Thomas G. Griffith, Senior Pastor

Tom and his wife Brenda have been married for 27 years. They have 4 children – Daniel ( 21 ), Deborah ( 19 ), Peter ( 16 ), Timothy ( 13 ).

Tom received his Bachelor’s Degree (University of Florida); Masters of Divinity (Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary); Doctorate of Ministry (Gordon Conwell).

Tom began ministry while at University of Florida where he served as a youth minister and was also involved with Campus Crusade for Christ. During his seminary years, Tom was involved in ministry at a racially mixed congregation in Chattanooga, Tennessee – overseeing Evangelism Explosion, leading small groups and doing prison visitation, a church in Dorchester, Mass. – leading adult education and preaching, a church in Beverly Mass. – overseeing the college ministry, serving high school students in Manchester, Mass and serving as Administrative Assistant to the New England Director of Prison Fellowship. He and his wife moved to Jamaica Plain (Boston) in 1985, where Tom continues to serve in pastoral ministry at River of Life Church.

Hobbies & Interest: Golf, Ping-Pong, almost all sports (but he’s getting kind of old), reading, games – he’s a gamer, movies.

Becky Manos, Kids Time Director

Becky Manos has attended River of Life since 1991. She is married to Peter Manos and has an adult stepdaughter, Lianna, a daughter Abigail, 11, a son, Jonathan, 14 and a new baby grand daughter, Kailana.

Becky became a Christian as a senior in Falmouth High School in 1975. She holds a Bachelors degree in Biblical Studies from Gordon College, a Masters in Early Childhood Education from Wheelock and a Masters in Library Science and Information Services from Simmons.

Becky’s experience is in church youth work, teaching Sunday school, teaching preschool and elementary school (primarily in multicultural, urban settings) being a children’s librarian and currently the Branch Librarian at the Parker Hill Branch of Boston Public Library in Mission Hill.

Becky’s hobbies include singing, art (mosaics), sewing, knitting and reading. She is a Junior Girl Scout leader in West Roxbury.

Becky desires to help children to develop life long relationships with Christ and a knowledge of the Bible and how to apply it to their lives. She hopes to work together with parents towards achieving these goals.