Aflame on Main Street
First United Methodist Church of Thomson, known across town as Thomson First, sits on the corner of Main Street and Tom Watson Way in downtown Thomson, Georgia. The congregation's mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ through active, Christ-centered ministries of love, and members describe their church as Aflame with the Fire of God, a phrase that captures both the warmth of the welcome and the energy of a church that wants to reach beyond its walls into the surrounding community and the wider world.
Two Styles of Sunday Worship
Sunday mornings at Thomson First move through three gatherings. A traditional service begins at 9:00 am in the Sanctuary, followed by Sunday School for all ages at 10:00 am. At 11:00 am, the contemporary service fills the Family Life Center with a different musical style and a family-friendly feel. On the fifth Sunday of each month, the two morning services combine into a single joint worship time.
Childcare is offered during both Sunday morning services, and children join T-Kids, the children's ministry, during the 10:00 am Sunday School hour.
T-Kids and Fuel: Raising the Next Generation
The children's ministry, called T-Kids, is built around helping every child grow into a full faith in Christ and know how much God loves them. Teachers walk alongside kids from the earliest years, nurturing a personal relationship with Jesus through age-appropriate lessons and activities.
Fuel is the student ministry for sixth through twelfth graders. It meets Sunday nights from 6:00 to 8:00 pm and carries a vision to fuel the next generation of disciples with the love of Christ so that they can make more disciples. Fuel maintains its own online presence for parents and students who want to stay connected throughout the week.
The Early Childhood Academy
Thomson First runs an Early Childhood Academy directed by Kendyl Key, with Tiffany Taylor serving as Assistant Director. The program serves young children in the Thomson area, blending Christian early-childhood curriculum with experienced classroom leadership. The ECA team also builds relationships with church families, connecting the life of the classroom to the life of the congregation.
Adults Around the Table
Two longstanding fellowships give adults a regular rhythm beyond Sunday worship. The Sunshine Club, a nurturing group for older adults, meets the third Thursday of each month from September through May at 11:00 am in the Family Life Center. Attendance runs between eighty and one hundred, with members coming from about twenty area churches. Each gathering includes a catered meal, an interesting program, and time for friendship, with reservations taken by noon on the Tuesday before.
Men of all ages gather for the Men's Prayer Breakfast every Tuesday at 6:30 am in the Fellowship Hall. Fifty to sixty men from across the community come for breakfast, fellowship, prayer, and a brief devotion, starting the day alongside other Christian men committed to following a life of faith at work and at home.
Learning and Staying Connected
Sermons and teaching series are posted on the church's YouTube channel, including series like Simply Christian: Distinctly Methodist. A free RightNow Media subscription is available to anyone wanting to go deeper between Sundays. Churchwide updates and announcements go out by text message, and a digital connect card helps newcomers share a little about themselves so the church can serve them well. Online giving is available through the church's Realm platform, and the mailing address for those who prefer to give by check is PO Box 8, Thomson, GA 30824.