About Our Founding Pastors
Our Founding Pastors
Rivers of Life Church was founded and pastored by Jesse and Brigitte Brown on October 4, 2004. They both felt God’s call to pioneer a church with a vision to REACH, RESTORE, and REFRESH lives, by the power of God’s love. God spoke to them and told them that He not only wanted the lost of the world to be reached, but He also wanted to reach the lost in the church; those who had been scattered because of church abuse and other negative church experiences.
Together they successfully built a diverse congregation, raising up ministers and leaders who helped in transforming the lives of others, by the power of God’s love. Pastors Jesse and Brigitte faithfully served alongside each other for 17 years, raised a son together for 14 years, and were married for 19 years, until the unforeseen happened.
On March 22, 2021, Pastor Jesse went home to be with Jesus. This was such a tragedy and a tremendous loss for Pastor Brigitte, their son Micah, the extended family, the community, and of course, to the entire family at Rivers of Life Church. Despite the grief, the tremendous loss, and the fact that Pastor Jesse is greatly missed; the word of the Lord was very clear in that, the vision and purpose of Rivers of Life Church was to continue.
Pastor Brigitte Brown
Pastor Brigitte Brown is the Co-Founder and Senior Pastor here at Rivers of Life Church.
Her life journey consisted of a painful past. Having grown up in a very dysfunctional home, where she was a victim of many things including, sexual abuse and molestation at a very young age, as well as alcoholism and domestic violence. At the age of 11, she discovered her mother, whom she loved more than anyone, was an alcoholic. By the time Brigitte was 20 years old, the alcoholism had taken her mother’s life.
Devastated, alone, and struggling with grief and guilt, Brigitte felt lost, worthless, and as if her life didn’t matter; she didn’t know where to turn. Every night Brigitte was tormented with a spirit of guilt and grief. She cried out to God and asked Him to somehow help her. After that, it seemed like everywhere she turned, there was someone telling her about Jesus. Then one day she knelt down beside her bed and prayed the prayer of salvation, asking Jesus into her heart. Instantly, she experienced overwhelming peace and self-worth like never before. For the first time ever, Brigitte felt like her life had purpose. In that moment, she knew that God was calling her to preach. She desperately wanted to introduce others to this same Jesus who so radically changed her life.
Because of her life’s journey, Pastor Brigitte has a deep compassion for those who have been broken by their life experiences, who feel all alone, and who are in need of healing in their spirit, soul and body. She is passionate about teaching the Word of God, and does so with simplicity and authority, so that those who hear it, will understand it, and be able to apply it to their lives.
Pastor Brigitte has been in full-time ministry for over 33 years, having served in the area of maintenance, as youth pastor, children’s pastor, associate pastor, in administration and missions, as healing crusade director, women’s ministry director, prayer ministry director, and as a teacher and counselor. She has compassion for the sick and operates in a strong healing anointing. She believes signs, wonders, and miracles are still on God’s agenda today, for a hurt and dying world.
Pastor Brigitte accepted the call to preach over 35 years ago, and today, she accepts the call of God, as Senior Pastor, to lead Rivers of Life Church in fulfilling the vision. We are REACHING, RESTORING, and REFRESHING lives, by the power of God’s Word.
Pastor Brigitte resides in Lansing, Michigan with her teenage son, Micah.
