October 20, 2026
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Deaf Day equips churches to reach Deaf people with the gospel

Barb Coffan, right, interprets as Pastor Mac McCurry prays during the Deaf Day event held at Pleasant Valley North Baptist Church in Rome, Ga., Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Index/Henry Durand)
ROME, Ga. — Dana Tarter summed up one of the challenges churches face in reaching Deaf people with the gospel in three words. “Access is key,” she said. “If you don’t have access to the information, it doesn’t matter what information you’re trying to share, you’re missing it.”
Trending stories
Students pray at the altar on the last day of Confluence, Oct. 11, 2026. (Index/Henry Durand)
Confluence students answer calls to faith, ministry, and mission
MCDONOUGH, Ga. — The Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s annual collegiate gathering, Confluence, led to at least 22 professions of faith, 118 responses to a call to ministry, and 651 other decisions or commitments. 
Members worship in Transformation Church's newly renovated sanctuary. (Photo/Transformation Church)
Transformation Church embraces Great Commission in Lula
LULA, Ga. — Transformation Church in Lula is very much akin to the New Testament church because, in many ways, it reflects the spirit of the church described in Acts 2:44-47. It is not a large church, and it is not a wealthy church, but the people are excited about their faith, seeking to meet the needs of their community, and welcoming everyone to be a part of their family.
Evangelist Doug Elks. (Photo/Festival of Hope, Frank Simme)
Monroe Festival of Hope sees 96 professions of faith
MONROE, Ga. — Rain fell on the opening night of the Festival of Hope at American Legion Post 64 Fairgrounds, but the four-night evangelistic event continued and resulted in 96 professions of faith.
Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers gather outside a trailer in Florida. (Photo/GBDR)
Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief deploys to Florida after Hurricane Isaias
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — About 50 Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers are working in the Florida Panhandle after Hurricane Isaias brought destructive winds, flooding, and widespread damage to the region.
Members, families, and friends gather at the groundbreaking for a 2,400-seat worship center. (Photo/Burnt Hickory Baptist Church)
Burnt Hickory breaks ground on 2,400-seat worship center
POWDER SPRINGS, Ga. — Burnt Hickory Baptist Church broke ground Sunday, Oct. 11, on a 2,400-seat worship center as part of its “All In” initiative, a project church leaders say will provide needed space for a congregation that is already holding five Sunday morning worship services in two auditoriums.
Baptist Life

Evangelism conference to equip Georgia Baptists with practical tools for reaching the lost

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Georgia Baptists will be encouraged and equipped to maximize their evangelism efforts during a one-day conference on Monday, Nov. 9, at Second Baptist Church in Warner Robins, just before the Georgia Baptist Convention Annual Meeting.

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Emanuel University Rector Paul Negrut speaks as Evangelist Sammy Tippit and Emanuel University students listen. (Photo/via Baptist Press)
ORADEA, Romania – The Sammy Tippit Center for Christianity Under Persecution launched Oct. 6 at Emanuel University in Oradea, the only government-accredited conservative Baptist university in Europe.
The Dallas skyline. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
DALLAS (BP) – Move over Wall Street. Y’all Street, Dallas’s affectionately nicknamed financial services corridor, is becoming America’s new financial hub – and Southern Baptists stand to benefit.
The Supreme Court. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
WASHINGTON (BP) – An Ohio man says his local city government violated his rights when it wouldn’t allow him to hold a prayer gathering in his home. The City of University Heights has been working to dismiss Daniel Grand’s case. The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments in early December.
Bible study illustration. (Index/Krista Durand)
f I were to meet you on the street and ask, “Who are you?” how would you respond? If you chose to oblige me, you would share your name. However, your name is not who you are. I could continue by asking you about your shoe size, your place of employment, your church membership, your preferred grocery store, and even your favorite color.
Georgia

Georgia tax collections continued growing in September

ATLANTA — Net Georgia tax collections in September rose 2.3% over the same month last year, continuing gains recorded in recent months. Net collections for the month totaled $3.34 billion, up $76.7 million.

Attractions are seen at Six Flags Over Georgia, about 15 miles (24 kilometers) northwest of Atlanta, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, in Mableton. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Georgia amusement park to reopen as scheduled days after roller coaster death

ATLANTA (AP) — Six Flags Over Georgia is set to open its gates Friday for the first time since a man fell to his death from one of the amusement park's towering roller coasters.
This combination of photos from 2017 to 2022 shows the logos of Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat on mobile devices. (AP Photo, File)

Court lifts block on Georgia law that restricts children’s access to social media

ATLANTA — Georgia can enforce a 2024 state law that seeks to limit social media companies’ access to children under a new ruling by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The Protecting Georgia’s Children on Social Media Act passed the General Assembly with broad bipartisan support, but an organization representing online platforms sued and secured a preliminary injunction last year.
The Nathan Deal Judicial Center, which houses the Georgia Supreme Court, in Atlanta on Dec. 10, 2025. (Index/Henry Durand, File)

Georgia Supreme Court ruling could shift more fire costs to property taxpayers

ATLANTA — In a ruling with potentially far-reaching consequences for homeowners and businesses, the Georgia Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down a fire service fee levied by Chatham County.

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Nation
President Donald Trump holds up a signed executive order alongside first lady Melania Trump at an event about women's health Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump signs an order aimed at boosting women's health research, a plan backed by the first lady

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Monday directed the federal government to bolster federal research into women's health through all stages of their lives, a move pushed by his wife, first lady Melania Trump.

People leave a family meeting area following a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, in Bend, Ore. (AP Photo/Joe Kline)

Teen shooter kills 4 at Oregon elementary school before being shot by a witness

A 16-year-old shot his way through locked doors to get into an elementary school in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday, killing three children and a teacher. He was then shot by a person at the scene who followed him inside, authorities said.
The FBI seal is pictured in Omaha, Neb., Aug. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)

Authorities investigate letters with 'suspicious substances' sent to congressional, election offices

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal authorities are investigating letters with “suspicious substances” that have been mailed to congressional and election offices nationwide and are urging recipients to treat the mailings as “potentially hazardous.”
Homeland Security officers carry boxes from the Washington residence of Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., Monday, Oct. 12, 2026, during a search. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Rep. Ilhan Omar's phone seized and relatives subpoenaed in criminal probe, AP source says

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal authorities investigating Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar seized the Democratic lawmaker's phone and have issued more than a dozen grand jury subpoenas, including to some of her relatives, according to a person briefed on the probe.

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World
Supporters wait for results at the pro-Canada watch party in Edmonton, Alberta Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. (James Maclennan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Alberta rejects a move toward independence from Canada

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Voters in Canada’s oil-rich Alberta province overwhelmingly backed remaining in Canada. With more than 1.5 million votes counted, 76% supported remaining in Canada, while close to 24% backed beginning a process toward separation, according to unofficial results from Elections Alberta.

South Korea's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Park Doosoon speaks during a briefing at the Foreign Ministry in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. (Ahn Jung-won/Yonhap via AP)

South Korea to withdraw some embassy staff from Ukraine as row over POW transfer deepens

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea said Tuesday it will withdraw some staff from its embassy in Kyiv, deepening a diplomatic row over Ukraine's announcement last month of a transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war that Seoul says was meant to be secret.
An H3 rocket lifts off from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima prefecture, southern Japan, Tuesday Oct. 20, 2026. (Naoki Hiraoka/Kyodo News via AP)

Japan launches spacecraft to mysterious moons of Mars in a bold mission to bring home soil samples

A Japanese spacecraft rocketed toward Mars on Tuesday on a quest to explore its mysterious moons and bring back samples. Five of the world’s space agencies joined forces for the five-year mission that will attempt to land a robotic prospector plus a rover on Phobos, the larger and closer of Mars’ two pint-sized moons.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets Norway's King Haakon in Oslo, Norway, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. (Ole Berg-Rusten/NTB Scanpix via AP)

Russian aerial blitz kills 9 in Ukraine as Zelenskyy meets US and European officials in Norway

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia unleashed another missile and drone blitz of civilian areas in Ukraine, killing at least nine people, officials said Tuesday, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy scrambled to ensure more American and European help during his visit to Norway.

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Perspectives
Todd Gray
Tech leader Bill Gates is often quoted as saying, “Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in 10 years.” The same could be said about five-year goals.  
PJ Dunn
Oh, look! Another artificial intelligence-generated church logo, promotional graphic, or meme. It looks clean — sort of. And anyone can type a few words and suddenly become a graphic artist. Think of how much time and money churches can save by using AI to create all the images they need.
John Spencer
I am the middle child in my family. I have two sisters on either end. The great thing about being the only boy was I usually had my own room growing up. The only drawback was that I also had the extra bed in my room. That meant when family came to stay with us, they bunked with me.
Steve Foster
A church can offer evangelism training, host outreach events, and run community ministries without ever developing an evangelistic culture. Programs fill a calendar. Culture shapes a people. The difference matters.
Ralph Fudge
C.S. Lewis called pride the utmost evil (Mere Christianity). He said pride leads to every other vice and is the complete anti-God state of mind. Pride has been the chief cause of so much misery in every nation and family since the great “fall” of man.

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Business
A tugboat pushes a container ship to a port in Yantai, eastern China's Shandong province on Oct. 14, 2026. (Chinatopix via AP)

China's economy accelerated in the July-September quarter on robust exports

HONG KONG (AP) — China said Monday its economy grew 4.5% in the July-September quarter from a year ago, fueled by robust exports, moving closer to meeting its official annual growth target for the year as trading partners seek to balance their trade deficits with the country.

The Social Security Administration office is seen in Mount Prospect, Ill., Oct. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)

Social Security recipients to get 3.6% cost of living boost, an average of $75 per month

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Social Security Administration projected Wednesday that the annual cost-of-living adjustment for older adults and people with disabilities will go up by 3.6% beginning in 2027, with some recipients complaining that is not enough to offset soaring prices.
(Photo/NOBTS)

New Orleans Seminary partners with The Worship Initiative and SBC Worship for night of worship celebrating Center for Worship Studies

NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary hosted a worship night Oct. 6 in partnership with The Worship Initiative and SBC Worship. The event was held in celebration of the ribbon-cutting for the seminary's new Center for Worship Studies, which took place earlier in the day.  
The U.S. Department of Agriculture seal is seen on a podium during a news conference in Washington on July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

More than 160,000 pounds of meat bearing false USDA inspection labels recalled

NEW YORK (AP) — More than 83 tons of meat are being recalled across the U.S. because the products were not properly inspected by federal authorities and were shipped out with falsified inspection stickers, the Department of Agriculture said.
A hiring sign is displayed at a grocery store, in Schaumburg, Ill., Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Claims for unemployment benefits drop to 197,000, the lowest since mid-July as layoffs remain rare

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fewer people applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, as U.S. jobless claims remain at historically low levels and most Americans enjoy job security.

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Sports
Tampa Bay Rays' Junior Caminero celebrates their win iver the Cleveland Guardians to clinch the American League Championship Series in St. Petersburg, Fla., Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Díaz, Caminero and Peralta lead Rays to 7-3 win over Guardians and a trip to the World Series

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Yandy Díaz's bat backed up his boast, and the Tampa Bay Rays are headed to the World Series again. Díaz and Junior Caminero each hit a two-run homer, Freddy Peralta pitched 5 1/3 gritty innings, and the Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series on Monday night to win their third pennant in 29 seasons as a major league franchise.

Atlanta Falcons linebacker Kendal Daniels is taken off the field after being injured during the second half in Atlanta, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Falcons linebacker Kendal Daniels carted off on stretcher after third-quarter tackle

ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Falcons rookie linebacker Kendal Daniels was injured and left the field on a stretcher in the third quarter of Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears. The Falcons said that Daniels was alert and had movement in all his extremities and was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital for further evaluation. He was seen after the game in the locker room walking under his own power.
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams throws a pass in the first half against the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Caleb Williams completes first 12 passes in return after missing 3 games as Bears top Falcons 31-23

ATLANTA (AP) — Caleb Williams had been “itching” on the sideline while missing three straight games. Finally cleared to play, Williams performed as if determined to make up for lost time. Williams completed his first 12 passes in his return from a hamstring injury, D'Andre Swift ran for two touchdowns, and the Chicago Bears beat the Atlanta Falcons 31-23 on Sunday.
Miami running back Javian Mallory (21) celebrates with offensive lineman Ben Congdon after scoring a touchdown during the second half against Florida State, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami takes No. 1 in the latest AP Top 25 after a week of upsets

Miami is No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 for the first time since 2002, No. 2 BYU has its highest ranking since its 1984 national championship season, and Notre Dame and Georgia stayed in the top five Sunday after both lost close games.

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