strives to do with its VIP visitors’ program. “Our philosophy is we are experience driven,” said Pastor Mike Franklin. “Disney doesn’t sell Mickey Mouse, it sells an experience. We want to be an experience. … We try to offer a VIP treatment for visitors.” When Baldwin Church of God moved to Demorest in 2005, it became The Torch Worship Center and has the largest congregation in the county. Average Sunday morning attendance is 1,300. Franklin said probably 2,500 people consider The Torch their home. Located on a 73-acre campus, the church offers contemporary services and is very focused on Bible-based proclamations and biblical opinions, Franklin said. The Torch is “an evangelical,
Bible-based community of believers who focus on the proclaimed word of God … through contemporary praise and worship and prayer,” he said. “Our vision … we are here to see souls saved, hurts healed and disciples developed … it’s a threefold approach … It’s why we feed 17,000 families a year. It’s why we do what we do,” Franklin said. The Torch offers two Sunday services, 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.; Wednesdays at 7 p.m.; and specialty services during the week, such as programs for women, youth, teens, middle schoolers and more. Having programs available to children is important to The Torch, which recently built an addition for children’s programs. “We realized a need when there wasn’t enough
room for children attending services on Sunday,” Franklin said. The addition was built with the perspective of using it seven days a week, hence the plan to open a school on the church campus. “We want to impact the youngsters coming up,” Franklin said, “that they will have a biblical world
view.” The Torch Christian Academy offers classes for children in kindergarten through third grade. Small or large, contemporary or traditional, old or new, Habersham County has much to offer to those looking for an opportunity to gather and worship. ♦
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