October 1, 2026
ATLANTA — Georgia Baptist pastors and church members gathered Feb. 5 at the Georgia Capitol to celebrate recent legislative wins, outline priorities for the year ahead, and hear from a lineup of speakers that included former Atlanta Braves playoff hero Sid Bream and WallBuilders founder David Barton.
For Georgia Baptists, the past year included several significant policy victories, most notably the passage of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the Riley Gaines Act, which protects girls’ sports from participation by biological males. Mike Griffin, public affairs representative for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, also pointed to blocking efforts to expand sports gambling in the state.
Looking ahead, Georgia Baptists are advocating for legislation aimed at protecting life and children, including the “Baby Box” bill, which would allow an infant to be safely surrendered at designated public facilities, and a measure removing public libraries from exemptions related to laws governing minors’ access to obscene materials. They also remain opposed to any expansion of gambling, as well as broader access to alcohol and marijuana.
Gary Leutzinger, mission strategist for the South Central Baptist Association, said the gathering helps churches stay informed and engaged. “It’s important so we can understand what’s going on in our state and how government decisions affect us,” he said. “It also encourages churches and pastors to be involved, to pray for leaders, and to support biblical principles that matter.”
Sid Bream, remembered by many for his dramatic slide that sent the Braves to the World Series in 1992, challenged attendees to live fully committed lives of faith. Reflecting on how God has continued to use that moment decades later, Bream said the platform it created has opened doors for gospel conversations.
Bream urged listeners to examine whether their faith is producing visible change. “If you call yourself not just a Christian, but a Christ follower, has your life changed?” he asked. Quoting fellow believer and former Major League Baseball player Charlie Blackmon, Bream added, “If you actually believe Jesus is who He says He is, and that He died for your sins, then you just cannot ignore that fact and go on doing whatever you feel like doing.”
He also spoke about faith in the home, particularly in marriage, citing research he said showed stark differences between couples who pray together and those who do not. Calling marriage a covenant rather than a contract, Bream closed with a challenge for believers to reject spiritual complacency. “Let’s get off the fence and be all in for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” he said.
Pro-life advocates Rachel and Suzanne Guy called on pastors and lawmakers to speak and act on behalf of unborn children, grounding their appeal in Rachel’s own life story. “Three doctors begged my parents to abort me,” Rachel said. Born at one pound, two ounces, she told how her parents refused repeated medical warnings that she would not survive. Years later, she said, God led her to write letters to the physicians who had pressured her parents, and she received “two handwritten notes back,” reinforcing her belief that every child in the womb has value and purpose.
Suzanne Guy urged churches to be visible and vocal in caring for women in crisis, recalling a conversation outside an abortion clinic when a woman asked, “Where will women go if this place closes?” Suzanne replied, “The church is where these women can go.” She said the church must be prepared to offer practical help, compassion, and hope so women do not feel alone or without options.
John Kindt, a longtime University of Illinois professor who has studied the effects of gambling, warned attendees against what he described as the gambling industry’s effort to “suckerize Georgia and suckerize America.” Drawing on Illinois as a cautionary example, Kindt said expanded gambling, particularly online betting and emerging “prediction markets,” poses serious risks to families, churches, and children. Gambling addiction, he noted, is medically recognized, and many platforms are designed so bettors lose. His counsel to believers, he said, was straightforward: “Just say no.”
Brad Hughes, chairman of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s Public Affairs Committee and director of field services for Gov. Brian Kemp, was joined by former state lawmakers Kevin Cooke and Regina Quick for a panel discussion to explain the realities of the legislative process. The panel emphasized that people of faith do not need special credentials to serve in public office, but must be prepared for perseverance and patience. Cooke said meaningful progress is possible, “if you don’t care who gets the credit,” while Quick encouraged believers to engage lawmakers with grace and constructive alternatives when opposing legislation.
David Barton, whose WallBuilders ministry seeks to educate Americans on the founding of the nation, urged Georgia Baptists to view public life through a biblical lens. Using original historical documents from his organization’s collection, Barton highlighted Georgia’s early spiritual foundations, including the ministries of George Whitefield and John and Charles Wesley.
Barton argued that revival must lead to sustained cultural transformation if it is to endure. He contrasted past Great Awakenings, which shaped public life, with more recent revivals that produced conversions but little cultural change, saying the difference lies in deeper discipleship and applying Scripture beyond private faith. Engagement in government, Barton said, is not a distraction from faith but part of living it out.
During the gathering, Sen. Sam Watson of Moultrie and Rep. Leesa Hagan of Lyons were honored as Georgia Baptist “Legislators of the Year” for their work during the 2025 legislative session. Thomas Hammond, executive director of the GBMB, presented the awards, and Hughes led those present in prayer over the recipients.
Attendees also heard brief remarks from House Speaker Jon Burns, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Jones and Raffensperger are among those expected to seek higher office as Gov. Brian Kemp approaches the end of his second term and is ineligible to run again due to term limits.
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