May 15, 2025
SUWANEE, Ga. — The Georgia Baptist Mission Board is launching a new round of Public Affairs Training events this month, designed to equip pastors and church members with the tools and insights they need to effectively engage in today’s cultural and political landscape. The training sessions, set to run from April through November, will take place in nine cities across the state, beginning April 29 in Dalton.
With the theme "Salt and Light: Your Role in the Public Square," this year’s events build on the momentum of a highly successful legislative session for Georgia Baptists. Mike Griffin, the Mission Board’s Public Affairs Representative, called the 2025 session "one of the most successful" in his 18 years working at the Capitol.
Among this year’s key victories for Georgia Baptists was the long-awaited passage of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). W. Thomas Hammond, Jr., executive director of the GBMB, pointed to RFRA as an example of what can be accomplished when God's people engage in politics. "This is an example of the impact we can have when we respectfully speak to the issues that concern us most."
The legislation, modeled on the 1993 federal RFRA, was signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp on April 4, making Georgia the 40th state to enact such protections. The law ensures that people of faith receive the same level of constitutional protection as those exercising rights to free speech, press, and assembly.
"RFRA is consequential for the assurance that each person in Georgia can freely practice their faith today and also for generations to come," Hammond said. "I am grateful for the time Mike Griffin invested in this legislation and his resolve to see it through. I am also grateful for Gov. Kemp’s unwavering commitment to fulfill one of his most significant campaign promises."
"This was a monumental effort, years in the making," said Griffin. "A RFRA is not a sword; it’s a shield. It protects people of faith from government actions that would infringe on their deeply held beliefs."
In addition to RFRA, Georgia Baptists also played a key role in defeating five bills that would have expanded gambling in the state, including sports betting and casino operations. Legislation protecting girls' sports from biological males was passed as well, reinforcing the state’s commitment to fairness and common sense in school athletics.
Griffin emphasized that these legislative outcomes did not happen by accident. "They happened because Georgia Baptists showed up. They engaged. They prayed. They made their voices heard."
This year’s training events are designed to build on that engagement by educating and inspiring more believers to take an active role in the policy-making process. Each session will feature presentations from seasoned leaders, including Brad Hughes, chairman of the Georgia Baptist Public Affairs Committee and director of field operations for Gov. Kemp; Kevin Cooke, former state representative; and Josh McKoon, a constitutional attorney and former state senator. A special guest, usually a legislator from the area, will also speak at each session.
Griffin said that the training will focus on practical ways churches can have a gospel impact on their communities through civic engagement. "Some of the most important ethical and moral issues of our day are being decided at the Capitol. Our churches must be equipped to respond with biblical truth and grace."
The free, one-day events will include lunch and will run from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Cities hosting events this year include Dalton, Bainbridge, Fayetteville, Brunswick, Alpharetta, Vienna, Mt. Vernon, Monroe, and Martinez.
Brad Hughes echoed Griffin’s urgency, noting the need for informed Christian citizens in every community. "We are living in a time where our values are under attack, and the voice of the church is needed more than ever. This training is about equipping believers to speak truth in love and to stand firm in the public square."
The Public Affairs Ministry has held similar events each year since 2016, training hundreds of pastors and lay leaders. The goal is to encourage biblically grounded involvement in political and social issues that affect families, churches, and communities.
"Christians are often concerned about what they see happening in government and culture," said Griffin, "but many don’t know where to start. These training sessions provide that starting point. We show them how to engage constructively, prayerfully, and biblically."
One emphasis in the upcoming events will be on the role of the church as both a moral compass and a servant to those in authority. "This is not about partisanship," said Griffin. "It’s about ministry. We want to serve government leaders, hold them accountable, and be a faithful witness to the life-changing power of the gospel."
Griffin also pointed out that involvement in public policy is a way to live out the biblical mandate to be salt and light. "We are called to influence the world around us for Christ. That includes the halls of government. When we are silent, we leave a void that others are all too willing to fill."
To register for an upcoming training event and learn more about the Public Affairs Ministry, visit https://gabaptist.org/patraining2025/.
"This is a rare opportunity to learn, connect, and grow as an influential Christian leader in our state," Griffin said. "We hope every pastor and church member will take the time to be part of what God is doing through these events."
