Since opening in April 2014, City of Grace Church’s doors have welcomed people from many different religious backgrounds.

“At City of Grace we are all from different backgrounds,” Antonette Smith said.

Smith serves as intercessory prayer warrior, evangelistic teacher and head of the outreach department.

Smith grew up in a non-denominational church, then later joined a Baptist church before moving to an Apostolic church and eventually coming to rest under the ministry of City of Grace located at 216 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Brookhaven.

Smith said she’s been following the church’s pastor, Jerry Kelly, for 10 years through his music, teaching or preaching.

Kelly lives and works in Jackson, but for the past three years, he has driven back and forth between his new hometown and his old town to teach Bible classes and host revival services.

“My roots are from this city,” Kelly said about Brookhaven.

Kelly’s parents are from Brookhaven, and he attended junior high and high school in the city, graduating from Brookhaven High School. After serving in the military for 10 years he said it has been a blessing to come home and be able to do the work he feels God has called him to do.

Kelly’s connection with the church started when he was young and through his involvement with the Well Family Gospel Singers. He said his mother and grandmother would take him to church as a child. As he got older he strayed from the church but “could not neglect the calling.” He joined the Benjamin Cone III and Worship singing group and has been a part of the Mississippi Mass Choir since 2009.

“I got a passion for ministry, and I got a passion for people,” Kelly said.

The passion manifests in a non-denominational church that has several different ministries. Kelly said City of Grace has a youth ministry where young people can learn and grow in the word of God, be around their peers and learn how to be mature in God. He said the church also offers a men’s ministry, a single’s ministry as well as weekly trips to the jail, adolescent center and Doll’s House to provide ministry to those there.

“We try to be supportive,” Kelly said. “We are a small ministry, but we have a large heart. We don’t let the numbers dictate how much ministry we do.”

City of Grace has started an athletic scholarship in memory of Shaquan Richardson, Jevonta Dickey and Peyton Flowers. Applications for the scholarship can be picked up at Loyd Star Attendance Center and BHS. For more information about the award, email richardsondickeyflowers19@gmail.com

Last year, City of Grace hosted its first Blessing of the Bike. The event celebrated the anniversary of the 601 riders, a community motorcycle organization.Kelly said they wanted to show appreciation for the group’s dedication for community work.

“It’s all about the people,” Smith said. “We go out into the community. We minister to just anybody who will open doors and allow us to give them prayer and give them love.”