Submitted photoTFUMC Mission Team members, Kevin Thomas (left) and John Jones (right) in Rwanda spending time with the local children during their summer mission trip in 2016.

Thomasville First United Methodist Church (TFUMC) is bringing back its third annual Thomasville’s Got Talent, an evening of live entertainment and auctions to benefit the church’s Rwanda Mission Team. Taking the stage will be a variety of local entertainment ranging from solo vocalists, musical groups, school choirs, dance groups and other entertaining acts competing for top honors. 

The doors of the TFUMC Fellowship Hall, 425 N. Broad St., open Friday, April 21 at 5:30 p.m. allowing attendees a first look at the selection of silent auction items. Some of the big items in the auction will include a gourmet dinner for eight prepared by Chef Wes Kent, a deep sea fishing trip for four, a weekend stay at Mexico Beach, a plane ride over Thomasville, pitching and batting lessons from Thomas University baseball team members, goal-keeping and soccer skill lessons from TU soccer players, a bass fishing lure gift basket, a custom made drone video and more.

At 6, the talent show begins. People’s Choice Awards for first, second and third place will be handed out at the end of the evening to the acts that receive the most audience response, measured by donations that act receives. To see a favorite act win the prize, the audience must donate.

“It has always been really neat to see not only members of TFUMC supporting such a great cause with their talents but also those from the surrounding community who come out to share their particular gifts as well,” said TFUMC Contemporary Worship Arts Director Brian Morgan. “There are always very diverse talents including music, drama, artistic demonstrations and dance. It’s sure to be enjoyable family fun.”

The family-friendly night out will offer grilled hamburgers and hot dogs for sale. Admission is free and all auction and talent show proceeds will directly support the TFUMC mission team on their annual mission trip to Rwanda. This year the team celebrates their 10th year traveling to Rwanda, forging lifelong friendships while helping re-build the Rwanda community.

The Rwanda mission has been close to the heart of the TFUMC’s membership. After hearing of the tragedies that occurred in Rwanda, several members felt called to act. As a means to support the mission, TFUMC created a giving-program called Advent Revolution, asking members to re-think their approach of gift buying at Christmas. To accomplish their goal, members spend $50 less on gifts for themselves, instead giving the money to Advent Revolution.

Since the inception of Advent Revolution, TFUMC has raised over a quarter of a million dollars for its international and local projects. With the international funds, the church has traveled to Rwanda and fed orphaned children and broken families, helped to build schools, educated children, purchased equipment and paid for training which allowed young women and widows to earn an income to take care of their family, as well as provided wells and safe drinking water.

Jerilyn Falconer, one of the event coordinators and TFUMC mission team member is looking forward to returning to Rwanda for her fifth time.  

“For me, the most important aspect is that we continue to develop these relationships for both our church and the church in Rwanda,” she said.

Some like Falconer are excited to return, but also to have the chance to share the trip with their children or even grandchildren. 

“When we started our trips to Rwanda, it was only adults going. Now 10 years later, there are more teens and young adults going than ever,” Falconer said. “For my family, we have had three generations travel to Rwanda. My daughter-in-law has been a part of the mission group and my grandson is going with me this year. Another member is taking all their children. It’s rewarding to see them excited about sharing this trip with us.”

TFUMC Missions and Discipleship Director and founder of the mission team Chris Goff is also excited about the church marking its 10th year sending the team to Rwanda.

“What started out as an outreach to children who were orphaned during the Rwandan genocide has turned into deep and lasting relationships between the people of Rwanda and First Methodist in Thomasville,” he said. 

In addition to traveling to Rwanda, the team also exchanges weekly messages between with the small African country Goff added.

“We go because God has given us a small role to play in helping this country rise from the ashes after the genocide,” said Goff.

For Goff, too, this trip is a family mission experience. His entire family will make the journey. 

“My three children have heard about Rwanda for 10 years and even done their school projects about Rwanda,” he said, “but this year I get to share this amazing experience and watch them build friendships in Rwanda of their own.”

Part of the mission trip will have the team in the northern province of Cyangugu, one of the poorest regions, where the team has built partnerships with locals to provide basic medical training and maternity care. The local clinic sees pregnant women within a 75-mile radius of the village, some walking four hours one-way to seek medical care.

The team will be working with their partners in Kigali at Star School and members of the Church of the Blessed Mango Tree, where funds raised by TFUMC have sponsored many children’s education and readied young adults for college or entering into the work industry.

For more information about Thomasville’s Got Talent, or the Rwanda mission trip, call Thomasville First United Methodist at (229) 226-0840.