The Executive Committee of the Georgia Baptist Convention met at the Baptist Center in Atlanta on December 16. Convention President Tony Dickerson of Columbus reported, "Good things are happening in the Georgia Baptist Convention." Using an alliterative outline the President indicated that he saw much good in the Convention personnel, the people, the preachers, the progress and the possibilities.

In speaking of the preachers, Dickerson cited examples of pastors who have long tenures of service in the same church and the multiplicity of dynamic young pastors who are presently filling the pulpits of our state. Dickerson also praised Georgia Baptist churches for their openness to the growing number of ethnic groups that can be found in almost every geographic region of the state.

Danny Watters, pastor of Beulah Church in Douglasville, was nominated by Billy Britt of Hebron Church in Dacula to serve a second term as Executive Committee chairman. Watters was elected without opposition. Frank Cox, pastor of North Metro First Church in Lawrenceville, nominated Wayne Hamrick of Cartersville's Atco Church for vice chairman. Hamrick was also elected without opposition.

Georgia Baptist Executive Director J. Robert White indicated that he rejoiced to see some positive trends in Cooperative Program giving. White also expressed gratitude for the response of churches to the state missions offering.

The Executive Director recognized Ray Newman, specialist in Convention Meeting Planning and Conference Center Promotion, and commended him for the recent publication of his book, From Where I Stand. The book is a compilation of articles which Newman has written for the Barrow County News and proceeds from the sale of the book will go to battle the American Civil Liberties Union whose challenge to remove the Ten Commandments from the Barrow County Courthouse has received national attention.

 

425 new volunteers trained in disaster relief in '04

White called upon Jim Richardson, who coordinates the state's disaster relief efforts, to report on the work of the ministry. Richardson indicated that this year 425 new volunteers have been trained in disaster relief ministry of Georgia. There are now 3,467 trained volunteers who are ready, willing and able to share the "Hope" of Christ in times of disaster. In 2003 disaster relief teams served 124,427 meals, did cleanup and recovery work on 98 worksites and consistently shared the gospel wherever they served.

Richardson said, "When people ask, 'Is there any reason for me to continue on 'til tomorrow?' We give them the reason and it's Jesus. We share the gospel of Jesus Christ."

Mike Minnix, vice president for evangelization, spoke of the prayer meetings that swept across New York City in 1858. He noted that it was such prayer that ushered in a wave of revival across America. Minnix said, "There is a great need for revival in Georgia and throughout our land today. We must have a spiritual awakening if we are to reach our goal of baptizing 50,000 new converts in 2005."

 

Augusta to host evangelism conference March 1-2

Minnix announced that the annual state evangelism conference would be held in Augusta on March 1-2 and would be followed by the statewide "What Now Georgia Super Evangelism Seminars." These seminars will include sessions on "Seven Steps to an Effective Revival," "59 MET" (minute evangelism training) and "Walking with God Through Prayer." Presently there are 20 seminars planned with the possibility of more to come. Minnix has designed the seminars to be within 60 miles of every GBC church.

Minnix also announced that SermonCity.com, a website for sermons requiring a subscription fee, has been transformed into PastorLife.com with hundreds of sermon manuscripts from Baptist pastors. The purpose of PastorLife is to provide a unique website resource to assist ministers in effective sermon preparation from a Southern Baptist perspective. This valuable resource will be made available to ordained Georgia Baptist pastors without cost.

Phillip McMinn, pastor of Brookwood Church in Lawrenceville, was called upon to present the 2004 State Missions Budget of $13,865,974, which was unanimously approved.

The Administration Committee of the GBC proposed an amendment to Article IX of the Constitution of the Convention regarding the process for amending the document. The proposed wording for Article IX reads as follows:

Sec. 1. The Convention may only be amended as follows: (i) a motion to amend may be made in writing at the annual meeting of the Convention by any messenger and upon the Convention's vote to consider such amendment, the proposed amendment will be submitted to the convention for action at its next annual meeting; or (ii) a proposed amendment may be recommended by the Executive committee in which case it will be submitted directly to the convention for action.

Sec. 2. A proposed amendment submitted to the Convention for action must be published in The Christian Index at least thirty days before the meeting of the Convention and such amendment must be approved by two-thirds of the messengers present and voting.

The Executive Committee unanimously approved the wording of the proposed change to Article IX and the amendment will be presented to the Convention for final approval at the next annual meeting in November in Atlanta.

The Administration Committee also presented a resolution regarding the sale of the Morgan Falls Road Property in Fulton County. The Executive Committee voted to sale the property with the understanding that the proceeds go to the Roswell Association.