fully ADA-compliant* units, each designed to meet the needs of diverse families.
*Americans with Disabilities Act standards to ensure equal access for people with disabilities in physical spaces
“This effort is not social work, it is kingdom work. What we’re doing is God’s work in the community, to transform lives and build generational wealth. The American dream has not changed; it starts for anybody with homeownership.”
At Northeastern Seminary, we teach that ministry cannot be separated from the well-being of the communities we are called to serve. Rev. Dr. Johnson’s work is a living expression of that calling—a public theology embodied in bricks, mortar, and persistent love for his neighborhood.
We are honored to walk alongside leaders like Rev. Dr. Johnson, whose ministries demonstrate how theological formation leads to faithful, courageous engagement with the world.