Mercy Church of God opened its doors on Sunday

TOP PHOTO:  J.R. Kitts (right) welcomes worshipers to Sunday’s first service at Mercy Church of God.

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – “I’m a kid person.  I wanna see these kids coming to church,” preached J.R. Kitts.  It was during the first  service at the new Mercy Church of God in La Follette on Sunday morning when Kitts addressed a congregation of more than 50  people.The new church had been in the making the past five years, but Kitts didn’t realize it until the historic flood back in June.  The space in the East Gate Center where One Love Church held its services was damaged by flood waters forcing the church to move.  In the same space, after the clean-up, is where Mercy Church of God was founded.  See more photos HERE.

PHOTO ABOVE: (Left to right)  Mindy Moore, Effie Hooks, Catherine Kitts, J.R. Kitts and Carolyn Wilson take time for a photo before Sunday morning’s inaugural  service at Mercy Church of God.

Rev. Wade Walls of Grace Age Fellowship Church at Duff has been a big influence on Kitts.  He calls the new church a branch of Grace Age.

(Left to right) Carter Campbell, J.R. Kitts and Essie Kitts.  Essie is Kitts’ mother.

During Sunday morning’s 10 am worship service, Kitts told the audience, most of whom already knew his story, “I used to be a drug addict, an alcoholic and a thief.  I used to be a sinner.”  He went on to say that a lot of people think they need to clean themselves up and then go to church, but you gotta come to church and allow God to clean you up.  Kitts pointed out, “I believe you gotta be reborn by the spirit of God.”

Reverend J.R. Kitts opened Sunday’s first service.

Services are at 7 pm tonight (Wednesday).  Sunday service times are at 10 am and 6 pm.  The new church is in the East Gate Center is next to La Follette Middle School.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED  – 08/07/2019-6AM)