Toccoa Falls, Ga. (November 1, 2024) – Toccoa Falls College is proud to highlight Sustainable Community Development (SCD), an undergraduate program that integrates godly character and sustainability practices with faith communities. 

At TFC, Sustainable Community Development is a mission-centered agricultural approach. Housed under the Global Ministries Department, students are trained in sustainable economic and environmental solutions while possessing an attitude of discipleship. Students majoring in Sustainable Community Development learn ways to practice sustainable lifestyles, plan sustainable development with community leaders, and establish locally appropriate communities of faith among all people, including unreached people groups. 

SCD students also have the opportunity to experience the beauty that TFC is known for in a unique way. Along a creek flowing from Toccoa Falls waterfall is The Lawson Center, the farm on campus where students learn how to grow various types of plants throughout the year and engage with farming equipment, techniques, and animals. Scott Davis, the Farm Manager, describes everything done at The Lawson Center is to “disciple our students and teach the discipleship principles that they can carry out into the world and ultimately share the love of Jesus.”

New and returning SCD students look forward to celebrating and practicing these principles at a signature event to kick off each new school year. SCD leaders host a dinner under the creek-side pavilion where students and professors connect, eat farm-grown food, play games, and win special prizes such as local honey, flowers, and goat soap. Kristen Towe, a Senior in the SCD Program, explains this event to be “a magical experience that reflects Sustainable Community Development at TFC well!” She describes her love of SCD partly due to “the intentionality of professors to connect with students” and how they “demonstrate a culture of slowing down, asking questions, and being slow to speak as the Bible tells us in James 1.” 

Sustainable Community Development is one of many impactful majors at Toccoa Falls College, where students learn how to center on Christ and change the world. To learn more about the SCD major, please visit tfc.edu/sustainable.

A student practicing using the farm's newest machine purchase.
Students talking and smiling at each other.