Photo gallery: Scenes from the 202nd annual meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention Photos by HENRY DURAND and KRISTA ROE, The Christian Index Sunday, November 17, 2024 STATESBORO, Ga. — Georgia Baptists gathered on Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 11 and 12, for the 202nd annual meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention at First Baptist Statesboro. An inspirational service was held on Sunday, the eve of the meeting, during which a church-planting partnership between the Georgia Baptist Mission Board and the North American Mission Board was announced. W. Thomas Hammond, executive director of the GBMB, told listeners that Georgia Baptists are leading the way in several ways that are key to reaching the lost and supporting pastors and churches in the state. Messengers also elected new officers for the coming year, and approved bylaw changes as well as resolutions.  --- PHOTOS --- File: 20241117-190618-2b3-Wide s.jpg Caption: A band of students from Georgia schools and universities performs during an inspirational service on the eve of the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention at First Baptist Statesboro, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20241117-190607-d32-Sign 1 s.jpg Caption: A sign welcomes messengers to the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention at First Baptist Statesboro. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20241117-191851-1d4-Opening gavel s.jpg Caption: Josh Saefkow, senior pastor at Flat Creek Baptist Church and president of the Georgia Baptist Convention, gavels open the 202nd annual meeting of the GBC at First Baptist Statesboro, Monday, Nov. 11, 2024. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20241117-190613-be7-Robby Gallaty 27 s.jpg Caption: Robby Gallaty, senior pastor of Long Hollow Church in Hendersonville, Tenn., preaches on the second day of the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention at First Baptist Statesboro, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20241117-190601-f50-Altar call 5 s.jpg Caption: Attendees respond to an altar call following a sermon by Robby Gallaty, right, senior pastor of Long Hollow Church in Hendersonville, Tenn., on the second day of the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention at First Baptist Statesboro, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20241117-190556-5d7-Josh Saefkow 5 s.jpg Caption: Josh Saefkow, senior pastor at Flat Creek Baptist Church and president of the Georgia Baptist Convention, delivers his message at the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention at First Baptist Statesboro, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20241117-190550-c29-Thomas 5 s.jpg Caption: W. Thomas Hammond, Jr., executive director of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, delivers his report at the Georgia Baptist Convention annual meeting Tuesday. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20241117-190544-887-Altar call 3 s.jpg Caption: Attendees respond to an altar call following a sermon by Robby Gallaty, senior pastor of Long Hollow Church in Hendersonville, Tenn., on the second day of the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention at First Baptist Statesboro, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20241117-190534-b3e-John Waters and Josh Saefkow.jpg Caption: John Waters, lead pastor at First Baptist Statesboro, presents Josh Saefkow, Josh Saefkow, senior pastor at Flat Creek Baptist Church and president of the Georgia Baptist Convention, with a page from a 1611 King James Bible, at the 202nd annual meeting of the GBC in Statesboro, Monday, Nov. 11, 2024. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20241117-190529-e7b-Rick 6 s.jpg Caption: Evangelist Rick Coram delivers his message at the Georgia Baptist 2024 Preaching Conference in Statesboro, Ga. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20241117-190519-29a-Kevin 2 s.jpg Caption: Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board, speaks about a new partnership between NAMB and the Georgia Baptist Mission Board with the aim of planting more churches in Georgia. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20241117-190514-6a2-Thomas and Kevin 4 s.jpg Caption: W. Thomas Hammond, Jr., executive director of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, and Kevin Ezell, left, president of the North American Mission Board, embrace after formalizing a new partnership with the aim of planting more churches in Georgia. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20241117-190510-773-Clint 4 s.jpg Caption: Clint Pressley, president of the Southern Baptist Convention and pastor of Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, N.C., delivers his message at the Georgia Baptist 2024 Preaching Conference in Statesboro, Ga. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20241117-190506-0d4-Robby Gallaty 13 s.jpg Caption: Robby Gallaty, senior pastor of Long Hollow Church in Hendersonville, Tenn., preaches on the second day of the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention at First Baptist Statesboro, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20241117-190501-b2d-Vendor Hall 1 s.jpg Caption: Vendors and guests interact in the historic sanctuary of First Baptist Statesboro during the 202nd annual meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20241117-191847-434-Landon Dowden 2 s.jpg Caption: Landon Dowden, lead pastor of Hebron Baptist Church in Dacula, delivers the Doctrinal Sermon at the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention at First Baptist Statesboro, Monday, Nov. 11, 2024. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20241117-191842-f7a-Jeremy Morton 3 s.jpg Caption: Jeremy Morton, senior pastor of First Baptist Woodstock, delivers the Missionary Sermon at the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention at First Baptist Statesboro, Monday, Nov. 11, 2024. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20241117-190456-e05-John Conrad 1 s.jpg Caption: John Conrad, minister of music at Flat Creek Baptist Church, leads worship during the 202nd annual meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention in Statesboro. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20241117-190450-dd8-Bylaws Voting s.jpg Caption: Messengers overwhelmingly approve new bylaws at the 202nd annual meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention in Statesboro. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20241117-190445-517-Brad Whitt 2nd stage.jpg Caption: Brad Whitt, senior pastor of Abilene Baptist Church, speaks with Chris Reynolds, lead strategist for Pastor Wellness, during a "Second Stage" presentation at the 202nd annual meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention in Statesboro. (Index/Krista Roe) File: 20241117-190441-1e7-Lauren Sullens 3 s.jpg Caption: Lauren Sullens, president of Georgia Baptist Woman’s Missionary Union, shares her story at the Georgia Baptist Convention annual meeting Tuesday. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20241117-190432-796-Hispanic meeting.jpg Caption: Mark Marshall, senior lead strategist for Church Strengthening, addresses the Hispanic Preaching Conference during the annual meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention in Statesboro. (Index/Krista Roe) File: 20241117-190429-349-Ministry Wives Luncheon.jpg Caption: Ladies worship during the Ministry Wives' Luncheon at the 202nd annual meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention in Statesboro. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20241117-190426-7bd-Beth Ann 1 s.jpg Caption: Beth Ann Williams, lead strategist for Georgia Baptist Women, hosts Allison Young, left, missions and disciple-making advocate in the children's ministry at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, on stage during the 202nd annual meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention in Statesboro. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20241117-190422-124-Mark and Lee 2nd stage.jpg Caption: Lee Brewer, senior pastor of Palmetto Baptist Church, speaks with Mark Marshall, senior lead strategist for Church Strengthening, during a "Second Stage" presentation at the 202nd annual meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention in Statesboro. (Index/Krista Roe) File: 20241117-190417-a20-Mission GA pastors 2 s.jpg Caption: Robby Foster, pastor of Northside Baptist Church of Valdosta, speaks at the 202nd annual meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention in Statesboro. He is joined on stage by, from left, Todd Wiggins of Southbridge Community Church, Randy Ray of Pineview Baptist Church, Garret Grubbs of Crossroads Baptist Church, Paul Fulton of FBC Homerville, and Brad Waters of FBC Hazlehurst. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20241117-190412-294-Worship 5 s.jpg Caption: Attendees worship at the 202nd annual meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention in Statesboro, Ga. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20241117-190407-bda-Josh s.jpg File: 20241117-190402-013-Lee Brewer and Mark 1 s.jpg File: 20241117-190357-79b-Choir 1 s.jpg Caption: Members of the choir worship as they sing at the 202nd annual meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention in Statesboro, Ga. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20241117-190349-c36-Kevin 6 s.jpg Caption: Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board, speaks about a new partnership between NAMB and the Georgia Baptist Mission Board with the aim of planting more churches in Georgia. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20241117-190329-d47-Savannah Trammel 3 s.jpg Caption: Savannah Trammel sings during worship at the 202nd annual meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention in Statesboro, Ga. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20241117-190319-43b-Crowd s.jpg Caption: Messengers attend the 202nd annual meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention at First Baptist Statesboro. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20241117-190308-6ad-Korean meeting.jpg Caption: Korean believers pray during the Korean Conference meeting at the 202nd annual meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention in Statesboro. (Index/Krista Roe) File: 20241117-190303-f54-Josh Saefkow 12 s.jpg Caption: Josh Saefkow, senior pastor at Flat Creek Baptist Church and president of the Georgia Baptist Convention, delivers his message at the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention at First Baptist Statesboro, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20241117-190251-d24-Thomas 10 s.jpg Caption: W. Thomas Hammond, Jr., executive director of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, delivers his report at the Georgia Baptist Convention annual meeting Tuesday. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20241117-190246-93c-Worship 1 s.jpg Caption: Tim Oliver, pastor of Lakeside Baptist Church in Milledgeville, worships at the 202nd annual meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention in Statesboro, Ga. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20241117-190242-2a6-Josh sings 1 s.jpg Caption: Josh Saefkow, senior pastor at Flat Creek Baptist Church and president of the Georgia Baptist Convention, sings during the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention at First Baptist Statesboro, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20241117-190237-a6f-Statesboro Water Tower s.jpg Caption: The sun sets behind a water tower on the last day of the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention at First Baptist Statesboro, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20241117-190232-bee-Wade Lott closing prayer s.jpg Caption: Wade Lott, senior pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church in Hiawassee, delivers the closing prayer of the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention at First Baptist Statesboro, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20241117-190227-f24-Closing gavel s.jpg Caption: Josh Saefkow, senior pastor at Flat Creek Baptist Church and president of the Georgia Baptist Convention, gavels closed the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention at First Baptist Statesboro, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Index/Henry Durand)