CLAYTON — Nearly 600 GAs from throughout North Georgia spent the first day of spring frolicking at Camp Pinnacle as they celebrated the 90th birthday of their missions organization.

They talked to three missionaries – one international and two serving in Georgia – and learned how to share their faith and how to evaluate their own relationship to Christ. The birthday party was the second this year since 750 showed up a few weeks ago at the Georgia Baptist Assembly at Norman Park.

Missions leaders from Tom’s Creek Church in Martin was one of those congregations who were celebrating the event as they expressed gratitude to WMU for its commitment to young girls.

“We started with just four girls two years ago and we now have 35. Word of mouth has helped us grow because those who attend have been so excited about learning about missions. We simply followed the guidelines provided in the material from the national office in Birmingham, tailored it to our needs, and God did the rest,” said Older GA Leader Norina South.

The GA instructor was quick to praise the support the organization has received from its pastor, Wayne Marcus, and his wife Tammy.

“I believe GAs is important because it introduces children to missionaries and helps them understand that God might also call them to a similar avenue of service. We need all the missionaries we can get, and GAs does a wonderful job planting that seed in young minds,” Tammy Marcus said.

Denise Cox, preschool children consultant for Georgia Woman’s Missionary Union and Women’s Enrichment Ministries, said the event also taught the children about the need to support Southern Baptist missions through the Cooperative Program.

“If we don’t teach our children about the Cooperative Program, who is going to grow up and support it in 20 or 30 years? Our missions efforts is dependent on this offering, and we need to keep it in front of our children as well as adults.”