Photo gallery: More than 1300 Georgia Baptists exhorted, equipped to share the gospel at Evangelism Conferences By HENRY DURAND, The Christian Index Monday, March 9, 2026 More than 1,300 people were exhorted and equipped to share the good news of Jesus at four Evangelism Conferences organized by the Georgia Baptist Mission Board over the past few weeks. Some 512 gathered at North Metro Baptist Church in Hoschton on Feb. 22 and 23, and another 484 participated at the event March 1 and 2 at First Baptist Thomasville. Meanwhile, more than 300 Spanish-speaking believers attended two Hispanic conferences held on Feb. 28, one at FBC Fort Valley and the other at Iglesia Cristiana Elevation Point. Steve Foster, Evangelism Catalyst for the GBMB, called the conferences "measurable indicators of a growing hunger for evangelism." He added, "We are excited as we press forward to reach our mission field with the gospel.”  GBMB Executive Director Thomas Hammond also described a growing hunger for evangelism across the state. “What we want to do is come alongside every church in Georgia and encourage them and love on them, resource and equip them, and the Holy Spirit will give us all the power that we need to do that," he said. The GBMB will hold one more Evangelism Conference on Nov. 9 at Second Baptist Church in Warner Robins, leading into the Georgia Baptist Convention's annual meeting that week. --- PHOTOS --- File: 20260309-115706-bbc-Hamm 20a.jpg Caption: Kevin Hamm, pastor of Gardendale First Baptist Church in Alabama, delivers his message during the GBMB's Evangelism Conference at North Metro Baptist Church in Hoschton, Ga., Sunday, Feb. 22. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-115708-5a4-Luter 25.jpg Caption: Fred “Chip” Luter III prays passionately during the second day of the GBMB Evangelism Conference at Thomasville FBC, March 2, 2026. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-115321-488-Prayer 1.jpg Caption: Attendees gather in small groups to pray at the GBMB's Evangelism Conference at North Metro Baptist Church in Hoschton, Ga., Sunday, Feb. 22. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-164512-67c-Altar 4 copy.jpg Caption: Attendees come to the altar to pray at the GBMB's Evangelism Conference at North Metro Baptist Church in Hoschton, Ga., Sunday, Feb. 22. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-120055-9b2-Frank prays 2.jpg Caption: Frank Cox, senior pastor of North Metro Baptist Church, leads attendees in prayer at the GBMB's Evangelism Conference at North Metro Baptist Church in Hoschton, Ga., Monday, Feb. 23. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-115712-274-Pitman 11.jpg Caption: Bob Pitman preaches during the first day of the GBMB Evangelism Conference at Thomasville FBC, March 1, 2026. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-115715-ec5-Skipper 17.jpg Caption: Levi Skipper, pastor of Sagemont Church in Houston, delivers his message at the GBMB's Evangelism Conference at North Metro Baptist Church in Hoschton, Ga., Monday, Feb. 23. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260224-143134-e51-Crowd arrival.jpg Caption: Attendees arrive at the GBMB's Evangelism Conference at North Metro Baptist Church in Hoschton, Ga., Sunday, Feb. 22. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260304-140003-6dd-Pittman 2.jpg Caption: Attendees honor Bob Pitman with a standing ovation preaches during the first day of the GBMB Evangelism Conference at Thomasville FBC, March 1, 2026. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-120321-dae-Worship 2.jpg Caption: Attendees worship during the Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s Hispanic Evangelism Conference in Fort Valley, Ga., Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-120314-a9e-Choir 4.jpg Caption: A member of the choir worships at the GBMB's Evangelism Conference at North Metro Baptist Church in Hoschton, Ga., Sunday, Feb. 22. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-120316-996-Cosio 5a.jpg Caption: Pastor Alex Cosio of Iglesia Nuevo Horizonte in Woodstock delivers his message during the Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s Hispanic Evangelism Conference in Fort Valley, Ga., Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-120319-f9b-Dawson 11.jpg Caption: Evangelist Scott Dawson preaches during the second day of the GBMB Evangelism Conference at Thomasville FBC, March 2, 2026. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-120311-648-Choir 1.jpg Caption: The choir performs at the GBMB's Evangelism Conference at North Metro Baptist Church in Hoschton, Ga., Sunday, Feb. 22. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-120624-bba-Prayer 3.jpg Caption: A woman prays during the Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s Hispanic Evangelism Conference in Fort Valley, Ga., Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-120629-71c-Turner 10.jpg Caption: Caleb Turner, pastor of Mesquite Friendship Baptist Church in Texas, preaches during the GBMB's Evangelism Conference at North Metro Baptist Church in Hoschton, Ga., Sunday, Feb. 22. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-120627-cc0-Thomas on stage 5.jpg Caption: Georgia Baptist Mission Board Executive Director Thomas Hammond welcomes attendees to the Evangelism Conference at North Metro Baptist Church in Hoschton, Ga., Sunday, Feb. 22. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-120622-97a-Fellowship.jpg Caption: Ovidio Cabrera, right, pastor of Iglesia Bautista Latinoamericana de Savannah, fellowships with other pastors at the Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s Hispanic Evangelism Conference in Fort Valley, Ga., Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-120631-07b-Worship Crowd 1.jpg Caption: Attendees worship during the first day of the GBMB Evangelism Conference at Thomasville FBC, March 1, 2026. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-120633-c1a-Worship Rhon 3.jpg Caption: Rhon Carter, Worship and Music Catalyst for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, sings at the GBMB's Evangelism Conference at North Metro Baptist Church in Hoschton, Ga., Monday, Feb. 23. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-152752-986-Altar 3.jpg Caption: Attendees come to the altar during the GBMB Evangelism Conference at Thomasville FBC, March 2, 2026. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-152755-ee2-Ballard 1.jpg Caption: Paul Ballard, senior pastor of Thomasville FBC, leads a breakout session at the GBMB Evangelism Conference at the church, March 1, 2026. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-152758-164-Dawson 3.jpg Caption: Evangelist Scott Dawson delivers his message at the GBMB's Evangelism Conference at North Metro Baptist Church in Hoschton, Ga., Monday, Feb. 23. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-152800-a52-Jason 2.jpg Caption: Jason Jones, center, the Georgia Baptist Mission Board's Pastor Wellness Catalyst for the Southwest Region, greets attendees at the the GBMB Evangelism Conference at Thomasville FBC, March 1, 2026. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-152803-a18-Luter 20.jpg Caption: Fred “Chip” Luter III preaches during the second day of the GBMB Evangelism Conference at Thomasville FBC, March 2, 2026. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-152806-a79-Steven Wright.jpg Caption: Steven Wright, one of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board's evangelism regional leaders, speaks to attendees on the second day of the GBMB Evangelism Conference at Thomasville FBC, March 2, 2026. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-152809-80d-Thomas 4.jpg Caption: Georgia Baptist Mission Board Executive Director Thomas Hammond leads a breakout session on the second day of the GBMB Evangelism Conference at Thomasville FBC, March 2, 2026. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-152812-fb7-Turner 11a.jpg Caption: Caleb Turner, pastor of Mesquite Friendship Baptist Church in Texas, preaches during the first day of the GBMB Evangelism Conference at Thomasville FBC, March 1, 2026. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-155020-5c6-Worship 1.jpg Caption: Attendees worship during the Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s Hispanic Evangelism Conference in Fort Valley, Ga., Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-155006-a0f-Altar 3 2.jpg Caption: Attendees pray at the altar during the GBMB's Evangelism Conference at North Metro Baptist Church in Hoschton, Ga., Sunday, Feb. 22. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-155010-4db-Bibles 2.jpg Caption: Attendees follow the message in their Bibles during the first day of the GBMB Evangelism Conference at Thomasville FBC, March 1, 2026. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-155013-985-Chip and Scott 3.jpg Caption: Evangelist Scott Dawson, left, and Fred "Chip" Luter III of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, chat prior to speaking at the GBMB Evangelism Conference at Thomasville FBC, March 1, 2026. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-155016-5b9-Marzilli 6.jpg Caption: Sociologist and professor Pablo Marzilli delivers his message during the Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s Hispanic Evangelism Conference in Fort Valley, Ga., Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-155022-2a5-Worship 2 2.jpg Caption: Attendees worship during the second day of the GBMB Evangelism Conference at Thomasville FBC, March 2, 2026. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-155613-d35-Worship choir 7.jpg Caption: Members of the choir sing during the GBMB's Evangelism Conference at North Metro Baptist Church in Hoschton, Ga., Sunday, Feb. 22. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-155617-5b1-Rivera 11.jpg Caption: Pastor Dennis Rivera of First Baptist Church of Fort Valley delivers his message during the Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s Hispanic Evangelism Conference in Fort Valley, Ga., Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-155619-bc4-Hamm 33.jpg Caption: Kevin Hamm, pastor of Gardendale First Baptist Church in Alabama, delivers his message during the GBMB's Evangelism Conference at North Metro Baptist Church in Hoschton, Ga., Sunday, Feb. 22. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-155621-ded-Registration 2.jpg Caption: Attendees register at the Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s Hispanic Evangelism Conference in Fort Valley, Ga., Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-155624-e37-Dawson 5.jpg Caption: Evangelist Scott Dawson preaches during the second day of the GBMB Evangelism Conference at Thomasville FBC, March 2, 2026. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-155628-49b-Altar 2a.jpg Caption: Attendees pray at the altar during the GBMB's Evangelism Conference at North Metro Baptist Church in Hoschton, Ga., Sunday, Feb. 22. (Index/Henry Durand) File: 20260309-155636-dab-NMBCC entrance night.jpg Caption: North Metro Baptist Church in Hoschton hosted the GBMB's Evangelism Conference. (Index/Henry Durand)