RICHMOND, Va. — Twenty Asian American leaders representing seven ethnicities gathered at the International Mission Board in Richmond, Va., this week to explore opportunities to reach the nations. This is the first time Asian leaders from across the Southern Baptist Convention have met collectively with IMB leaders to learn, encourage each other and commit to new levels of cooperation to advance the gospel.

The Baptist Young People’s Union was “the foundation of all other Baptist Programs of the 20th century with the exception of the Sunday School and the WMU.” This was the view of Waldo Woodcock, who was for many years the Church Training Director of the Georgia Baptist Convention. The work of the BYPU was a major factor driving the growth of missions and other SBC ministries in the 20th century.

SUWANEE, Ga. — Georgia Baptist churches reported a nearly 17% increase in baptisms last year with the overall total reaching 15,071, up from 12,897 the previous year. “The increase truly is encouraging,” said Thomas Hammond, executive director of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board. “We’re overjoyed to see that our churches have come out of the pandemic energized and enthusiastically sharing the gospel.”

When we began studying Daniel last week in youth Sunday School, I thought, “This will be great for teenagers.”  To be truthful, it’s good for kids who are six, 16, and 60-plus.  There are many truths to unpack from this familiar book of the Bible no matter your age.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – A young lady sat in a park in a Denver suburb, contemplating her life as a believer and sensing the need to go deeper in her Christian faith. She did not know what steps to take, though, so she closed her eyes to pray and asked God to send someone to help her. Shortly after she opened her eyes, there was Send Network church planting missionary Justin McKay. He was at the park promoting a soccer camp, shared about the church they were preparing to plant and asked her if she knew Jesus.

A few weekends ago, my grandson spent the day with us.  My son has two girls and our only grandson, Camden, who is seven. My daughter has four girls, so to say Camden is a little “special” being the only boy is an understatement.  He is the “king” around all those girls.

ROME, Ga. — Hall of Fame college football coach Mark Richt will be the featured speaker at Shorter University’s 2023 President’s Gala on Thursday, Dec. 7. Coach Mark Richt is a beloved college football coach, devoted husband and father, motivational speaker, philanthropist, and author.

Each year, Good Community Church of Torrance, California, takes almost 20 mission trips. Each month, members spend hours on the streets, in Costco, at parks, in Korean markets or at the beach sharing the love of Christ with those they encounter. In 2022, they gave $100,000 to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering®.

DALLAS, Texas — A recommendation to make Texas pastor Jared Wellman the next president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee failed overwhelmingly Monday in Dallas. With 81 votes cast, Wellman, an SBC insider who most recently served as chairman of the Executive Committee, lost 50-31, forcing the appointment of a new search committee to begin the process anew.

A service was held on Sunday, April 30, at Lake Country Baptist church celebrating the 40th anniversary of the founding of the church.  The speaker for the worship service was W. Thomas Hammond, Jr., Executive Director/CEO of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board.  Following the service, a covered dish dinner was served, and the evening service consisted of music by the church choir and praise team.

CARROLLTON, Ga. — Some 800 people attended the West Georgia Evangelism Conference on Sunday at Roopville Baptist Church in Carrollton. That included 200 people who sang in a joint, multi-church choir from the Carrollton Baptist Association.

DADEVILLE, Ala.  —  Ben Hayes’ phone had rung moments before, waking him up, and he was trying to understand what he had just heard. He didn’t feel like it could be real, so he asked the caller to repeat herself. “There’s been a shooting in Dadeville, and Phil is dead.”

ROME, Ga. — Dana King, dean of the Shorter University School of Education, will be the featured speaker at Shorter University’s 2023 commencement ceremonies Thursday. “Dr. Dana King is a Shorter University graduate who exemplifies the mission of advancing God’s kingdom through the ministry of Christ-centered higher education,” said Shorter University President Dr. Don Dowless. 

DALLAS, Texas — Texas pastor Jared Wellman has emerged as the nominee to become the next president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee. Wellman, an SBC insider who most recently served as chairman of the Executive Committee, is expected to be voted on Monday at a private meeting in Dallas.

DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. — Pastor Tim Akin’s vision for First Baptist Church Douglasville is of a “multicultural, multigenerational, multiplying” church. That's why, in November 2022, the church invited Pastor Javier López to begin holding worship services in Spanish. That diversity, and its rewards, were evident Sunday as 12 believers of varying ages and ethnicities were baptized during a bilingual worship service in English and Spanish.

A pastor in Louisiana who is an online student of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary has found what he’s learning in his evangelism class has applications in the church he’s pastoring—and his own home. Adam Rainey, a Master of Divinity in Christian Leadership student, knows that all believers are “called to share the Gospel.” “It is not on us to make the decision for them,” said Rainey who serves as the senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Lake Providence in Lake Providence, Louisiana, and attends his Southwestern Seminary classes online.

Fewer American adults qualify as Bible users, according to the latest State of the Bible study. Those who are engaged with Scripture, however, have higher levels of hope than other adults in the United States. In January 2023, around 100 million adults, or 39% of Americans, said they use the Bible three or more times a year. That equals the lowest number in the 13-year history of the study and ties with last year as the lowest percentage.

String Strong, a one-day string orchestra camp, will be held at Truett McConnell University in Cleveland, Ga., on Saturday, June 10 from 9am - 5pm, culminating in a concert at the end of the day.  The camp offers orchestra classes and improvisation classes for string students ages 8-17 with a minimum of one year of playing experience on violin, viola, cello, or bass. 

My beloved texted me while I was at work that he loved me and I had a surprise waiting at home. I smiled as I made the drive to Big Branch wondering what it would be. When I walked in the door, he called out, “Close your eyes!” Taking my hand, he led me into the kitchen. “Now open them,” he announced. I was speechless. There on the counter was the china I had given away 19 ½ years ago.

CARROLLTON, Ga. — Hundreds of people are expected to attend the West Georgia Evangelism Conference on Sunday in Carrollton.

My heart has been heavy and my emotions high the last few weeks.  Lots of things have been going on in my life and mind that, unfortunately, I sometimes have a hard time trying to figure out. 

MOUNT VERNON, Ga. - Brewton-Parker College is now a level three institution which means it can offer master’s degrees. The college has chosen to let its first graduate programs be for ministry with a Master of Arts in Ministry and the Master of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies under the leadership of Dr. Mark Gregory, Dean of Temple Baptist Theological Seminary.

Two Georgia pastors will serve on the Southern Baptist Convention’s Committee on Committees. Brad Whitt of Abilene Baptist Church in Augusta and Pablo Paredes of Rock Bridge Community Church in Dalton were appointed by SBC President Bart Barber.

BLACKSHEAR, Ga. —  Georgia pastor Mike Stone will seek the presidency of the Southern Baptist Convention at an annual meeting scheduled for June 13-14 in New Orleans. Mac Brunson, senior pastor at Valleydale Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala., distributed a video of Stone explaining why he intends to accept the nomination to run against incumbent SBC President Bart Barber of Texas.

In just a little over a year, the Summer Olympics will open in Paris with more than 10,500 athletes from countries spanning the globe and thousands of spectators descending on the French capital. International Mission Board missionaries, Southern Baptist volunteers, international Baptists and French Baptists will be poised and ready to engage the world with the message that victory is achievable for everyone.