Top stories

Survey reveals one-third of U.S. voters age 18 to 24 believe Israel does not have a right to exist

Georgia State Patrol officers detain a demonstrator on the campus of Emory University during a pro-Palestinian demonstration Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Protests on U.S. college campuses opposing Israel’s continuing military campaign against Gaza reflect the views of a significant minority of Gen Z voters, a recent online survey revealed.
Paul Gotthardt, pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church, addresses students at Equip on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Maynard Baptist Church in Forsyth. Ga. (Index/Henry Durand)
Georgia college students commissioned for summer service
FORSYTH, Ga. — Last Saturday, April 20, some 250 Georgia college student leaders gathered at Maynard Baptist Church in Forsyth for Equip, a day of equipping leaders to be on mission on their campus, in their community and around the world.
Crystabel Kwarteng of Georgia College & State University joins other students in worship at Equip on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Maynard Baptist Church in Forsyth. Ga. (Index/Henry Durand)
Photo gallery: Scenes from the Georgia BCM Equip conference
FORSYTH, Ga. — Last Saturday, April 20, some 250 Georgia college student leaders gathered at Maynard Baptist Church in Forsyth for Equip, a day of equipping leaders to be on mission on their campus, in their community and around the world.
Hannah and her two children, Melissa and Daniel, stand beside Richie and Melissa Howard and their son, Jaxson. (Photo/Richie Howard via The Baptist Paper)
Pregnancy resource center, First Baptist Jonesboro help single mother find Christ
JONESBORO, Ga. — Hannah’s life was “broken.” She was raised in Ghana by her father, who was a pastor, and sister after her mother left the family when she was only 3 months old.
Macedonia Baptist Church pastor Wade Lott embraces a newly baptized believer. (Photo/Macedonia Baptist Church)
‘God truly showed up’ at Macedonia Baptist Church Spring revival
HIAWASSEE, Ga. — Macedonia Baptist Church in Hiawassee wrapped up a fruitful week-long Spring revival last week, seeing seven people profess faith in Christ and 14 come forward to be baptized since Easter Sunday.
More than 200 newly-endorsed church planters pose at the Send Network Orientation. (Photo/NAMB)
Send Network hosts orientation for 200+ new church planters
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — More than 200 church planters represented 189 sending churches at Send Network’s most recent orientation for newly endorsed church planters last week. Five different languages were spoken among the planters, who hailed from 24 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces.
Baptist Life

Sons of Jubal celebrate 70 years of making joyful noise to the Lord

The Sons of Jubal perform at First Baptist Church of Dallas, Ga., on Aug. 24, 2023. Inset: Historical photo of the sons of Jubal. (Main photo: Index/Henry Durand, File; Inset: Photo courtesy Ken Drane)
For the past 70 years, the members of the Sons of Jubal chorus have been raising their voices in song to worship and glorify the Lord.  From the group's inception, they have used music to declare the truth of the gospel across Georgia, the United States, and the world.
FARMERSVILLE, Texas (BP) – SBC President Bart Barber has announced his appointments to the 2024 Committee on Committees. Adam Blosser, pastor of Goshen Baptist Church in Spotsylvania, Va., will lead the committee as chair, and Elizabeth Graham from First Baptist Church, Concord, Tenn., will serve as vice chair.
Longtime International Mission Board leader Clyde D. Meador died Friday, April 26. He was 79. Clyde Meador worked closely with four IMB presidents as a top advisor and executive vice president, and as the mission organization’s interim president from August 2010 to March 2011 and again briefly in 2018 before the election of current President Paul Chitwood.
Every Sunday, 8-year-old Micah Singerman heard his parents, International Mission Board missionaries Kevin and Victoria Singerman, tell chronological Bible stories in Kampala, Uganda. He then watched the Ugandan believers go out and share the same story with people in their community.  
Samnas Alemu thought he was saying goodbye to his family for one week. In 2013, persecution forced him to flee his home country of Ethiopia to seek asylum in the United States, and he was hoping to reunite with his family soon. But a week turned into months, and months into years, as Samnas waited for a hearing before a judge for his asylum case.
Georgia
Lorna Bius, a Mission Georgia mobilizer, and Mike Griffin, Public Affairs representative of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, pose beside Gov. Brian Kemp and his wife Marty, right, at a bill signing ceremony. (Index/Courtesy of Mike Griffin)

Georgia Gov. Kemp signs bills to combat human trafficking

ATLANTA – Gov. Brian Kemp signed three bills Wednesday aimed at human trafficking in Georgia. “We are taking three important steps forward to make sure Georgia is a safe haven for survivors … turning Georgia into a national leader for victims’ rights and putting criminals behind bars,” Kemp said during a bill signing ceremony at the state Capitol.

New evidence in Georgia couple's killing found by person dredging creek with a magnet, officials say

McRAE-HELENA, Ga. (AP) — Someone using a magnet to fish for metal objects in a Georgia creek pulled up a rifle as well as some lost belongings of a couple found slain in the same area more than nine years ago.

Kemp signs private-school vouchers bill

ATLANTA – Gov. Brian Kemp signed a private-school vouchers bill Tuesday, culminating a fight Republicans have waged for years to give students in low-performing schools another option.

Crew members injured in crash on Georgia set of Eddie Murphy Amazon MGM movie 'The Pickup'

Several crew members were injured and two were hospitalized when a car and truck collided during shooting of the Eddie Murphy film “The Pickup" from Amazon MGM Studios, the studio and a person close to the production said Tuesday.
Nation
This electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health shows a human T cell, in blue, under attack by HIV, in yellow, the virus that causes AIDS. (NIH via AP, File)

CDC says it's identified 1st documented cases of HIV transmitted through cosmetic needles

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Three women who were diagnosed with HIV after getting “vampire facial” procedures at an unlicensed New Mexico medical spa are believed to be the first documented cases of people contracting the virus through a cosmetic procedure using needles, federal health officials said.

Interstate near Arizona-New Mexico line reopens after train derailment as lingering fuel burns off

LUPTON, Ariz. (AP) — Interstate 40 was reopened in both directions Sunday as fire crews continued to watch over a controlled burn of remaining fuel from a freight train derailment near the Arizona-New Mexico state line, a local fire chief said. Earlier evacuation orders have now been lifted.

Tornadoes kill 4 in Oklahoma, leaving trail of destruction and thousands without power

SULPHUR, Okla. (AP) — Tornadoes killed four people in Oklahoma and left thousands without power Sunday after a destructive outbreak of severe weather flattened buildings in the heart of one rural town and injured at least 100 people across the state.

Police officer hiring in US increases in 2023 after years of decline, survey shows

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Police departments across the United States are reporting an increase in their ranks for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 killing of George Floyd, which led to a historic exodus of officers, a survey shows.
World
Pro-Israeli protesters take part in a demonstration along the route of the Pro-Palestinian march in London, Saturday, April 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Thomas Krych)

Biden and Netanyahu speak as pressure builds on Israel and Hamas to agree to cease-fire

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The White House on Sunday said U.S. President Joe Biden had again spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as pressure builds on Israel and Hamas to reach a deal that would free some Israeli hostages and bring a cease-fire in the nearly seven-month-long war in Gaza.

Putin likely didn’t order death of Russian opposition leader Navalny, US official says

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. intelligence officials have determined that Russian President Vladimir Putin likely didn’t order the death of imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny in February, according to an official familiar with the determination.

Yemen's Houthi rebels claim downing US Reaper drone, release footage showing wreckage of aircraft

JERUSALEM (AP) — Yemen's Houthi rebels on Saturday claimed shooting down another of the U.S. military's MQ-9 Reaper drones, airing footage of parts that corresponded to known pieces of the unmanned aircraft.

A tornado in southern China kills 5 people and damages factories in the metropolis of Guangzhou

BEIJING (AP) — A tornado struck the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou on Saturday, killing five people and damaging more than 140 factory buildings, state media said.
Perspectives
Most people who walk into Freedom Church in Neosho, Missouri, start with a worship service. It’s an on-ramp to the church’s discipleship pathway, a natural starting point on the journey from being a first-time visitor to a growing, serving follower of Christ.
I once read a story about a man who tore down an old building that stood on his property for many years. After clearing away the debris, he broke up and smoothed over the ground. Soon, spring rains fell and sunshine flooded the area.
Did you see the recent B. C. Sunday comic in which the character is working strenuously to climb the steep mountain? Each panel shows his progress. Then he finally reaches the summit, and asks, “Ever arrive at a place and forget why you’re there?”
In a recent breakfast meeting with Pastor Todd Wright of Midway Church in Villa Rica, our conversation turned to the importance of leaving a legacy for those who will come behind us. It was a meaningful discussion for many reasons, but I was reminded of the words of King Solomon in Proverbs 13:22: “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children” (NKJV).
Recently, my wife, Carolyn and I were eating a sandwich for lunch in one of our favorite restaurants. We were quietly talking about a lot of things when suddenly my wife pointed out a little bug which was sitting on the window ledge.
Business

Nepal hosts an investment summit in hopes of attracting foreign money for hydropower projects

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Nepal hosted an investment summit Sunday in hopes of attracting much-needed foreign investment, especially in developing hydropower projects to produce more electricity that it can sell to neighboring countries.

Dubai plans to move its busy international airport to a $35 billion new facility within 10 years

Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest for international travel, will move its operations to the city-state's second, sprawling airfield in its southern desert reaches “within the next 10 years” in a project worth nearly $35 billion, its ruler said Sunday.

United Auto Workers reaches deal with Daimler Truck, averting potential strike in North Carolina

The United Auto Workers union announced it reached a last-minute tentative agreement with truck and bus manufacturer Daimler Truck, averting a potential strike of more than 7,000 workers.

FTC sends $5.6 million in refunds to Ring customers as part of video privacy settlement

NEW YORK (AP) — The Federal Trade Commission is sending more than $5.6 million in refunds to consumers as part of a settlement with Amazon-owned Ring, which was charged with failing to protect private video footage from outside access.

US growth slowed sharply last quarter to 1.6% pace, reflecting an economy pressured by high rates

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s economy slowed last quarter, growing at an annual rate of 1.6% in a sign that high interest rates may be taking a toll on borrowing and spending.
Sports
Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley (27) hits a single against the Cleveland Guardians in the fourth inning Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Riley's RBI single in 10th lifts Braves to 4-3 win over Guardians and Atlanta takes 2 of 3 in series

ATLANTA (AP) — Austin Riley knocked in Ronald Acuña Jr. with a 10th inning single Sunday and the Atlanta Braves rallied late to beat the Guardians 4-3 and win a three-game series between the top two teams in the majors.

Penix wowed Falcons' Morris, Fontenot with sound of his passes in pre-NFL draft workout

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — There's a reason Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot made a cross-county flight for a personal workout with Washington quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. before the NFL draft.

NFL draft attendance record set with more than 700,000 fans attending the event in Detroit

DETROIT (AP) — The NFL draft has a new attendance record after more than 700,000 fans flooded downtown Detroit for the three-day event.

Four months after being fired by Atlanta, Arthur Smith is hitting the reset button in Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Arthur Smith walked in and sat down, a microphone in front of him and a Pittsburgh Steelers baseball cap pulled tight on his head.