A Tale of Two Churches: Mercy Hill’s 20-Year Journey of Faith, Humility, and Kingdom Impact
When Pastor Mike Kwiatkowski looks back over more than 20 years of ministry at Mercy Hill Church in Yulee, he can’t help but marvel at the grace of God. The story is not one of quick fixes or flashy programs, but of long obedience in the same direction, faithfully shepherding a people who were willing to humble themselves under God’s Word and pursue His mission together.
Mike often frames Mercy Hill’s story as “a tale of two churches.” Before coming to what was then Celebration Baptist Church, he served in North Carolina at a declining congregation of about 80 people. “I took that church of 80 and I dropped it to 40—all by myself,” Mike said with a chuckle. “And when that happens, people usually ask you to move on. They did. Really, they said I was fired, but the way I put it makes me feel better.”
What followed was a season of humility. Living with his in-laws, working at UPS to provide for his family, and wondering if he would ever pastor again, Mike wasn’t anyone’s top candidate. “Nobody was looking for a pastor who had driven a church into the ground and was fired from it,” he said. But God had other plans.
Across the road, a small group at Celebration Baptist, also down to 80 people and unsure of their future, was searching for a shepherd. “Nobody wanted them and nobody wanted me,” Mike recalled. “So it made it clear this was God’s will. A match made in heaven.”
Two decades later, that small band has become Mercy Hill, a vibrant congregation marked by gospel witness, discipleship, and multiplication. “We’ve seen people come to faith in Christ, discipled in Christ, and many young men raised up to pastor in this area,” Mike said. “I think there are about 10 of them now serving in South Georgia, Nassau County, and North Jacksonville. We’re so grateful for that.”
The Keys to Revitalization
Reflecting on what made the difference between the church that closed its doors and Mercy Hill, Pastor Mike points to three essential qualities for revitalization, both in the congregation and in its pastor.
1. A Heavy Heart.
“Both churches were heavy-hearted,” Mike explained, “but for different reasons. The first was afraid of losing what they had. Mercy Hill was afraid of losing what God had called them to be.” That difference was crucial. Mercy Hill’s greatest concern was ceasing to be a true church, one that reaches the lost and makes disciples.
2. Great Humility.
“In North Carolina, when I said I wanted to preach expositionally, do missions, and disciple people, they pushed back,” Mike remembered. “They weren’t interested. But at Celebration, they said, ‘We don’t know what you’re talking about, but maybe that’s why we’re in the shape we’re in.’ Then one of the elders said, ‘We’ll follow your leadership as long as you can show us it’s from God’s Word.’ That made all the difference.”
3. A Clear Mind.
Mike emphasizes that clarity of purpose keeps Mercy Hill steady: “The Great Commission is our vision. That’s it. We’re not trying to distinguish ourselves by being the rich church or the small church. What matters is that we are making disciples for the glory of God.”
And he reminds pastors: revitalization requires these qualities not only from congregations but also from their leaders. “The church has to know the pastor is not there to use them but to serve them, to love them, and to give his life for them,” Mike said. “If the pastor does that, I think people will follow.”
A Word of Appreciation
As a mission strategist and native Nassau County resident, I’ve had the privilege of watching Mercy Hill’s journey from a distance and hearing Pastor Mike’s heart. His story is a testimony that revitalization is possible, not through quick fixes or gimmicks, but through humility, perseverance, biblical faithfulness, and God’s grace.
Mercy Hill stands today as a vibrant witness in Northeast Florida because a congregation was willing to humble themselves before God’s Word and a pastor was willing to give his life for his sheep. For that, I am deeply grateful. Their story is a reminder to us all that Kingdom vitality isn’t manufactured; it’s cultivated over decades of faithfulness to Christ and His mission.