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Fred Anderson balances pastoral calling with run for public office

Fred Anderson. (Photo/Fred Anderson for Wayne County Commissioner District 4)
BAXLEY, Ga. — After more than 30 years serving Georgia Baptist churches, Fred Anderson is seeking a seat on the Wayne County Commission. The pastor of First Baptist Church Baxley is seeking the District 4 seat against Democrat Harold Michael Stewart Sr. in Tuesday’s general election.
(Photo/Charlie Mayberry, Dahlonega BC)
Dahlonega Baptist sees growth through relationships, discipleship
DAHLONEGA, Ga. — There is something in the DNA of Dahlonega Baptist Church, the church on the hill overlooking downtown Dahlonega. “It’s a phenomenal church to be at,” Senior Pastor Charlie Mayberry said of the 186-year-old church. “If you come here, you're going to get loved on, and you're going to be welcomed, and we're going to treat you like family. We're going to go out of our way to connect with you.”
Lynn Brooks, center, and Chelsea Harrison, right, pray with a young lady during a missions trip. (Photo/courtesy Brandon Furr)
Warrenton families discover the impact of serving on mission together
WARRENTON, Ga. — Brandon Furr, pastor of First Baptist Church in Warrenton, became convinced that one of the best ways to cultivate a Christian family is for parents and children to serve together on mission locally, nationally, and internationally.
A Pakistani Christian man reads his Bible during a Sunday morning worship service at church in a South Asian village. (Photo/IMB)
Translating the Bible is only the first step
Bible translation has made remarkable progress around the world, but a new report says the work of getting God’s Word to people does not end when the translation is finished.
(Photo/Everett Huffman)
At 21, Ryland Hughes leads Pleasant Hill Baptist through season of growth
CORNELIA, Ga. — Ryland Hughes is a busy man these days. He’s a construction worker, a university student, a husband to his wife, Kassidee, and, since January, pastor of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Cornelia, where he is seeing substantial growth. He gives all the glory to God.
Ray Rhodes, left, and David Bunce are making the transition at Grace Community Church work well. (Photo/Grace Community Church)
Rhodes passes the baton to Bunce at Grace Community Church
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Grace Community Church is in the midst of a months-long pastoral transition in which founding pastor Ray Rhodes and his successor, David Bunce, are serving alongside one another before Rhodes steps away from the pastorate.
Baptist Life

Jordan, Clark share ministry during North Henry Baptist transition

Josh Clark preaches at North Henry Baptist Church. (Photo/North Henry Baptist Church)
STOCKBRIDGE, Ga. — North Henry Baptist Church is nearing the completion of a gradual pastoral transition that has allowed longtime pastor Stan Jordan and his successor, Josh Clark, to serve alongside one another for nearly a year.
NASHVILLE (BP) – Changes are afoot in the church insurance world, and some congregations have borne the brunt.
A Christian teacher dismissed for giving pro-life, pro-Israel answers to student-posed questions will face an employment tribunal in February in the United Kingdom.
DRAPER, Utah (BP) – Voters in several states will decide whether to expand abortion rights as they go to the polls this election season. Ministry and policy leaders say voters should be well informed when they cast their ballots.
RICHMOND, Va. — A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments Tuesday, Oct. 27, in Chatham County’s appeal of a federal court order that bars it from denying The Summit Church’s request to rezone land for a new church campus.
Georgia

Georgia Department of Public Safety now able to accept digital driver's license and ID

ATLANTA — The Georgia Department of Public Safety announced Oct. 30 that motorists now have the option to present a state-issued digital driver’s license or identification card to its Georgia State Patrol Troopers, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officers, and Capitol Police Officers during traffic stops and other interactions, such as crash investigations, across Georgia.

Kemp says Audi plant delivers on pledge to grow jobs in rural Georgia

ATLANTA — German automaker Audi’s decision to locate its first U.S. plant in Georgia was a trifecta for Gov. Brian Kemp, who sees it as a major part of his legacy as he prepares to leave office.

Georgia ACT scores decrease

ATLANTA — Georgia’s class of 2026 scored lower on the ACT than the class of 2025, but they still beat the national average. Georgia’s 2026 graduates who took the college admissions test after their freshman year earned an average composite score of 20.9, down half a point from the score of the prior year’s graduates.

Trump, Obama to campaign in Georgia

ATLANTA — Two high-profile partisans will visit Georgia over the next week to promote their parties’ candidates ahead of Election Day on Nov. 3. On Saturday night, President Donald Trump will return to the Peach State for a rally in Perry. The visit, his third to promote statewide Republican candidates in Georgia this year, will come soon after his visit to Dalton last week and three months after his visit to Cobb County in July.
Nation
Virginia Senate President pro tempore Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, listens to debate on the Senate floor, Feb. 17, 2026, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Ryan M. Kelly, File)

Powerful Democratic Virginia state Sen. Lucas is accused of leading a marijuana criminal conspiracy

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Virginia state Sen. L. Louise Lucas, one of the state’s most powerful Democrats, was charged on Thursday in connection with what federal authorities alleged was a role leading a wide-ranging criminal enterprise that acquired and distributed large quantities of marijuana and laundered the proceeds.

A chemical tank explodes in Ohio, forcing evacuations and prompting fears of another blast

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — A chemical tank explosion in Toledo, Ohio, forced hundreds of residents to evacuate their homes and others to stay indoors Wednesday due to fears of a toxic release and the possibility of another explosion.

LifeWise Academy secures Washington public school access to off-site Bible study

EVERETT, Wash. (BP) – LifeWise Academy has secured the right to operate its off-site Bible-based character development program in Everett, Wash., and garnered a public apology for being falsely accused of favoring white supremacy and a “fascist theocracy.”

Guatemalan man gets 30 years for role in smuggling tragedy that killed 53 people in Texas

A federal judge on Tuesday sentenced a Guatemalan man extradited to the U.S. over his role in a 2022 human smuggling attempt that ended in the deaths of 53 migrants who had been transported in a sweltering tractor-trailer in Texas.
World
A representative of the Nova Kakhovka administration walks past an unexploded Russian FPV drone during a localized ceasefire linked to a humanitarian aid mission to Oleshky, in the village of Kozatske, Kherson region, Ukraine, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Russia bombs aid center and shelter in southern Ukraine, killing 24, authorities say

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia bombed an aid distribution center and neighboring shelter in southern Ukraine on Monday, killing 24 people, Ukraine's emergency services agency said.

Karl Bushby completes 28-year, 31,000-mile walk around world and returns to mother’s house

HULL, England (AP) — Karl Bushby embraced his weeping mother in his arms Monday as he returned to his northern England home to complete a 28-year odyssey to walk around the world. “Where have you been?” his mother, Angela, asked as he arrived outside the home he left in 1998 that was now decked with a banner saying “Welcome Home Son.”

French authorities ban some student protests after weekend looting and clashes

PARIS (AP) — Protests planned in several French cities for Thursday were banned, with more bans expected in the coming days after a weekend of clashes and widespread looting marked France’s most violent unrest in years. French President Emmanuel Macron said the measures aim to protect city centers, businesses and public buildings.

Iran says 7 oil tankers were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Seven oil tankers caught fire or were damaged in the Strait of Hormuz overnight after being hit by Iran or striking naval mines, Tehran said Thursday.
Perspectives
 Life as a Christian carries with it many benefits. First and foremost, our sins have been forgiven as a result of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Not only does that provide eternal life in heaven, but the potential for an abundant life here on earth.
Man is inherently sinful. Ever since the Garden of Eden, every person on earth has been, by God’s standard, desperately wicked, with one exception: Jesus of Nazareth. We are every one of us sinful because we have inherited a sin nature from Adam.
We have been through the Jordan. When it was at flood stage. On dry ground. We have marched around Jericho. Seen the walls fall at the greatness of God’s Hand. We have seen the sun stand still because he asked God to do it.
In the previous article, we defined what boldness is and said that prayer, God’s presence, God’s power, and our preparation help us become bold in evangelism. In this article, we’ll cover the last four P’s.
We’ve heard the commandment—go and make disciples of all nations. We know the gospel, but we’re too scared to share it. We sense the Holy Spirit’s prompting but rationalize disobedience by promising ourselves that “we’ll share next time.” So what do we do about this fear? How do we grow in boldness?
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.

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.

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.

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.

Major tire company to expand in northwest Georgia

ATLANTA — A global leader in tire production will invest $1.2 billion to expand in Georgia, bringing 1,000 jobs by 2033, according to Gov. Brian Kemp’s office.
Sports
Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson warms up during the team's batting practice ahead of Game 4 of a National League Division Series game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, on Oct. 7, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)

Christian Walker, Matt Olson win 4th Gold Gloves and Wilyer Abreu gets his 3rd

ST. LOUIS (AP) — First basemen Christian Walker of Houston and Matt Olson of Atlanta won their fourth Gold Gloves on Sunday, while Boston right fielder Wilyer Abreu won the fielding honor for the third year in a row.

Falcons' Michael Penix Jr. vows to bounce back from worst performance of his young career

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Michael Penix Jr. couldn't recall ever playing so poorly. And it especially stung that the worst performance of the young Atlanta quarterback's career came during a homecoming of sorts against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

Atlanta United eliminates Toronto FC from playoff contention with 3-1 victory

ATLANTA (AP) — Miguel Almiron and Alexey Miranchuk each had a goal and an assist, Cooper Sanchez also scored, and Atlanta United beat Toronto FC 3-1 on Sunday. Atlanta (9-18-6) ended a six-game winless run at home.

Buccaneers beat Falcons 16-0 despite failing to complete a single pass in wet, sloppy conditions

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Baker Mayfield threw more downfield blocks than he had completions. Mayfield didn’t complete a pass, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Atlanta Falcons 16-0 on Sunday behind Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell's rushing on a wet, sloppy field.