Community says they've had enough of the Church of Wells

KTLV News, Texas/April 8, 2014

By Leigha Hughes

Wells, Texas -- The small community of Wells says the controversial Church of Wells crossed a line this weekend when they started preaching at the 50th annual homecoming parade where young children were present.

The animosity has been building for years and now the community is standing up and saying enough is enough.

A fight between two Wells residents and several members of the Church of Wells has united the community against the controversial church.

Parents are especially angry and are now promising that they're not going to take it anymore.

Jeffrey Brotherton's 4-year-old daughter Kylie is having nightmares and is terrified that she is going to hell.

Brotherton says this is all because a member of the Church of Wells told her so.

"She kept crying and asking 'Daddy what's hell and why am I going to hell?' and I was like 'Well, baby girl, you don't have to worry about that because that's not true,'" said Brotherton. "I tell her every day that they're not the ones that tell us whether we get to go to heaven or hell."

Those in Wells say Saturday's events pushed them over the edge and they're finished letting it go.

"We've been trying to fight back, you know, telling them that it's not appropriate for even a small town, that this shouldn't be happening," said Brotherton. "There's no law or nothing that's actually being able to help us and trying to make it stop."

David Goodwin is a pastor at Falvey United Methodist Church in Wells.

He wrote on his Facebook page, "Enough is enough. I do not advocate violence, but I believe in standing for what is right, no matter what the cost."

Goodwin went on to say that if members of the Church of Wells were living in the city peacefully, they would continue to live peacefully with them.

Then he said, "I ask for your prayers and your dedication to stand in the gap between our children and those who would tear apart our community and deceive their way through this world."

But Church of Wells elder Sean Morris says that the community isn't listening to their message.

"They're just offended simply at the proposition of that idea instead of listening to the heart of what's being said," said Morris. "The scriptures actually promise that people will be offended."

Another Wells resident told the East Texas News that they're tired of being harassed.

She said, "They are wrong to judge us. They are wrong to verbally attack us. Our town may be small, but united we stand. Our children are children of God and this town will stand strong together to protect our children."

The residents have even gone as far to launch a petition to the Obama administration on Whitehouse.gov, asking for the government to investigate the practices and abuses of the church.

The community is showing that they mean what they say by organizing a protest of the church of Wells this Saturday, April 12.

They are asking for anyone who is willing to bring their bullhorns, signs and their voice.

The group will meet at 1:30 pm Saturday in Wells at the Dairy Queen and march to the R&R Mercantile store. They will also be selling t-shirts for $6.50.

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