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Georgia pastor travels to Texas to reunite with teenagers he mentored 45 years ago, now grown

Town East Baptist Church Youth Ministry Reunion on Sept. 27, 2024.
McCAYSVILLE, Ga. — Dr. David Drake, pastor of First Baptist Church McCaysville/Copperhill, and his wife, Marilyn had a unique way of celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Rather than taking a trip to some exotic place and enjoying life on an extended vacation, they decided to do something special each month during the year of their golden anniversary.
From left, Sarepta Mission Strategist Dr. Lex Bowen and outgoing Moderator Chad Rising, pastor of the Black Creek Baptist Church introduce incoming Moderator Rudy Camp, Pastor of Comer Baptist Church and new Vice-Moderator Matt Bartlett, pastor of Lexington Baptist Church. (Index/Charles Jones)
Sarepta Baptist Association celebrates 225 years of God’s provision, protection, and deliverance
MAYSVILLE, Ga. — The 225th annual meeting of the Sarepta Baptist Association focused on reflection, celebration, and thanksgiving. In many ways the voices heard at the meeting, held Sunday, Oct. 6, at Maysville Baptist Church, must have reflected those who gathered at the Shoal Creek Meeting House in 1799.
Pastor Andrew Mineev as he begins his climb up North America’s highest mountain. (Photo/Courtesy Andrew Mineev)
For one Georgia pastor, climbing Denali turned into a life-threatening ordeal
Denali, also referred to as Mount McKinley, is the tallest mountain in North America. Its majestic peak reaches 20,310 feet above sea level. It is in south-central Alaska about 130 miles north-northwest of Anchorage. Many climbers have stated that reaching the peak of Denali is much more technical and difficult than climbing Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world.
Valdosta State University BCM student Alessio Williams, right, helps a Disaster Relief volunteer from Kentucky carry a container of hot food at Northside Baptist Church in Valdosta, Ga., Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. (Index/Henry Durand)
Georgia BCM students join Helene relief efforts
VALDOSTA, Ga. — In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers, supported by teams from other states, spread through the affected area. In some cases, they were joined by local college students from Georgia Baptist Collegiate Ministries.
Jeff and Sandra Parmer. (Photo/First Baptist Church, Reynolds)
Hurricane Helene made for a stormy transition for new Ogeechee River Baptist Association AMS Jeff Parmer
“Well, I didn’t have that on my bingo card,” has been Jeff Parmer’s reply when asked about his first week as associational missionary for Ogeechee River Baptist Association. After a lifetime of serving in pastoral positions in churches across Georgia, Parmer’s first day in his new role was Monday, Sept. 23. Three days later, Hurricane Helene roared across the South, leaving a trail of death and destruction that encompassed the counties comprising the ORBA – Bulloch, Bryan, and Candler.
An aerial view of Tropicana Field's shredded roof in downtown St. Petersburg, Fla., in the wake of Hurricane Milton early Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024.  (Max Chesnes/Tampa Bay Times via AP)
Hurricane Milton plows across Florida, pounding cities and whipping up tornadoes
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Hurricane Milton barreled into the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday after plowing across Florida, where it knocked out power to more than 3 million customers and whipped up a barrage of tornadoes. The storm caused at least four deaths and compounded the misery wrought by Helene while sparing Tampa a direct hit.
Baptist Life

Resolutions may now be submitted for the 202nd Georgia Baptist Convention

Messengers vote during the annual meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention in November 2022. (Index/Henry Durand, File)
This year, Georgia Baptists will celebrate the 202nd anniversary of the Georgia Baptist Convention. The theme of the annual meeting will be “Answering the Call.” It will be held at First Baptist Church, Statesboro, on Sunday, Nov. 10 through Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024.
NASHVILLE (BP) — Hurricane Katrina’s destruction in 2005 to New Orleans and surrounding areas prompted a yearslong response by Southern Baptist churches and Disaster Relief personnel, with volunteer recruitment for the latter spiking up to 80,000.
TAMPA, Fla. — “Everything utterly destroyed–furniture, seats, resources.” That’s how Pastor Rafael Sanchez described the newly renovated church building of Tampa’s Iglesia Bautista Bethel, flooded with more than two feet of water after Hurricane Milton unleashed its fury Oct. 9.
THOMASVILLE, N.C. — After a yearlong search, the Baptist Children’s Homes (BCH) of North Carolina has a new leader for the first time in 40 years. David Melber, a veteran executive leader in Southern Baptist life, was named BCH’s next CEO following a unanimous vote by the organization’s board of trustees during a special meeting held Friday, Oct. 11.
CLEVELAND, Ga. — On Thursday, October 10, Truett McConnell University students gathered in the Student Wellness Center for a job fair hosted by the Rielin and Salmen School of Nursing. Representatives came from a variety of hospitals and medical centers, including:
Georgia
A man looks out the front door of his home after a Cessna crashed in the front yard in Savannah, Ga., Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News via AP)

Pilot killed and passenger injured as small plane crashes in Georgia neighborhood

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — One person died as a result of a small plane crash Sunday night in a Savannah, Georgia, residential neighborhood, local police said.

Teacher of the Year joining Georgia Department of Education

ATLANTA – Georgia’s 2024 Teacher of the Year is joining the state Department of Education to boost the agency’s teacher recruitment and retention efforts.

Helene damage to Georgia farms estimated at $6.46 billion

ATLANTA – Hurricane Helene caused at least $6.46 billion in losses to Georgia farmers, according to preliminary estimates released Thursday by the University of Georgia College of Agriculture & Environmental Science.

Man who entered U.S. illegally and is charged in the killing of a Georgia nursing student faces hearing

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — The man accused of killing a nursing student whose body was found on the University of Georgia campus is due in court Friday for a motions hearing ahead of his scheduled trial next month. Jose Ibarra, who entered the U.S. illegally, is charged with murder and other crimes in the February killing of Laken Hope Riley.
Nation
A fly fisherman paddles on a pond as fall foliage begins to show color in Campton, N.H., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones)

Leaf-peepers are flocking to see New England's brilliant fall colors

MEREDITH, N.H. (AP) — New England leaf-watching season is in full swing, as people from as far as Florida and Berlin flock to the region for scenic drives, train rides and bus tours to soak in the splendid hues of red, orange and bronze. With quaint towns and covered bridges scattered through swaths of changing forest, the rural Northeast provides an ideal setting to view nature's annual show.

Volunteers bring solar power to Hurricane Helene's disaster zone

BAKERSVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Nearly two weeks after Hurricane Helene downed power lines and washed out roads all over North Carolina's mountains, the constant din of a gas-powered generator is getting to be too much for Bobby Renfro.

Determination to rebuild follows Florida's hurricanes with acceptance that storms will come again

VENICE, Fla. (AP) — No sooner had residents of the Bahia Vista Gulf condominium complex dug out and from Hurricane Helene than they were faced with the same daunting cleanup from new damage inflicted by Hurricane Milton.

In an engineering feat, mechanical SpaceX arms catch Starship rocket booster back at the launch pad

SpaceX pulled off its boldest test flight yet of the enormous Starship rocket on Sunday, catching the returning booster back at the launch pad with mechanical arms.
World
Aerial view of waste stuck at the dam on the Neretva river caused by landslides, torrential rain and flash floods in Grabovica, Bosnia, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

Death toll in Bosnia's floods reaches 26, with at least 1 person still missing 10 days after storm

SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — The death toll from this month's devastating floods and landslides in Bosnia has reached 26 people while rescue teams are searching for at least one more person still missing some 10 days after a rainstorm caused havoc in the Balkan country, authorities said on Monday.

China deploys record 125 warplanes in large scale military drill in warning to Taiwan

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — China employed a record 125 aircraft, as well as its Liaoning aircraft carrier and ships, in large-scale military exercises surrounding Taiwan and its outlying islands Monday, simulating the sealing off of key ports in a move that underscores the tense situation in the Taiwan Strait, officials said.

Nobel economics prize goes to 3 economists who found that freer societies are more likely to prosper

STOCKHOLM (AP) — The Nobel memorial prize in economics was awarded Monday to three economists who have studied why some countries are rich and others poor and have documented that freer, open societies are more likely to prosper.

Pakistan hosts a major security meeting this week as it struggles against rising insurgent violence

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan is hosting a major security meeting this week, with senior leaders from longtime ally China and archrival India among those attending.
Perspectives
Much has been written and said about Dikembe Mutombo since his untimely death on Sept. 30, 2024. To me he always seemed larger than life, and although he valiantly fought a maleficent brain cancer, he succumbed to the disease at the all too early age of 58.
When I graduated from high school, I received a gift from a family in our church with the following note. “Hope you can use this throughout your whole life.” I have. Over 40 years later, I still use that gift almost weekly. The gift? The Random House College Dictionary. (I know, I’m a luddite, still using a real, hard-cover dictionary.)
Often I feel led to do or to write something that proves most appropriate and even fruitful. Recently, I came to realize how often I do things unaware that it is the result of the Holy Spirit’s leadership. I have even come to depend on His guidance in many of the things I do.
Not long ago I officiated a wedding ceremony that followed the predictable theme of faithfulness. I, groom, take you bride, to be my wedded wife. I promise to love you, comfort you, honor and keep you, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, and forsaking all others, be faithful only to you so long as we both shall live. Soon, the bride pledged the same loyalty to her new husband.
 Once upon a time, the renowned 18th Century English preacher George Whitfield was getting the people of Edinburgh, Scotland out of bed at 5:00 am to come hear him speak. On one occasion, a man on his way to a service was surprised when he met up with David Hume, the Scottish philosopher and skeptic.
Business
FILE - A Walgreens store in Bradenton, Fla., is shown on Feb. 9, 2024.  (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Walgreens to close 1,200 stores as US pharmacies struggle to define a new role

Walgreens is planning to close around 1,200 locations, as the drugstore chain and its rivals struggle to define their role for U.S. shoppers who no longer look to them first for convenience.

Troubled Boeing signals it may raise up to $25 billion to shore up finances

Boeing signaled Tuesday that it could raise up to $25 billion in new stock or debt to shore up its balance sheet after years of heavy losses.

USDA launches an internal investigation into the deadly Boar's Head outbreak

U.S. Agriculture Department officials have launched an internal investigation into how the agency handled reports of serious problems at a Boar's Head deli meat plant tied to a deadly listeria outbreak, a lawmaker said Tuesday.

How the tiny Caribbean island of Anguilla has turned the AI boom into a digital gold mine

The artificial intelligence boom has benefited chatbot makers, computer scientists and Nvidia investors. It's also providing an unusual windfall for Anguilla, a tiny island in the Caribbean.

Social Security recipients will get a 2.5% cost-of-living boost in 2025, smaller than in recent past

WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of Social Security recipients will get a 2.5% cost-of-living increase to their monthly checks beginning in January, the Social Security Administration announced Thursday. The cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, for retirees translates to an average increase of more than $50 for retirees every month, agency officials said.
Sports
Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith (11) catches the ball during an NCAA college football game against Mississippi State, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Beck passes for 459 yards and 3 TDs as No. 5 Georgia holds off Van Buren, Mississippi State 41-31

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Carson Beck passed for a career-high 459 yards and three touchdowns and No. 5 Georgia withstood Mississippi State's second-half comeback bid for a 41-31 win Saturday.

Braves hitting coach Kevin Seitzer and 2 other coaches won't return to Brian Snitker's 2025 staff

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves are making changes to manager Brian Snitker's coaching staff following the team's quick exit from their NL Wild Card Series by informing hitting coach Kevin Seitzer and two other coaches they won't return.

Coach Smart focused on ‘pride’ as No. 5 Georgia prepares for SEC test vs underdog Mississippi State

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Kirby Smart doesn't believe he needs to use last week's shocking wave of upset losses by four highly ranked AP Top 25 teams as motivation for No. 5 Georgia in Saturday's visit from underdog Mississippi State.

Georgia university leaders ask NCAA to ban transgender women from sports

ATLANTA (AP) — The regents who govern Georgia's 26 public universities and colleges voted on Tuesday to ask the NCAA and another college athletic federation to ban transgender women from participating in women's sports.