From the Capitol: Faith, families, and the fight for our children

The issues shaping the world our children are growing up in are changing quickly... and Christian families need more than headlines to understand what is happening.

• What legislation is being considered in Georgia that could affect children and families?
• What is happening with sexually explicit material in public libraries?
• What should parents understand about today’s marijuana and high-potency THC products?
• And what can concerned Christians actually do?

On Saturday, Sept. 12, you are invited to a free seminar at Westside Baptist Church in Augusta that will bring together leaders working directly on these issues across Georgia. You’ll hear practical, up-to-date information about some of the most consequential cultural and public-policy issues facing Georgia families.

This is a free event with lunch provided by the Georgia Baptist Mission Board.

This is going to be a great event starting at 10:00 AM, where I will be speaking as the Public Affairs Representative for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board. I will be giving a Georgia Baptist 2026 Legislative Update. This will cover legislation on a number of subjects, including child protection policy and social and moral issues facing our families.

Priscilla Bence with Georgians for Responsible Libraries will be speaking on fighting to move sexually explicit books from children’s sections of public libraries at 11:30 AM. She will share a local story about Columbia County, where she first addressed the Board of Commissioners dealing with protecting children from obscenity in libraries. This proves the need for a state law on this issue.

Michael Mumper, the executive director of Georgians for Responsible Marijuana Policy, will be speaking at 12:35 PM. He will be giving a clear, practical introduction to marijuana and THC in Georgia—what the different products are, what is legal, why potency matters, and what families should know. He is leading statewide efforts to advance public health, public safety, and smart policy solutions across Georgia to strengthen communities and protect youth.

Max Burns, a state senator from District 23 in Sylvania, will be speaking at 1:45 PM. He will be covering state legislation that protects minors from obscenity in public libraries. He was the author of SB 74, which was introduced in legislation in 2025. He will talk about how he wrote the bill and then fought for it to almost pass in 2026. He plans to resubmit SB 74 in the next Legislative Session.

Here is the agenda schedule:

10:00 AM-11:15 AM   Mike Griffin, Public Affairs Representative of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board

11:15 AM-11:30 AM Q&A and break

11:30 AM-12:00 PM Priscilla Bence, Georgians for Responsible Libraries

12:00 PM-12:05 PM Welcome and remarks by Pastor Robert Lehn, Westside Baptist Church

12:05 PM-12:35 PM Lunch

12:35 PM-1:45 PM Michael Mumper, Executive Director of Georgians for Responsible Marijuana Policy

1:45 PM-2:00 PM Max Burns, Senator, District 23, Sylvania, author of SB-74

We would love you to come and be a part of this very important event. If you are a parent, grandparent, pastor, church leader—or simply someone concerned about the world today’s children are inheriting—this is a conversation worth being in the room for.

This seminar will be at Westside Baptist Church, 261 Flowing Wells Rd. Augusta, GA. We look forward to seeing you there! Here is the registration link: https://gabaptist.org/faith-families-and-the-fight-for-our-children/

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