MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of Kelly Lake Church of God in Christ is to be a church that reaches out to lost people and helps those who are saved to grow to spiritual maturity. Kelly Lake seeks to be a worshiping community where God's word goes forth in power and God's people experience the fellowship of the saints. Futhermore, the mission of the church is to leave a legacy of anointed, Christ honoring fellowship for our children and our children's children until the Lord shall come.

HISTORY


In 1966 there came a preacher and his wife to a small town south of Atlanta called Fairburn, Georgia. This minister and his wife, Elder and Missionary Willie C. Johnson came with a sincere desire to witness and cause men and women to come to Christ.

As they began their work, many doors were closed to them, until they came to the home of Mother Ruby Dorsey Allen, who at that time resided at 175 Margaret Street. Mother Allen not only welcomed them into her home but graciously allowed them to conduct church services in her home. These weekly services were held there until enough money was raised to erect a tent two doors from Mother Allen's home. Services continued in the tent for approximately one year until the Lord blessed the saints to purchase a house across the street from Mother Allen's home that was converted into a church. The church continued to grow and operate under the name of the Fairburn Church of God in Christ.

About six months later the late Bishop John Dell Husband found it necessary to ask Elder and Sister Johnson to go back to Newnan COGIC to help their pastor, Elder Andrews, to continue the work in Newnan. Bishop Husband then placed Elder and Sister Oliver J. Haney at the Fairburn COGIC. Elder and Sister Haney served the church for six years until Elder Haney was elevated to Dean of Mason Seminary at the Interdenominational Theoligical Center (ITC) in the Atlanta University Center. The church was then served for a brief period of six months by Elder and Sister Donald Wheelock who was promoted to Dean of the Church of God in Christ 's college in Lexington, Mississippi.

For the third time the church was without a pastor. Bishop Husband then appointed Elder and Sister Norman O. Harper at the Fairburn church. Over the next eight years the church continued to grow under their leadership. The pastor was then lead of the Lord to sell the building in Fairburn and relocate in Decatur,

From 1982 through 1988 the church worshipped at 2569 Tilson where they shared a building with the St. Paul Lutheran Church. During that time the Lord gave Elder Harper a vision to build His house. With the help of the Lord the church was able to purchase the property and construct the church at its current location at 2411 Whites Mill in Decatur, Ga. On November 24, 1988 this faithful and committed congregation of approximately 50 members marched victoriously into the new facility. The church grew to over 300 members and once again the Lord gave the Pastor the vision to expand the ministry. In obedience to the Lord's leading, a new sanctuary was completed and dedicated to the Lord in June 1999. Currently Kelly Lake Church of God in Christ has over 500 members.