ATLANTA — Gruesome attacks on Israel by Hamas militants over the weekend triggered immediate prayer among Christian communities around the world, including in Georgia. Light of Messiah Ministries, a Georgia-based organization that focuses on sharing the gospel in Israel, was one of the first to issue a call to prayer. “Pray for the safety of the hostages and for their rescue and release,” said Murray Tilles, a Messianic Jew who leads the organization and who is a member of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta. “Pray for all of the victims of these horrific attacks, for their healing, and for the families.”

WAKE FOREST, N.C. — Southeastern Seminary hosted its fall biannual board of trustees meeting and Southeastern Society gathering this week. Trustees appointed Seth Bible as dean of The College at Southeastern and celebrated reports of record giving, increased enrollment, and heightened participation in Great Commission efforts.

There’s a picture hanging in the parsonage that wouldn’t mean anything to you.  It’s not fancy, not a Monet, a Picasso, or even a Russell May.  In it, a woman stands at a flower cart.  A horse-drawn carriage travels a dirt path in the background behind her.  The peach colors and muted hues hint that the artwork is decades old.

What is the difference between consistency and complacency? What is the difference between showing up in a consistent way and becoming complacent by always showing up in the same way? Think about it. I have to admit that for me it is so easy to fall into the place of complacency especially with the issues of life, job, family and relationships.

CALHOUN, Ga. — The Sons of Jubal will hold two concerts at First Baptist Church in Calhoun on Oct. 19 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. And the Jubalheirs are scheduled for a separate concert at Briarlake Baptist Church in Decatur on Oct. 20 at 7 p.m.

Margaret P. Lawson, retired associate professor of foundations of education at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, died Sept. 29. She was 79. “The Southwestern Seminary community expresses our Christian sympathy to the friends and colleagues of Margaret Lawson,” said David S. Dockery, president of Southwestern Seminary.

SNELLVILLE, Ga. — Three preachers with strong evangelistic credentials will speak at the Georgia Baptist Preaching Conference set for Nov. 13 at the Church on Main in Snellville. The lineup includes Jerry Vines, an elder statesmen in the Southern Baptist Convention who served 60 years as a pastor, including at First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, Fla., which, at the time, was the third largest church in the SBC.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Gateway Seminary has initiated an executive transition plan to elect a new seminary president. Current President Jeff Iorg asked the board of trustees to begin the transition process at the a meeting Tuesday in Portland, Oregon. Iorg will continue to lead the seminary through the executive search process.

Trained Texas Baptist Men volunteers headed to Israel on Sunday after the nation erupted into warfare the day before, preparing to provide meals both for Israelis and Palestinians. Hamas surprised Israel with a barrage of at least 2,200 rockets Saturday, as well as ground troops invading southern Israel. Israel responded by shooting missiles into Gaza, where Hamas is based. TBM volunteers, working in a secure location, will cook meals for Palestinians and Israelis in affected neighborhoods.

Omar Yanez was practically shaken out of bed Saturday morning by the siren alarms that were blaring outside his apartment in Jerusalem. Yanez, who earned his Master of Divinity degree from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and is in Jerusalem to study the Hebrew language, said he had no idea what was happening.

Last week, Amistad Cristiana International Inc. received the visit of Mr. Alejandro Munante, congressman of Peru and former 3rd Vice President of the National Congress. Munante, a Christian believer, is also a defender of pro-life, pro-family, and religious liberty causes.

SUCHES, Ga. — Standing on a mountainside in north Georgia, Bud Braddock surveys a forest that’s beginning to take on the fiery colors of fall. For 84 years, the retired U.S. Forest Service staffer has been watching the seasons come and go. It’s a makeover he never tires of seeing. “It’s a tough life, but somebody’s got to do it,” he said, feigning hard luck as he stood beneath towering oaks just a mile or so as the crow flies from the Appalachian Trail.

LOGANVILLE, Ga. — Members of a mission team from First Baptist Church of Loganville remain in the Holy Land but are safe, four days after Hamas militants bombarded Israel with rockets in a surprise attack that also brought gunbattles to its streets for the first time in decades. The church’s co-pastor, Chase Snyder, asked people to pray for the group as they try to arrange a trip home.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Dr. Rex Horne has been named the new executive director of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention. The Convention's Executive Board approved the recommendation of the Operating Committee, which served as the search team, during a special called meeting held Tuesday, Oct. 10. The decision makes Horne the 35th executive director in the 175-year history of the Convention that began in 1848.  

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — As churches continue to navigate economic challenges in the United States, many pastors say the economy is still harming their churches as giving fails to keep up with inflation. A Lifeway Research study of U.S. Protestant pastors found 50% say the current economy is negatively impacting their churches. Meanwhile, 40% say the economic circumstances aren’t having an effect. Fewer than 1 in 10 (8%) say the current economy is a positive factor for their churches.

What do a witness at a trial and an elected official have in common? Each is obligated to take an oath to “tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.” We are in a culture where terms such as “my truth” and “your truth” can make it a challenge for the Church to know how to respond. For most Christians, knowing what we believe is not enough. We must be able to communicate the “why” of our beliefs and how real, lasting truth can only be found in Jesus.

Immediately prior to this scene, Jesus withdrew from the crowds to a high mountain to be alone with Peter, James and John. Jesus was transfigured before their eyes. According to Verse 7, a voice from heaven commanded the disciples to listen to Jesus. No doubt the next scene in the Gospel of Mark was intended to help disciples understand the importance of belief.

NEWNAN, Ga. – The Christian life is not to be characterized by the words “sit, relax, bask, repose, lounge or luxuriate.” The Christian life may be more accurately defined by the word “go.” The Great Commission in Matthew 28: 19-20 begins with the word “go.” We are to be on the go with the Gospel.

In a world where someone is killed for their faith every two minutes, Southern Baptists are uniting in prayer on Sunday, Nov. 5, for the Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Resources are available now from the International Mission Board to raise awareness of global persecution and the church’s role in praying for those suffering for their faith in Christ.

From a small mountain village in Nepal, Ashish Bhandari was born the year after his parents came to faith. He grew up in a ministry family where his father pastored their local church, oversaw the local orphanage, and taught in a nearby Bible training center. In his kindness, God used Ashish’s parents and, in particular, his father’s teaching to draw him to Christ. Shortly after Ashish became a believer in July of 2006, God gave him a desire to pursue full-time ministry.

With great joy, Jim Faircloth went to stand in the glorious presence of His God and Savior, on Friday, October 6, 2023.   James Loyce Faircloth, Jr., was born in Houston, Texas, on November 9, 1945, to the late James Loyce Faircloth, Sr., and the late Eunice Fortner Faircloth.  Jim was also preceded in death by his brother, Warren.  He grew up in Seville, Rochelle, and Abbeville.  

SNELLVILLE, Ga. — The next generation of Georgia church leaders are now growing up in the state’s congregations, awaiting a spiritual nudge to step forward. So says Georgia Baptist Convention President Josh Saefkow who has built an annual meeting of the state’s largest religious group around the theme Calling Out the Called.

The Conasauga Baptist Association’s Disaster Relief unit in Georgia “specializes in the big, hard jobs,” according to Marshall Worley, who directs the association’s Disaster Relief ministry. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, Worley decided it was time to help, and he’s never wavered in his commitment to Southern Baptist Disaster Relief efforts. Now, he not only directs the DR unit for his association, but he is also the heavy equipment coordinator for Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief.

RICHMOND, Va. — The International Mission Board reported Friday that Southern Baptists have given more than $196 million through the Lottie Moon offering for the year, besting a $190 million goal. “Thank you, Southern Baptists, for your growing commitment to get the gospel to the nations,” said IMB President Paul Chitwood. “Your generous giving through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, along with your ongoing commitment to the Cooperative Program, has the IMB positioned to overcome the staggering impact of global inflation and meet the needs of your missionaries.”

Hard times often are described as “going through a valley.” But Bruce Watson, pastor of First Baptist Jeanerette, Louisiana, describes life’s valleys as the place where the soil is the richest. “It’s not until you get in the valley where the dirt of life is, where the thorns and thistles are, and life happens and becomes dirty, that you find that that’s where the fertile soil is, where the fruit grows,” Watson said.