It caught my eye as I drove out of the church parking lot.  I slammed on the brakes then inched backward to take a look.  There, in the middle of the blacktop, was a tiny sprout of green.

Have you ever noticed how just a small change can make a big difference? Recently we changed out the light over our kitchen table. I used the term “we” because I picked the light out and my husband hung it. I think that qualifies as a “we.” Anyway, the new light made such a big difference. It’s not that it sheds more light or that it was expensive or flashy. It just changes the perspective of how the room looks. It “reframes” the look of my kitchen.

ATLANTA — Austin Reaves is convinced that Georgia State University can play a key role in getting the gospel around the globe. Georgia State is one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse campuses in the U.S. with students from 177 nations, and that, Reaves said, perfectly positions the school for worldwide evangelism.

DECATUR, Ala. — Mary Glenn Ingouf, 91, “crossed the graduation stage” in her retirement home apartment in Decatur, Ala., recently but did so without a cap and gown or Pomp and Circumstance. For Ingouf, receiving the diploma was as memorable as it was long in coming. Jamie Dew, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary president, conferred the master of discipleship degree diploma at Ingouf’s home August 4, with husband John at her side.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Christian ministry has always been a challenging field, but the trials of the last several years seem to have made it even more difficult for pastors to remain steadfast in their work throughout an entire lifetime, from start to finish. Yet, there is wisdom in the reminder from Ecclesiastes that, “there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9).

FORSYTH, Ga. — A new nonprofit organization has been created to generate financial support for the Camp Kaleo Retreat Center, a site in rural Monroe County where children gather each summer to learn about Jesus. Friends of Kaleo will raise money for improvement projects and to help cover camp fees for students who otherwise wouldn’t be able to attend, said Jim Strickland, president of the new organization.

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Doctors, dietitians, nurses, community health workers and more bustled around the large church near Nashville, Tennessee. They were greeted warmly by IMB personnel. Old friends reunited in what felt like a family reunion, someone described. As they walked the halls, they were given opportunities to connect with IMB missionaries serving all over the world, doctors who set up practice in the United States and use their free time to meet medical needs on short-term trips overseas and nurses from Baptist Nursing Fellowship — an organization committed to missions.

CENTRALHATCHEE, Ga. — Mark Williams has a simple explanation for why 120 people have become followers of Christ in this small Georgia community over the past two months. “God has just been moving,” said Williams, pastor of First Baptist Church in Centralhatchee, population 400.

More than ever before, people are counting their steps. With the proper device, people can use their smartwatches or cell phones to keep track of the number of steps they walk. It is suggested by most health care providers to set a goal for at least 10,000 steps each day. A walking regimen is good for your heart, weight loss and general health.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. — Georgia Baptist Literacy Missions trained 30 new teachers for English as a Second Language, an initiative that allows churches to teach English to immigrants while also sharing the gospel. The training was held at First Baptist Church in Fayetteville.

Jeremiah preached an unpopular message of surrender to the Babylonians. When the Babylonians captured Jerusalem, they gave the prophet a choice of going to Babylon or staying in Judah (Jer. 40:1–6). Jeremiah opted to stay in the land. Because Jeremiah stayed, the people and leaders approached Jeremiah with a request for prayer for direction on behalf of the remnant remaining in Judah (42:2–3).

It was a fusion of the quality preaching and teaching of Spurgeon’s London Tabernacle, the evangelistic passion of a Moody crusade, and a rare conservative dose of the social gospel movement. It was the Tabernacle Baptist Church of Atlanta, Georgia’s first megachurch.

SWAINSBORO, Ga. — Lured by a few simple handwritten signs and some orange traffic cones, long lines of people showed up for a drive-through prayer outreach in Swainsboro. And in yet another sign of spiritual revival in Georgia, some 30 people surrendered their lives to Christ.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Brant Fountain came to Christ while serving on a mission trip when he was 18. At least two of the students in his ministry recently came to him asking about baptism, and when Fountain asked to hear their testimony, they shared about the impact their 2021 trip to serve the Send Relief Ministry Center in Atlanta made on them.

In a world where compassion and guidance are needed more than ever, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary's chaplaincy program is paving the way for individuals to make a lasting impact in the lives of others. This fall, Ken Lovett is teaching a brand-new chaplaincy course designed to equip leaders to serve in hospitals, firehouses, the military, and wherever else they are called.

As the heart of the Atlantic hurricane season approaches, Southern Baptists are intentionally preparing at-risk communities to navigate the perils of natural disasters and their aftermath. In Puerto Rico, many are weary from the past decade of nearly 20 back-to-back tropical storms. Families hardly have any time to recover from the physical loss and emotional trauma before another storm breaks on their shores.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — GuideStone trustees heard reports on its strategy to expand Kingdom Reach by strengthening the SBC core ministry partnerships in retirement, investments and insurance coverage among the Convention’s churches and ministries. The strategy — known as REACH — continues to develop and is enthusiastically embraced by employees across the organization, President Hance Dilbeck told trustees.

SMYRNA, Ga. — David Bunch, who helped Southern Baptists launch Mission Service Corps in the 1970s and played an integral role in three Southern Baptist state conventions, died July 24. “He was one of those quiet individuals, always in the right place at the right time, did all the things he was supposed to do, created things behind the scenes, got it done,” said Jim Haskell, pastor of Bridgepoint Church at Toco Hills in Decatur, Georgia

If you are like me, there are certain biblical figures you anticipate seeing or meeting when you get to heaven. Jesus is at the top of everyone’s list, but there are others. I am looking forward to talking with John the Baptist, the forgiven thief on the cross and Joshua. Among all the kings, prophets and apostles, I am looking forward to meeting a character in the Bible that I am not positive will be present, but I am hoping for it.

Throughout history, God’s written Word has been outlawed and destroyed by oppressive governments and leaders. Our passage today highlights an occasion in Israelite history when a Jewish king attempted to destroy a scroll containing a message from Jeremiah. Jewish king Jehoiakim cut up and burned in a fire the written message of the prophet Jeremiah, yet God’s Word cannot be destroyed by governmental leaders.

Each one of us had lugged two 50-pound suitcases to the check-in counter. One held personal items, the other was full of medical or dental supplies. We also had carry-ons and backpacks. We had a plan and a mission: we were headed to Nairobi, Kenya for a medical and dental clinic with World Hope.

My grandchildren are notorious for using the “pause” button on the TV remote. They LOVE to pause their shows while getting a snack, taking a bathroom break, or just deciding to leave and go play. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked into the den and found our TV is paused in the middle of a show. 

CHATSWORTH, Ga. — As a school bus driver, Robert Richardson feels the weight of responsibility in hauling the most precious of all cargos — children. But, as a Baptist minister, he gladly shoulders that responsibility. With school districts across Georgia struggling to fill bus driver positions, church leaders have been stepping into the role, fitting bus routes into their daily ministry routines.

CARROLLTON, Ga. — Thousands of backpacks filled with classroom supplies have begun making their way into the hands of needy children in time for the start of school, courtesy of Mission Georgia, the wide-ranging outreach to the state’s most vulnerable residents.

MONROE, GA – Scores of people from 1025 Church and community gathered for the dedication of the church’s newest facility, which will be called the Murray Ministry Center. The freshly painted, sparkling white building, formerly occupied by Monroe’s First National Bank, was given to the church by Kenneth and Jean Murray. Their son, Kenneth Murray, Jr. is an active deacon at 1025 Church, drummer for the worship team, and Pastor Fountain’s prayer partner.