BOLIVAR, Mo. – In May of 1945, three months before the end of fighting in the Pacific in World War II, a short notice with a Philippines dateline appeared in the Chicago Tribune. It bore an intriguing headline: “Missouri private’s secret mystifies whole regiment.”

This Bible study expands upon the Bible Studies for Life curriculum from Lifeway Christian Resources. This week's study focuses on James 1:19–27.

Jaclyn Horine missed a trip to the Holy Land a few years ago when she started a new job. Now, unexpectedly, she has seen Jerusalem through the eyes of a new believer. Her coming to faith as an adult—and as a pastor’s wife— has stirred the congregation of Friendship Baptist Church in Blackfoot, where her husband, Jerry, serves as senior pastor. Since her decision to truly follow Jesus, baptisms at the church have multiplied.

AUGUSTA, Ga. – The messenger count has already surpassed 1,200 for the Georgia Baptist Convention’s annual meeting, which begins Sunday at Warren Baptist Church in Augusta. Georgia Baptists from across the state will gather to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the state’s largest religious organization, made up of some 1.4 million people.

Forgetting things is a pet peeve of mine.  Oh, it’s not a big deal to me if YOU forget stuff.  It’s when I forget stuff that it drives me bonkers.

This Bible study expands upon the Explore the Bible curriculum from Lifeway Christian Resources. This week's study focuses on Micah 3:1–12.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) — A record-setting 216 church planters attended the first Send Network Orientation since Vance Pitman introduced new values for the North American Mission Board’s (NAMB) church planting arm in October. The new missionaries speak 11 different languages; represent more than 30 U.S. states, three Canadian provinces, and Puerto Rico; and were sent by some 130 sending churches. They gathered Nov. 1-3 in Alpharetta.

BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. – First Baptist Church of Blairsville has called Rev. Ricky Powell to succeed Dr. Fred Lodge as pastor. It has been said, “The church is not a campus but a community. Pastors are not CEOs; they are shepherds.” All indications provide evidence that Pastor Powell is God’s shepherd to nurture the existing spirit of unity and community among the people of Blairsville’s First Baptist Church.

DULUTH, Ga. – Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief crews have been placed on alert in case they're need to cleanup after Hurricane Nicole, which slammed Florida’s Atlantic coast early Thursday before turning north toward Georgia. Now downgraded to a tropical storm, Nicole had drenched the whole of Florida with heavy rain that have since moved into Georgia, the Carolinas and Alabama. Damaging winds extended as far as 450 miles from the storm's center.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Almost every church in the U.S. is holding in-person services again, but some pre-pandemic churchgoers still haven’t returned. In August 2022, U.S. Protestant pastors nearly unanimously said their churches met in person, according to a Lifeway Research study. This continues the increases from the past two years of churches holding physical gatherings. In August 2021, 98% of churches gathered in person, after 75% reported the same in July 2020.

This Bible study expands upon the Bible Studies for Life curriculum from Lifeway Christian Resources. This week's study focuses on James 1:19–27.

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Ministries from across the state and nation are coming to Augusta to be with Georgia Baptists during their annual meeting that runs from Sunday through Tuesday. Nearly 50 organizations have reserved space in the exhibit hall at Warren Baptist Church where Georgia Baptists will gather for the event that dates back 200 years.

Tornadoes recently swept through areas of Oklahoma, causing significant destruction, including destroying the church building of Trinity Baptist Church, Idabel. On the morning of Nov. 5, Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief teams were onsite to help in Idabel and elsewhere, with chainsaw teams and others to assess the damage.

CHATSWORTH, Ga. – Churches in Whitfield and Murray counties that need sheet music for morning worship services or special events no longer have to place expensive online orders. The new music library at the Conasauga Baptist Association could have just what they need. It's another example of churches helping churches to shine the light of Christ, said Associational Missionary Darey Kittle

The leaders of Micah’s day presume upon the Abrahamic covenant for their security, even while they ignore its requirements of integrity. About 150 years later, Micah’s prophecy of Jerusalem’s destruction was on Jeremiah’s lips and fulfilled in the Babylonian invasion and destruction of Jerusalem.

Inspirational speaker and author Daniel Ritchie’s worst struggle isn’t that he was born without arms. But people’s opinions, stares, comments and efforts to “slip in subtle iPhone photos of me doing my thing” — well, that’s a different story.

Stay pure. That was the message for the more than 100 youth gathered in Mableton, Ga., last Saturday, Oct. 29. Organizers said the event’s aim was to encourage young people to live a life of purity centered on the Word.

For more than 250 years Georgia Baptists have gathered to worship and adore the Lord our God. From outdoor services beside creeks and rivers, gatherings in homes, mills, schools and barns. In time, gathering in hand-hewn log meeting houses, clapboard meeting houses, storefront buildings, and brick meeting houses. Today Baptists continue meeting in some of those historic structures as well as former shopping malls and multisite campuses.

BELL, Fla. – When Bill Hughes first began working in student ministry in Georgia back in 1972, he had no idea that it would be his life’s calling, or that he’d spend the next 50 years doing this. In fact, 50 years ago as a college sophomore, he had no idea that being a student pastor was even a career possibility for himself or anyone. “I didn’t know it was something you could do and have a life,” he said. “But the more I did it, the more I knew this is what I wanted to do.”

CHICAGO – After 345 days enduring the extremes of the Windy City’s weather since Nov. 30, 2021, Southern Baptist Pastor Corey Brooks of New Beginnings Church climbed down Oct. 29 from his 40-foot perch atop shipping containers across the street from the church.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. – Josh Saefkow has learned a great deal about building trust and fostering relationships by spending time around the stables where his horse, Lil Joe, hangs out. Saefkow, the Fayetteville pastor who is being nominated for president of the Georgia Baptist Convention later this month, said corrals can be great classrooms. “When it comes to horses, everything is done in steps,” he said. “Each step builds upon another. One step leads to the next. You can’t rush it. You have to build trust with the horse. It requires total commitment and loving patience to do it well.”

DULUTH, Ga. – Flat Creek Baptist Church Pastor Josh Saefkow, the only announced nominee for president of the Georgia Baptist Convention, would use the position to urge church leaders to focus on what’s most important. “I believe it’s time to get back to what makes Southern Baptists so unique, our focus on evangelism, education, and missions,” he said in a Q&A with The Christian Index.

Michelle Norwood says on a much smaller scale, she might know a little bit of what Noah felt like. But for her it wasn’t an ark — it was an ice cream truck.

God’s Word is good medicine I need on a daily basis.  For me, it’s best taken first thing.  In the quiet of the morning at the table with my bible and a big mug of coffee.  I no longer read to mark a box, but to hear the precious voice of my Heavenly Father.  He always has something to say.

Daniel Douglas Fuller, 89, of Watkinsville, Georgia, finished his earthly mission and was gathered to his people on Oct. 31, 2022. A native of Jackson County, he was born May 15, 1933, to William Dennis and Reba Lowe Fuller. He was a graduate of Bob Jones University and pastored four congregations in more than fifty years of ministry: Providence Baptist (Madison County), Moon’s Grove Baptist (Madison County), Briarwood Baptist (Oconee County) and Salem Baptist (Oglethorpe County).