In His Presence......                         The Hidden Oppositions

Apostle Farris was Born in Vicksburg, Mississippi and attended Temple High School in Vicksburg. He later moved to Massachusetts where he became a student at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary.He received his license and was ordained by the Macedonia Baptist church, 146 Norfolk Street in Dorchester, MA.  After serving in Macedonia for eight years, he was lead by the Spirit of God to establish a ministry which was named by his wife, Joyce Farris, who was later ordained and given the office of a Prophetess.

The name Greater Life Baptist Church is derived from many different experiences he and his wife  had through their venture in leading people out of destruction into the way of Salvation through the Great Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Only the Spirit of God knows the numerous amounts of  people who have been made free from captivity.

The Ministry has withstood many oppositions and great criticism, but by the Spirit of God, we never gave up. In his life he has come to realize that no one can dominate the will and way of God.

The greatest opposition occurred when God gave him the title of a Bishop, which was not a custom in the Baptist Church. He received great insight from God that area. After reading the Word over and over again, God allowed him to see the serious devastating error in the Baptist denomination.

In the Book of Acts , the overseers are the Apostles of God, which are given the highest authority and a great responsibility over the House of God. The intention was not to change the way of the Baptist denomination, but rather, to do it God's way. God never intended for deacons to be over the pastor and he believes that a  pastor should not be afraid of the deacons. Rather, the deacons should be subject to the authority given by God to the pastor, who has to give an account for the whole body of Christ, including the deacons.

Therefore, God gave him the title of "Bishop" and later the office of an "Apostle", which is the first office of the five-fold ministry (Ephesians 4:11).

The Apostle takes on the responsibility found the Gospel of Luke 4:18 and Matthew 10:1.

A full functioning ministry

We should never be afraid to use the phrase demon or devil, which the church appears to be afraid of in these last days. The devil has robbed the church and taken it hostage. It is time to take it back! Jesus Christ said to his Apostle, Peter "upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it".