WINGS is an acronym for Worship, Invite, Nurture, Grow, and Serve
These five areas are pivotal to the ministry of Toccoa First. From WORSHIP, we go out and INVITE others to a relationship with Christ, then NURTURE and help them GROW in faith. As we mature in Christ, we focus on the mandate He gave us-- "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Sprit and teaching them to "Obey all I have commanded. And lo, I am with you always, until the end of the age." SERVE is the area of mission needed to reach out to help others outside of our community.
WINGS is what the church is all about--mission, ministry, and discipleship.
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The worship team supports the worship experience at both Toccoa First services through many avenues, including serving communion, being a greeter, and ushering. There are also many music ministry opportunities, which include Praise Band, Adult Choir, Children's Choir, Handbell Choir, and audio/video technology. Opportunities are also available to work with various youth programs.
Worship team areas of service:
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Acolytes
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Musicians
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Decorations
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Food Preparation
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Technology
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Ushers
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Altar Guild
Invite, as the name suggests, is the hospitality arm of our church's ministries. We see our task as being intentional and creative in reaching out to our church members and to newcomers to our church community. We try to provide a warm welcome to members and guests who come to our church. Through invitation, we seek to warmly embrace any guest who visits our church for worship, Sunday school, Wednesday night supper, or any other event. Our goal is to be able to communicate, through hospitality, what Toccoa First is all about: a family atmosphere exists here, and our mission is that of making Christian disciples.
Invite Team Areas of Service:
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Guest visitation team
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Greeters
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Communications
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Recreation
The ministries that fall under Nurture's umbrella include:
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Wednesday Church Family Night meals, including meals delivered to the homebound
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Coordination of monthly worship services held at the Wilkinson and Clary Centers.
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Congregational care/Care Force – those who meet each Tuesday to offer need-based prayer and update the Prayers and Concerns bulletin and provide regular visitation to nursing homes and the homebound. The Prayer Shawl Ministry, creating knitted and crocheted items for people in the community.
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New Member contacts, writing personal notes are sent to each new church member
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College Ministry
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Ladies' Monthly Dinner Out Group - promoting fellowship with other Christian women, meeting the third Thursday of each month from 5 -8 pm
We take the formation of disciples very seriously. In equipping our members for the work of a disciple, we recognize that people often need the care of a loving community to support them. As disciples mature, they often feel impelled to care for others in more and more substantive ways. By providing opportunities to give and receive spiritual and emotional support, our Nurture ministries strengthen our church's ability to carry out its mission effectively.
The Methodist Church cares about the state of the heart and the mind. Through the many opportunities that we offer for Christian Education, children, youth, and adults are invited to be transformed as they are inspired and challenged to know and experience God through Jesus Christ, claim and live God’s promises, and grown in their faith and in service to the world as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Grow Team Areas of Service:
Sunday School Teachers.
Children's Ministry
Nursery Workers
TFMC Students Ministry
Young Adult Ministry
Wednesday Church Family Night Programs
Older Adult/Crusaders Ministry
Service is the concept that comes closest to the heart of the Christian life. Whether it is performing the simplest acts of charity or organizing complex mission trips, self-giving love should be evident in the life of every believer. The Serve area of ministries provides opportunities for individuals and groups to give of their time, talent, and resources in ways that reflect the love that God has shown to each of us. We strive to provide opportunities for people to reach beyond the church boundary and out into the community in a variety of programs:
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The committee provides some funding to local charities such as food banks, shelters, health clinics, etc.
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Neighbors4Neighbors, a local non profit organization in Toccoa, Georgia, works to feed and comfort the hungry. Toccoa First Methodist provides hygiene items to supplement the food gifts. Food 2 Kids, a program sponsored by Neighbors4Neignbors, provides weekend meals for children identified as food insecure.
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A handy-man program provides minor house repair for those who cannot afford it. This program also builds handicap ramps in the community where they are needed.
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We support missionaries in Nigeria and Haiti.
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We support the local youth summer program.
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We have packed food for the Rise Against Hunger Program. In late 2025, the church's volunteers packed over 10,000 meals for the program.
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The youth have packed flood buckets for disaster relief.
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Toccoa First Methodist supports the Operation Christmas Child ministry of Samaritan's Purse. Shoeboxes are filled with toys, candy and the study materials which give millions of children around the world the good news about Jesus' love and hope for the future. In November 2025 over 200 shoeboxes were packed and sent for distribution.
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We support Stephens County High School athletics.
Toccoa First Methodist volunteers served dinner to Stephens County High's football team prior to their away game. The Indians traveled to Franklin County High to play against the Lions in Carnesville following the meal.
MEAL PACKING EVENT: NOV. 7, 9AM-11AM
Volunteer-packaged meals consist of rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables, and a specialized micronutrient packet containing 20 essential vitamins and minerals. These meals are engineered for a long shelf-life and easy preparation in areas with limited cooking resources or clean water. In 2025, Rise Against Hunger served 7,389,552 people across 41 countries. Register to participate.
WE WILL PACK SHOEBOXES FOR OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24 FROM 4-7 PM
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
The Samaritan's Purse project Operation Christmas Child collects shoebox gifts filled with fun toys, school supplies and personal care items—and delivers them to children in need around the world to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way. For many of these children, the gift filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received.
Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child, the world's largest Christmas project of its kind, has collected and delivered more than 244 million shoebox gifts to children in more than 175 countries and territories.
In 2025, Samaritan's Purse collected 12.2 million shoebox gifts globally.
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All photos & content courtesy of Samaritan's Purse. © 2024 Samaritan’s Purse. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
