Photo gallery: SPARK conferences draw crowds, inspire discipleship across Georgia Photos by HENRY DURAND and JIM NGUYEN, The Christian Index Tuesday, September 16, 2025 More than 1,500 Georgia Baptists gathered for SPARK conferences at Sherwood Baptist in Albany and Hebron Baptist in Dacula earlier this month, joining nearly 2,900 participants from 368 churches who have attended the church-strengthening conference in 2025. With two conferences still ahead this fall, leaders say attendance is on track to surpass 4,000. --- PHOTOS --- File: 20250916-134246-e83-Thomas 11.jpg Caption: Thomas Hammond, executive director of the GBMB, addresses attendees at the SPARK conference in Dacula, Ga., on Sept. 14, 2025. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20250916-131857-c4b-T-shirts 1.jpg Caption: An attendee receives a t-shirt at the SPARK conference in Dacula, Ga., on Sept. 14, 2025. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20250916-131929-a73-T-shirts 2.jpg Caption: An attendee receives a t-shirt at the SPARK conference in Dacula, Ga., on Sept. 14, 2025. (Index/Jim Nguyen) File: 20250916-132511-c5e-Worship 7.jpg Caption: Attendees worship at the SPARK conference in Dacula, Ga., on Sept. 14, 2025. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20250916-132514-793-Worship 5.jpg Caption: Attendees worship at the SPARK conference in Dacula, Ga., on Sept. 14, 2025. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20250916-132621-4a5-Mark 7.jpg Caption: Mark Clifton delivers his message at the SPARK conference in Albany, Ga., on Sept. 7, 2025. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20250916-132624-c26-Paul 3.jpg Caption: Paul Gotthardt, pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church, speaks to attendees during the meal at the SPARK conference in Albany, Ga., on Sept. 7, 2025. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20250916-132627-802-Screens 1.jpg Caption: Attendees read the Bible on their devices at the SPARK conference in Albany, Ga., on Sept. 7, 2025. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20250916-132634-334-Worship 12.jpg Caption: Attendees worship at the SPARK conference in Albany, Ga., on Sept. 7, 2025. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20250916-132837-bff-Arrivals 3.jpg Caption: Attendees arrive at the SPARK conference in Dacula, Ga., on Sept. 14, 2025. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20250916-132841-885-Arrivals 7.jpg Caption: Attendees arrive at the SPARK conference in Dacula, Ga., on Sept. 14, 2025. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20250916-141239-3ce-Thomas 5.jpg Caption: Thomas Hammond, executive director of the GBMB, addresses attendees at the SPARK conference in Dacula, Ga., on Sept. 14, 2025. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20250916-132845-862-Breakouts.jpg Caption: Attendees head to the breakout sessions at the SPARK conference in Dacula, Ga., on Sept. 14, 2025. (Index/Jim Nguyen) File: 20250916-133007-4c6-Chris 1.jpg Caption: Chris Reynolds, pastor wellness lead strategist for the GBMB, leads a breakout at the SPARK conference in Dacula, Ga., on Sept. 14, 2025. (Index/Jim Nguyen) File: 20250916-133012-e55-Henry Medina 5.jpg Caption: Henry Medina leads a Spanish-language breakout at the SPARK conference in Dacula, Ga., on Sept. 14, 2025. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20250916-133016-486-Panel 11.jpg Caption: Landon Dowden, pastor of Hebron Baptist Church, and Bryant Wright participate in a panel discussion at the SPARK conference in Dacula, Ga., on Sept. 14, 2025. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20250916-133022-868-Thomas 2.jpg Caption: Thomas Hammond, executive director of the GBMB, addresses attendees at the SPARK conference in Dacula, Ga., on Sept. 14, 2025. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20250916-141248-391-Bryant 3.jpg Caption: Bryant Wright delivers his message at the SPARK conference in Dacula, Ga., on Sept. 14, 2025. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20250916-133333-cf9-Prayer 365.jpg Caption: Steve Parr, evangelism strategy director for the GBMB, speaks to an attendee at the SPARK conference in Dacula, Ga., on Sept. 14, 2025. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20250916-133337-46c-Panel 1.jpg Caption: Bryant Wright speaks during a panel discussion at the SPARK conference in Dacula, Ga., on Sept. 14, 2025. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20250916-133340-a42-Wade Lott 2.jpg Caption: Wade Lott, pastor wellness catalyst for the GBMB, leads a breakout at the SPARK conference in Dacula, Ga., on Sept. 14, 2025. (Index/Jim Nguyen) File: 20250916-133658-68b-Open Bibles.jpg Caption: Attendees listen with their Bibles open at the SPARK conference in Albany, Ga., on Sept. 7, 2025. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20250916-133702-266-Kids 1.jpg Caption: Attendees participate in a breakout session on kids ministry at the SPARK conference in Albany, Ga., on Sept. 7, 2025. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20250916-133706-6d6-Joy 1.jpg Caption: Joy Stevens, Women in Ministry coordinator for the GBMB, leads a breakout session at the SPARK conference in Albany, Ga., on Sept. 7, 2025. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20250916-133917-d6e-Panel 8.jpg Caption: David Cardoza, associational missions strategist for the Mulberry Baptist Association, participates in a panel discussion at the SPARK conference in Dacula, Ga., on Sept. 14, 2025. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20250916-133921-47a-Bryant 1.jpg Caption: Bryant Wright delivers his message at the SPARK conference in Dacula, Ga., on Sept. 14, 2025. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20250916-133924-403-David 1.jpg Caption: David Williams, director of Baptist Collegiate Ministries at Valdosta State University, leads a breakout session at the SPARK conference in Albany, Ga., on Sept. 7, 2025. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20250916-133928-5ba-Henry Medina 1.jpg Caption: Henry Medina leads a Spanish-language breakout at the SPARK conference in Dacula, Ga., on Sept. 14, 2025. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20250916-134238-4d3-Dwain 1.jpg Caption: Dwain Carter, director of Disaster Relief for the GBMB, leads a breakout session at the SPARK conference in Albany, Ga., on Sept. 7, 2025. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20250916-134242-43b-Jason 1.jpg Caption: Jason Jones, pastor wellness catalyst for the GBMB, leads a breakout session at the SPARK conference in Albany, Ga., on Sept. 7, 2025. (Index/Henry Durand)