New Ministers Orientation goes south

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Attendees at the new Ministers Orientation gather during a break. GERALD HARRIS/Index Attendees at the new Ministers Orientation gather during a break. GERALD HARRIS/Index

NORMAN PARK — Every autumn the Georgia Baptist Convention invites ministers who are new to the state to a New Ministers Orientation. The orientation this year was held at the Georgia Baptist Conference Center at Norman Park.

The south Georgia conference center is nestled in the agricultural heartland of our great state in Norman Park. The facilities include over 200 guest rooms, 800-seat auditorium, a pair of 250-seat chapels, 34 meeting rooms, snack shop, a full size gymnasium, and the best southern style buffet you’re going to find.

More than 30 ministers and spouses were present for the meeting, which involved opportunities to learn about the ministries the Convention offers to ministers and churches, inspiring worship, fellowship with state missionaries, and plenty of good food including a dessert fellowship after the Thursday evening session.

"I look forward to becoming a part of Georgia Baptist life and look forward to serving the Lord both in my church and in the state convention.”

Typically, the New Ministers’ Orientation has been held at the Georgia Baptist Missions and Ministry Center in Duluth or at the Georgia Baptist Conference Center in Toccoa. But this year it was hosted by Bill Wheeler and his staff at Norman Park in the southern part of the state.

Although some of the attendees were from south Georgia the majority who attended the meeting were from the northern part of the state – several from Cedartown, others from Ringgold and Dalton, and one from Hartwell.

Jason Webb, pastor of Mount Olivet Baptist Church in Hartwell, observed, “This orientation has been extremely helpful to me. I was very involved in the South Carolina Baptist Convention prior to moving to Georgia and I look forward to becoming a part of Georgia Baptist life and look forward to serving the Lord both in my church and in the state convention.”

Georgia Baptists are always looking forward to getting new ministers involved and active in mission and ministry opportunities. The NMO is a great way to get connected to God’s divine enterprise in Georgia.

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