WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — More than 600 Georgia Baptists converged on Central Baptist Church in Warner Robins on Sunday and Monday to be encouraged to reach the lost in their state with the good news of Jesus Christ.

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Georgia Baptists attending the first day of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s Evangelism Conference heard from Christian Norman, associate pastor at First Baptist Church of Woodstock, and Wayne Bray, lead pastor of First Baptist Simpsonville, S.C., on Sunday, Feb. 23. More than 600 people came to Central Baptist Church in Warner Robins to be encouraged and educated in ways to share the gospel.

WOODSTOCK, GA. — Daniel Henderson has a vision of seeing churches transformed and renewed, and it starts with helping individuals change the way they pray. “If you change the way you pray, you change the way you live,” said Henderson, president and founder of Strategic Renewal.

JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga. — Nearly 200 kids ministry leaders, Georgia Baptist Mission Board staff, and vendors,  came together for a ‘summit’ on Feb. 6 and 7 at the Jekyll Island Resort. Those leaders represented 99 Georgia Baptist churches from across the state.

CUMMING, Ga — One only must talk to pastor Andrew Ryzhkov for one minute to discover that he is excited about his Savior and the work God has called him to do. Ryzhkov is the pastor of Calvary Russian Baptist Church, a growing congregation of believers in the Alpharetta/Cumming area north of Atlanta. However, his ministry extends far beyond his local church and reaches into Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

STATESBORO, Ga. — This summer, First Baptist Church Statesboro will celebrate 40 years of caring for members through its church nursing ministry. Initially staffed by a part-time nurse in July 1985 supported by love offerings, it became a full-time budgeted ministry in 1997.

ATLANTA — Georgia Baptist pastors and ministry leaders gathered at the state Capitol on Thursday for a time of prayer, encouragement, and education.

BUFORD, Ga. — The Pastor Wellness ministry of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board welcomed the wives of more than 230 ministry leaders to Lanier Islands Legacy Lodge in Buford last month for a retreat designed specifically to cater to their needs. The ladies gathered on Jan. 23-25 to be renewed and fed spiritually, emotionally, and physically.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Nearly 800 youth ministers and spouses from 21 different states attended this year’s three-day Conclave conference in Chattanooga last month.

CULLODEN, Ga. — Sounds of praise are echoing again from the former Culloden Baptist Church on Church Street in Culloden. Renamed New Providence Baptist Church of Culloden, the 100-year-old church has reopened and held its first service Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025.

ATLANTA — Georgia Baptists will once again recognize their “Legislators of the Year” at the 11th Annual Georgia Baptist Pastors Day at the State Capitol on Thursday, Feb. 6. Each year, Georgia Baptists, through the Public Affairs Committee, recognize a Senate and House member with an award, thanking them for their extraordinary service to Georgia and God’s Kingdom on earth.

VALDOSTA, Ga. — Almost 2,700 people, including staff and volunteers, attended the 2024 MOVE conference in Valdosta. The event, held Dec. 29-30, saw 23 salvation decisions, 43 calls to ministry, and 72 people decide to take the next step in their walks of faith, such as being baptized or recommitting themselves to Christ.

ROSWELL, Ga. — Dustin Schadt, lead pastor of Northside Church in Roswell, has a message for believers. To share the gospel, we need to truly see those we are sharing with. In his book, Who Did You See Today? The Power of Outrageous Kindness , he encourages Christians to engage with those around them by taking the time to get to know them and respond to their needs.

TOWNSEND, Ga. — Shellman Bluff Baptist Church is celebrating tremendous growth, which Pastor Brad Butler attributes to the grace of God, and the generosity and enthusiasm of its members. “We are growing through word of mouth,” he says. “Members are inviting friends, family, and people in the community. They are genuinely excited about the church family.”

ATLANTA — Hebron Christian won Wednesday's GHSA private A-3A championship game, routing Prince Avenue Christian 56-28. The game was a rematch of their Nov. 1 meeting, which Prince Avenue won 34-31.

SUWANEE, Ga. — The Georgia Baptist Mission Board and Friends of Kaleo, Inc., announced last week the formal signing of an agreement that both groups hope will keep Camp Kaleo operating for the foreseeable future. Friends of Kaleo is a non-profit group of former staff, campers, churches, pastors, missionaries, and families created to generate financial support for Camp Kaleo and support its ministry.

ACWORTH, Ga. — Marshall Reinhardt celebrated his 100th birthday on Dec. 1 the way you might expect a retired pastor to do so – he stood in the pulpit and boldly preached the Word of God. In a strong and unwavering voice, Marshall told members of Awtrey-Westville Baptist Church in Acworth, pastored by his son Tommy Reinhardt, about the goodness of Jesus.

ROME, Ga. — Hollywood star Kevin Sorbo told listeners at Shorter University that despite his success as an action hero, he finds greater satisfaction working in the faith-based film industry.

ATLANTA — Each year, groups of Georgia Baptists are invited to join Mike Griffin, the public affairs representative for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, for tours of the state Capitol building to pray for government leaders and enjoy the festive holiday decorations. Those who went on the Christmas Prayer tour Wednesday, Dec. 4, got a special treat as Gov. Brian Kemp and his wife Marty met with them.

SUWANEE, Ga. — Thomas Hammond, executive director of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, told messengers at the annual meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention last month that the population of Georgia grew last year by 230,000 people and said, “We have the privilege of introducing Jesus to all of them.”

STATESBORO, Ga. — Using Enoch as an example, Robby Gallaty, pastor of Long Hollow Church in Hendersonville, Tenn., encouraged pastors and ministry leaders to focus on pleasing God.

STATESBORO, Ga. — At the 202nd annual meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention last week, Thomas Hammond, executive director of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, celebrated the work of Mission Georgia. Mission Georgia is the GBMB’s state mission offering, and it is the only offering designed and committed specifically to reaching the state with the gospel.

STATESBORO, Ga. — Georgia Baptists adopted last week a 2025 budget that calls for more than $62 million to be given through the Cooperative Program and other offerings. That money, a 2.5% increase over the current year, will fund gospel-sharing efforts around the world, and across the nation and the state.

STATESBORO, Ga. — Thomas Hammond, executive director of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, encouraged messengers at the organization’s annual meeting, telling them on Tuesday that they are “leading the way” in the state. Hammond outlined several ways in which Georgia Baptists are out in front, serving pastors, supporting churches, and reaching the state with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

STATESBORO, Ga. — Georgia Baptist messengers at the annual meeting overwhelmingly approved updates to the convention’s 200-year-old governing documents on Tuesday. The amendments to the bylaws were provisionally approved at last year’s meeting.