Our Story
Faith in Action
Genesis Worship Center’s story brings together Christian ministry, community leadership, and practical service to the Oakland community. Under the leadership of Bishop George Matthews, the church has grown into a ministry that provides spiritual care, housing, and comprehensive support for people rebuilding their lives.
Bishop George Matthews
Background and Leadership
Bishop George Matthews is the founding pastor of Genesis Worship Center, bringing experience in ministry, business leadership, spiritual care, correctional chaplaincy, and nonprofit administration. His work reflects a belief that faith should reach beyond Sunday worship to address the everyday challenges facing individuals and families.
Raised in the Church of God in Christ, Bishop Matthews received his early spiritual foundation at New Sweet Home under Pastor A. C. Macklin and later served at Glad Tidings under Bishop J. W. Macklin. His early ministry included service in youth, Sunday school, and music departments. (Ministry background)
He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from San Jose State University and an MBA from Golden Gate University. (Educational background) He also holds a Master of Divinity and has completed four units of Clinical Pastoral Education, combining theological preparation, business education, and specialized training in spiritual care.
Before entering full-time ministry in 2001, Bishop Matthews spent more than 13 years at Hewlett-Packard in leadership positions, including Sales Development Manager for its North American Printer Division. He then served as Youth Pastor at Acts Full Gospel Church of God in Christ in Oakland, working with Bishop Bob Jackson before establishing Genesis Worship Center in 2003. (Professional and ministry background)
His spiritual-care experience includes work at Kaiser Permanente and eight years of service as a Spiritual Care Director. He also served for eight years at Santa Rita County Jail and provided oversight of chaplaincy at Juvenile Hall for 12 years. This work brought him alongside individuals and families experiencing illness, loss, incarceration, and major life transitions, helping shape his commitment to care both inside institutions and in the community.
Consecrated as a bishop in 2019, Bishop Matthews brings his pastoral, professional, and administrative experience to Genesis’s continuing work. His approach is reflected in his own words: “The way I show my love is to help them. I fulfill my mission by being a servant.” (Local News Matters)
The History
Genesis Worship Center
A Foundation Built Through Faith and Determination
Founded in Oakland in 2003 by Bishop George Matthews and his congregation, Genesis Worship Center began with a commitment to worship, spiritual growth, and community service. Within its first two years of ministry, Bishop Matthews and the congregation purchased and renovated their current facility, a remarkable achievement that established a lasting home for the ministry.
This early milestone was made possible through a $1.1 million loan from ECCU credit union. ECCU made an exception to its lending practices to support Genesis, an uncommon opportunity for a congregation only two years into its ministry. The financing helped turn the congregation’s vision into a permanent place for worship, service, and community connection.
Hundreds of Lives Changed
Since 2003, hundreds of lives have been changed through the ministry of Genesis Worship Center. Through spiritual care, hope, and practical support, Genesis has helped people rebuild their lives and has helped transform the East Oakland community and its surrounding neighborhoods.
The church’s impact extends beyond its buildings. Its ministry has created a place where people facing hardship and marginalization can find encouragement, dignity, and the opportunity for a new beginning.
Over the years, Genesis’s community work has included food distribution, youth programming, mental health services, case management, job readiness training, and computer skill building. These services reflect a ministry that addresses both spiritual needs and the practical barriers people face. (UCC impact report)
Genesis has received numerous city, county, and state awards and recognitions for its service to marginalized people and its community impact since 2003. These include recognition from Oakland mayors and the Oakland City Council, acknowledging a sustained commitment to people and neighborhoods too often overlooked.
Outcomes
Turning Church Space into Housing and Opportunity
Hundreds of Lives Changed
As housing needs grew, Genesis expanded its ministry by putting unused church space to work. The organization secured a $3.6 million loan through the UCC Cornerstone Fund and the UCC Church Building & Loan Fund to support the conversion into housing. (UCC Church Building & Loan Fund)
This financing marked only the second time a loan of this size had been extended to a non-UCC church in the lender’s 100-year history. For Genesis, it represented another uncommon lending opportunity that made a major expansion of its ministry possible.
Working with New Way Homes and Envision Housing, Genesis developed a 12-unit housing project using private financing, becoming an early example of the movement to create housing on church property. (New Way Homes; GreenMoney; Local News Matters) The UCC Church Building & Loan Fund recognized Genesis as the first project in the Fund’s history to use its financing to transform an existing church fellowship hall into affordable housing, with the Rev. Dr. Patrick Duggan describing Bishop Matthews as “a gifted church leader.” (UCC Church Building & Loan Fund)
Today, Genesis has expanded to additional properties and provides housing and comprehensive wraparound services for formerly incarcerated individuals through GWC Fresh Start Housing. With a waiting list for services, the organization continues to respond to the need for safe housing, coordinated support, and meaningful opportunities to rebuild lives.
Supporting Successful Reentry and Safer Communities
Today, Genesis supports successful reentry through its work with the Alameda County Probation Department. Its programs bring together stable housing, case management, employment support, and practical assistance to help formerly incarcerated individuals build stability and move forward.
Genesis’s 2026 year-to-date review recorded a recidivism rate of 4.55%, measured as qualifying rearrests recorded after program admission among two of the 44 clients reviewed. The remaining 42 clients, or 95.45%, had no recorded qualifying post-admission rearrest. These results reflect the program’s commitment to supporting successful reentry, strengthening lives, and contributing to safer communities.
Who We Are
Our Team
This work is made possible by a dedicated team of 10 employees, along with both of Bishop Matthews’s sons, Caleb Matthews and Joshua Matthews. Their contributions reflect a shared commitment to serving participants, strengthening programs, and carrying the mission of Genesis forward.
Caleb Matthews | Senior Case Manager
Caleb Matthews serves as Senior Case Manager, supporting participants as they rebuild their lives. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from San Diego State University in 2020 and brings his education and commitment to community service to the work of Genesis.
Joshua Matthews | Operations Manager, Program Administration
Joshua Matthews supports Genesis’s daily operations and program administration. He graduated from Sacramento State University with a degree in Economics, with honors, in 2023 and contributes his education and talents to the organization’s ongoing work.
Together, Bishop Matthews, his sons, and the Genesis team connect faith with practical service. Their work remains grounded in a shared belief that every person deserves dignity, care, and the opportunity for a new beginning.