Our History

Glad Tidings Assembly began as a little home missions church in 1976. A small group of people with the desire to fulfill the call of God on their lives to start a fresh, new, Pentecostal work began meeting in Acree Davis funeral home on Pond Street in downtown Toccoa. Mr. George Samuelson, whom the Samuelson Center today is named after, played an integral part of helping start Glad Tidings by encouraging people and caring for people as a lay pastor. Brother Samuelson toured the streets of Toccoa knocking on doors and giving anyone who would come a ride to church.

Glad Tidings received it’s first pastor in 1977, the Rev. Peter Miccoli. Rev. Miccoli was then followed by Rev. Herman Pennington. During Rev. Pennington’s tenure as pastor from 1977-1982, the present property was purchased at 184 Collier Road and the first sanctuary (now the Samuelson Center) was built along with a six classroom educational building (now the Child Development Center). Rev. Pennington mortgaged his own house to help finance the construction of the first sanctuary which was completed in 1979.

In 1983, Rev. Tommy Carr followed Rev. Pennington, and in 1984 was followed by Rev. Randy Valimont. Under Rev. Valimont’s tenure from 1984-1993, Glad Tidings began construction on a new sanctuary with an estimated seating capacity of 700. The construction began in May of 1989 and was completed in December of 1989. Glad Tidings celebrated it’s very first service in its new sanctuary December 17, 1989.

In 1993, Rev. Valimont moved to Griffin, Georgia to pastor First Assembly of God. Rev. Mark Anthony was appointed interim pastor. After a time of searching, the church voted to appoint Rev. Anthony as senior pastor. Under Rev. Anthony the church prospered and worked hard at paying off it’s indebtedness by making double mortgage payments for years.

In 1999, Rev. Anthony moved to Newnan, Georgia to pastor Trinity Assembly Of God in Newnan. Rev. Malcolm Schaad was appointed to serve as interim pastor, a position he filled for over a year. In June of 2000, Rev. Phil Cook was elected to serve as pastor and was followed by Rev. Mike Bray in February 2001. Under Rev. Bray’s tenure from 2001-June 2002 the church mortgage was paid off. The church held a ‘note burning’ service in February of 2002 to celebrate God’s faithfulness of provision.

On December 2, 2002, Rev. Bray was followed by Rev. David Braxton as pastor. Glad Tidings has continued to grow and move forward under his direction and leadership. Glad Tidings' desire to be a fresh, new, Pentecostal work still thrives today.

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