BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. — Ask an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker heading north in the spring, “Where are you headed?” They will invariably answer with a grin, “Katahdin!” The mountain is the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.

ANDERSONVILLE, Ga. — For the past 32 years, Mack and Bebe Herrington have been faithful to what God has asked them to do and have found love for people they never expected to meet.

A key focus of missions leadership training with the Georgia Baptist Mission Board is casting a vision in local churches to build long-term pipelines missions involvement. The goal is to engage people of all ages in gospel work, both locally and around the world, and create an atmosphere where responding to God's call feels natural and expected. That means intentionally offering invitations and opportunities to respond to that call.

BUFORD, Ga. — Buzzers and beeps. Flashing lights. Bells and whistles. Along with shouted encouragement and peals of laughter, these were the sights and sounds of ministry taking place at the Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s ReCharge Couples Retreat at Lake Lanier’s Legacy Lodge on Oct. 2–4.

BUFORD, Ga. — Buzzers and beeps. Flashing lights. Bells and whistles. Along with shouted encouragement and peals of laughter, these were the sights and sounds of ministry taking place at the Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s ReCharge Couples Retreat at Lake Lanier’s Legacy Lodge on Oct. 2–4.

SAUTEE NACHOOCHEE, Ga. — If you happen to stop by the Old Sautee Store, near Helen, Georgia, on any given Friday or Saturday, you will be greeted by the stoic faces of two wooden cigar store Indians. You might also see the friendly face of Bill Coen, the retired minister of music from First Baptist Statesboro.

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.

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — What some might call an “invasion,” Lakeside Baptist Church Pastor Tim Oliver sees as a blessing. Every Monday, Oliver and his wife, Peggy, open their home to students from nearby Georgia College and State University, offering a meal and a Bible study.

CONYERS, Ga. — Music filled the air to mark the celebration at Rockdale Baptist Church on Sunday, Aug. 10.  The church honored Karen Tanner, the church’s pianist, and Martha Hyde, the church’s organist, for more than 50 years of continuous service in the music ministry at the church.

CLAYTON, Ga. — In her first year as camp director, Allison Harvey led Camp Pinnacle through a summer of life-changing decisions for Christ. Eighteen campers made professions of faith, nine sensed a call to missions, and three expressed a desire to return in the future as cabin leaders.

FORSYTH, Ga. — For 13-year-old Bryleigh Freston, who is hearing-impaired, her first Christian camp was more than just a week outdoors. At Camp Kaleo in Forsyth this July, she found new friends, thrilling wilderness adventures, and a welcoming place to grow in her faith.

CARTERSVILLE, Ga. — When a church steps out of the ordinary and decides to do something unconventional or unusual, if bathed in prayer, effectively planned, and carefully implemented, it can lead to a grand and glorious success.

LAGRANGE, Ga. — Coming home from the mission field can be difficult and stressful for missionaries. But Rosemont Church in Lagrange is trying to make that a little easier.

SPRINGFIELD, Ga. — For the second year in a row, graduating seniors of Effingham County left graduation rehearsal with breakfast and the word of God, thanks to the faithfulness and collaborative effort of local Georgia Baptist churches.

HAMPTON, Ga. — More than 40,000 NASCAR fans flood EchoPark Speedway in Hampton for two events each year, and there is not a place they can go on site without interacting with Raceway Ministries Atlanta.

LEXINGTON, Ga. — Small churches occupy a significant place in American history, and their value is still noteworthy today. Southern Baptist statistics reveal that 43% of the churches in the SBC have fewer than 50 people in their weekly worship service. Small churches have given great preachers their start, much older pastors a place to serve in the sunset years of their lives, and bi-vocational pastors the opportunity to fulfill their divine calling.

ROME, Ga. — Each summer, students and leaders gather at Shorter University in Rome to make a joyful noise at the Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s SURGE music camp. For some leaders, their involvement has come full circle. Once students themselves, they now strive to impact the next generation of musicians.

BRUNSWICK, Ga. — Slade Johnson, Associational Mission Strategist for the Golden Isles Baptist Network, has a rich and fascinating heritage. His great-grandfather was Reuben Archer Torrey (better known as R. A. Torrey), born in 1856 and died on October 26, 1928.

SYCAMORE, Ga. — In a town of just over 700 people, the legacy of one Georgia Baptist family is spreading the gospel far beyond its borders. From the red clay fields of Turner County to mission fields across the globe, the impact of Gene and Myrl Pirkle and their descendants is a testimony to faith, hard work, and generational discipleship.

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.

ROME, Ga. — Pianist Jerico Vasquez will present a faculty recital on Monday, Oct. 28, at 7:30 pm in Brookes Chapel at Shorter University. The event is open to the public at no charge. This recital also celebrates the rededication of the newly rebuilt Steinway Concert Grand.

Summer may be over, but the impact of Vacation Bible Schools held at Georgia Baptist churches will carry far into the future. Krista Staton, the Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s kids ministry consultant, reports that this year more than 1,400 children made commitments to Christ at churches large and small across the state.

ROME, Ga. — Close to 50 football players on the team at Shorter University made decisions for Christ this year before the season started, and 17 followed through with believer’s baptism. Zach Morrison, in his seventh year as head coach, described what happened after players arrived at the school in early August for preseason training and conditioning camp.

MAYSVILLE, Ga. — Maysville Baptist Church is a thriving fellowship of believers with two morning worship services that are characterized by many contagiously joyful Christians who believe in going into the highways and hedges with the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.

LAKE PARK, Ga. —  Eldridge Lyons, 86, is in his 46th year as pastor of Francis Lake Baptist Church in Lake Park. Throughout his ministry at Francis Lake, Lyons has been able to utilize the gifts and expertise of his membership to make the church a strong, united fellowship. Several months ago, Colby Davis, one of the children, prayed such a meaningful prayer that Lyons started calling him “the pastor’s assistant.”