Our Church Heritage

On a brisk morning in January 1945, the first service of what would become the First Church of the Nazarene in Tifton, Georgia, was held in a small building on South Ridge Avenue. Led by Rev. Aubrey Ponce, a few people gathered to glorify our Lord.

With an uplifted spirit and the guiding hand of the Lord, the church was officially organized with seven charter members. Rev. Ponce led the small congregation until the fall of 1945. Leaving his desires and efforts in the hands of a new pastor and a growing congregation, the First Church of the Nazarene began to minister to the spiritual needs of the community.

The growth of the early 1950's brought about the planning and construction of the beautiful brick sanctuary on South Ridge Avenue. The next few years the church saw growth in all areas, only to suffer the loss of a great number of members with the closing of the city's main industry, Armour Packing Company. Because of their faith in the Lord, the people who remained conquered this obstacle as new and stronger growth began again in all areas.

In 1965 a much-needed educational building was dedicated, and a new parsonage was completed in 1967. The First Church of the Nazarene was reaching for new heights: membership was growing; the youth choir became a very meaningful part of the church service; and, most importantly, new spiritual strengths were being gained.

In 1976, 5.52 acres of land was purchased on Tift Avenue and dreams for a new church home began to grow. The reality of these dreams came in 1985 when people let their faith lead them into reverse tithing for one week — giving 90% to the Lord and keeping 10% for themselves. The tithe for this one week was tremendous! It paid all indebtedness on all existing church property.

Plans had already been drawn for the new church home, and the sale of the parsonage in the early part of 1986 allowed the construction to begin. In the fall of 1986, the sale of the sanctuary and educational building on South Ridge Avenue made possible the completion of the new church building much earlier than anticipated.

During the many months of work, prayer, and self-sacrifice by dedicated members and friends, our motto was "If you can imagine it, with God's help you can achieve it."