Meet the Pastors

Mitchell Payne is the senior pastor of River of Life Ministries. He answered to call of God to preach in 1985, at the Tellico Plains Church of God. After traveling as an itinerate evangelist for a short time, he answered the call to pastor at Bible Baptist Church in Tellico Plains. He pastored there for 7 years, and saw much  growth in that ministry during that time. In 1995, the Lord directed Pastor Mickey and Ms. Roma to step out on faith and launch River of Life Ministries.

Since that time, RLM has grown into a multi-generational, Spirit-filled church. In addition to RLM, based on a vision given to Ms. Roma Payne, they started the House That Mercy Built, a 12-month rehabilitation program for women suffering from life-controlling addictions. The home was opened in 2011, and they have seen, and continue to see tremendous fruit from this ministry.

It is their desire to create a place for the Holy Spirit to move freely, to create a culture of prayer and community and to see lives brought from darkness into light.