BRICEVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- A big surprise greeted patients, friends and co-workers at the Briceville Free Medical Clinic on Wednesday. Dr. Tom Kim was there to say goodbye and close up shop, but that all changed when, with a special announcement, tears of sorrow turned to tears of joy.

For nine years, people in Briceville, a little hollow of Anderson County, were treated to the free clinic, run by Dr. Kim, who also runs a free clinic in Knox County. But with friends, patients and employees on hand to say goodbye Wednesday, the clinic was preparing to close.

"Oh, I felt like I was losing my best friend," said retired LPN Pat Smith.

The clinic, like the new one in Oak Ridge and Dr. Kim's clinic on Chapman Highway in South Knoxville, was set up to treat folks with no health insurance.

Wednesday, the tears of goodbye were quickly replaced by tears of joy.

"I came with a heart to believing that there was a way to keep the clinic open and that;s my goal and that's my desire," said Tom Byrge, who represents 48 churches in the Clinton Baptist Association.

To the shock of the people present, that group of churches decided to pool their resources in order to keep the clinic up and running.

"It's bringing a community of churches together or even people outside this community that says it's worth the effort, let's get it done," said Byrge.

"No excuse not taking care of American people," said Dr. Kim.

Now, the funds will be available to improve the heating and air conditioning, add phones, and more importantly, continue adding to the quality of life for this rural community.

"It's like you've got life back, when he said he's coming back, life came back," said Smith.

"We preach a good message, but we don't live a good message. I think it's time we show the community, we don't only believe what we say, we act out what we say," said Byrge.