About Us

Welcome to Tifton First UMC!  We are a church in love with God.  God’s mission for the Church is that it actively seeks out and makes more disciples of Jesus Christ, that it helps the world know what it is like to be loved by God.  That is what we strive to do, to love the world like God loves the world.  Come and help us spread the love of Christ!

Our Humble Beginnings

In 1877 the first Methodist church in Tifton took root. In those days, Tifton was a rather lawless town and the church wanted to bring some morality and law and order to Tifton. Despite this noble goal, some in Tifton did not appreciate the efforts and the Methodist church was burned down several times, forcing the members to take to guarding the facility every night. Yet, over time, the church stuck to its mission and the town began to change for the good and to grow.

Your Involvement

Each of us has a role to play in carrying out this vision of God’s growing church. This a a mission that is bigger than any one person. Do you desire to see that your personal life, your family’s life, your neighborhood and your community, and ultimately the world can be everything that God created them to be? So do we! Come and join us as we serve the kingdom of God together!

How We’ve Grown

First Methodist Church was very involved in the spiritual and social life of this community even in these early years. First Methodist Church made education and social justice an important facet of their ministries to Tifton. Among the many milestones was the first Vacation Bible School in Tifton, beginning in the 1920s. Most of these early years were spent in the downtown building that now houses the Tifton Museum of Arts and Heritage, now known as “The Syd.” But by the 1950s, it was apparent that the church was outgrowing its home.  A new home was found in 1950 on the corner of 12th Street and Central Avenue. Withing two years a new structure was ready for worship and ministry. 1952 saw the church living in its new home and ready to embrace the “new thing that God was doing” in the life of the church. The church continues today to be involved and influential in the ministry and the life of its members and the Tifton community!

Our Hopeful Future

God envisions Tifton First UMC to be Faithful to Scripture, Creative in Ministry, Passionate for Outreach, Offering Christ to All! There is much work to be done for the kingdom of God here in Tifton and beyond this area as well.