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American Idol3/17/2012 12:45 AM PDT BY TMZ STAFF.

Jermaine Jones Still Welcome at Hometown Church

God’s a lot more forgiving than “American Idol” — TMZ has learned, the hometown church where Jermaine Jones grew up singing choir still welcomes him with open arms … despite his checkered past.

TMZ broke the story, “Idol” producers terminated Jermaine’s run on the show after discovering the singer had 4 warrants out for his arrest — and gave multiple fake names to cops.

But Reverend George Holland at Green Grove Baptist Church in NJ isn’t so quick to rush to judgment — telling TMZ, he has known Jermaine since he was a boy … explaining, “He’s well-loved and accepted here. We serve a forgiving God. Everyone has made mistakes in their lives. Hopefully when you make those mistakes you’ve learned from them and become a better person.”

Rev. Holland adds, “I don’t know exactly what the charges are so I can’t comment on that, but as far as welcoming him back … there’s nothing out there he could’ve done to make us not welcome him back.”

Hear what Jermaine had to say: