Top stories

Eastside Baptist Church is putting a sharp focus on adoption care, and Darrell and Shelly Whipple are setting the example

Eastside Pastor John Hull, left, highlights the commitment of Darrell and Shelly Whipple to the principle of adoption care. (Photo/Eastside Baptist Church)
MARIETTA, Ga. — Many Baptist churches are encouraging their member families to consider reaching out to children to provide foster or adoption care.  Pastor John Hull of Eastside Baptist Church in Marietta wants the church to be open to caring for widows and orphans
Macedonia Baptist Church pastor Wade Lott embraces a newly baptized believer. (Photo/Macedonia Baptist Church)
‘God truly showed up’ at Macedonia Baptist Church Spring revival
HIAWASSEE, Ga. — Macedonia Baptist Church in Hiawassee wrapped up a fruitful week-long Spring revival last week, seeing seven people profess faith in Christ and 14 come forward to be baptized since Easter Sunday.
More than 200 newly-endorsed church planters pose at the Send Network Orientation. (Photo/NAMB)
Send Network hosts orientation for 200+ new church planters
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — More than 200 church planters represented 189 sending churches at Send Network’s most recent orientation for newly endorsed church planters last week. Five different languages were spoken among the planters, who hailed from 24 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces.
The Sons of Jubal perform at First Baptist Church of Dallas, Ga., on Aug. 24, 2023. Inset: Historical photo of the sons of Jubal. (Main photo: Index/Henry Durand, File; Inset: Photo courtesy Ken Drane)
Sons of Jubal celebrate 70 years of making joyful noise to the Lord
For the past 70 years, the members of the Sons of Jubal chorus have been raising their voices in song to worship and glorify the Lord.  From the group's inception, they have used music to declare the truth of the gospel across Georgia, the United States, and the world.
Dan Spencer, senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Sevierville, preaches at the church. (Photo/FBC Sevierville livestream)
Tennessee pastor Dan Spencer to be nominated for SBC president
SEYMOUR, Tenn. — Dan Spencer, senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Sevierville, has become the sixth nominee for the presidency of the Southern Baptist Convention at the 2024 SBC annual meeting in Indianapolis.
Trustees elected Adam Groza as the eighth president of Gateway Seminary. From left: J. Robert White, Adam Groza, Jeff Iorg, Phil Kell. (Photo/Gateway Seminary)
Gateway Seminary trustees elect Adam Groza as president
ONTARIO, Calif. – In a unanimous vote on Monday, April 15, Gateway trustees elected Adam Groza as Gateway Seminary’s eighth president during their spring 2024 meeting.
Baptist Life

Middle Ground pastor Charlie Cooper proves that ‘it’s hard to keep a good man down’

Charlie Cooper preaches recently at Middle Ground Baptist Church. (Index/J. Gerald Harris)
SYLVANIA, Ga. — Despite his planned retirement, pastor Charlie Cooper knew in his heart that he wanted to still have opportunities to preach. The night before his last Sunday preaching at First Baptist Sylvania in February 2021, Cooper prayed that the Lord would still be able to use him.
CLEVELAND, Ga. — Truett McConnell University’s shooting team has once again showcased their exceptional skills at the ACUI Clay Targets Collegiate Shotgun Bowl Series in San Antonio, Texas. Sophomore Ethan Ledford secured 2nd place in Trap Singles and 3rd place in Trap Doubles, while senior Drew Weber and sophomores Michael Bowen and Kason Gooch also earned accolades for their shooting prowess and academic excellence.
ROME, Ga. — Dr. Steve Parr, executive director at the Gwinnett Metro Baptist Network, will address the graduates at Shorter University’s 2023 Commencement Ceremonies on Thursday, May 2.
A five-step program to combat what some say is a rampant problem of sexual abuse in churches will roll out in June during the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Indianapolis.
MOUNT VERNON, Ga. – Brewton-Parker Esports continues to build the foundation of a nationally recognized program after the Brewton-Parker College Fortnite Trio and Valorant teams garnered national titles in the Eastern College Athletic Conference this week.
Georgia
This combination of photos provided on Jan. 26, 2015, by the Cobb County Police Department shows June Runion, of Marietta, Ga., and her husband, Elrey

New evidence in Georgia couple's killing found by person dredging creek with a magnet, officials say

McRAE-HELENA, Ga. (AP) — Someone using a magnet to fish for metal objects in a Georgia creek pulled up a rifle as well as some lost belongings of a couple found slain in the same area more than nine years ago.

Kemp signs private-school vouchers bill

ATLANTA – Gov. Brian Kemp signed a private-school vouchers bill Tuesday, culminating a fight Republicans have waged for years to give students in low-performing schools another option.

Crew members injured in crash on Georgia set of Eddie Murphy Amazon MGM movie 'The Pickup'

Several crew members were injured and two were hospitalized when a car and truck collided during shooting of the Eddie Murphy film “The Pickup" from Amazon MGM Studios, the studio and a person close to the production said Tuesday.

Georgia prison officials in 'flagrant' violation of solitary confinement reforms, judge says

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia prison officials have flagrantly violated a court order to reform conditions for prisoners in the state's most restrictive holding facility, showing “no desire or intention" to make the required changes to solitary confinement practices, a federal judge said.
Nation
The American and Ukrainian flags wave in the wind outside of the Capitol on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has passed $95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.

Pro-Palestinian protests sweep US college campuses following mass arrests at Columbia

NEW YORK (AP) — Columbia canceled in-person classes, dozens of protesters were arrested at New York University and Yale, and the gates to Harvard Yard were closed to the public on Monday as some of the most prestigious U.S. universities sought to defuse campus tensions over Israel's war with Hamas.

With homelessness on the rise, the Supreme Court will weigh bans on sleeping outdoors

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court will consider Monday whether banning homeless people from sleeping outside when shelter space is lacking amounts to cruel and unusual punishment. The case is considered the most significant to come before the high court in decades on homelessness, which is reaching record levels in the United States.

Obituary: Mandisa, Grammy-winning singer and 'American Idol' alum, dies at 47

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Mandisa, a contemporary Christian singer who appeared on “American Idol” and won a Grammy for her 2013 album ‘Overcomer’, has died. She was 47.
World
Marc Baptiste is treated for a bullet wound at a Doctors Without Borders emergency room in the Cite Soleil neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Friday, April 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

From the mission field: Haiti health system nears collapse as medicine dwindles, gangs attack hospitals and ports stay shut

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — On a recent morning at a hospital in the heart of gang territory in Haiti’s capital, a woman began convulsing before her body went limp as a doctor and two nurses raced to save her.

A Russian strike on Kharkiv's TV tower is part of an intimidation campaign, Ukraine's Zelenskyy says

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a Russian missile strike that smashed a television tower in Kharkiv was part of the Kremlin’s ongoing effort to intimidate Ukraine’s second-largest city, which in recent weeks has come under increasingly frequent attack.

Satellite photos suggest Iran air defense radar struck in Isfahan during apparent Israeli attack

JERUSALEM (AP) — Satellite photos taken Monday suggest an apparent Israeli retaliatory strike targeting Iran's central city of Isfahan hit a radar system for a Russian-made air defense battery, contradicting repeated denials by officials in Tehran of any damage in the assault.

Israeli military intelligence chief resigns over his role in failing to prevent Oct. 7 attack

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The head of Israeli military intelligence resigned on Monday over the failures surrounding Hamas' unprecedented Oct. 7 attack, the military said, becoming the first senior figure to step down over his role in the deadliest assault in Israel's history.
Perspectives
Did you see the recent B. C. Sunday comic in which the character is working strenuously to climb the steep mountain? Each panel shows his progress. Then he finally reaches the summit, and asks, “Ever arrive at a place and forget why you’re there?”
In a recent breakfast meeting with Pastor Todd Wright of Midway Church in Villa Rica, our conversation turned to the importance of leaving a legacy for those who will come behind us. It was a meaningful discussion for many reasons, but I was reminded of the words of King Solomon in Proverbs 13:22: “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children” (NKJV).
Recently, my wife, Carolyn and I were eating a sandwich for lunch in one of our favorite restaurants. We were quietly talking about a lot of things when suddenly my wife pointed out a little bug which was sitting on the window ledge.
More than 2 million people flocked to northern Italy in 2015 to take a rare glimpse at the Shroud of Turin, purportedly the burial cloth in which the crucified Christ was wrapped and which now bears His image. Around the same time, CNN featured the shroud in the first of several documentaries attempting to uncover the “historical Jesus” by examining such relics.
We are once again looking forward to our 2024 public affairs training events. Our theme for this year’s training will be the same as last year, "Living for Christ in the Public Square."
Business
The logo for the Tesla Supercharger station is seen in Buford, Ga, April 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)

Tesla 1Q profit falls 55%, but stock jumps as company moves to speed production of cheaper vehicles

Tesla’s first-quarter net income plummeted 55%, but its stock price surged in after-hours trading Tuesday as the company said it would move up production of new, more affordable vehicles.

Tesla cuts the price of its "Full Self Driving" system by a third to $8,000

NEW YORK (AP) — Tesla knocked roughly a third off the price of its “Full Self Driving” system — which can’t drive itself and so drivers must remain alert and be ready to intervene — to $8,000 from $12,000, according to the company website.

The House votes for possible TikTok ban in the US, but don't expect the app to go away anytime soon

The House passed legislation Saturday that would ban TikTok in the United States if the popular social media platform's China-based owner doesn’t sell its stake within a year, but don't expect the app to go away anytime soon.

Tesla shares tumble below $150 per share, giving up all gains made over the past year

Tesla's stock tumbled below $150 per share, giving up all of the gains made over the past year as the electric vehicle maker reels from falling sales and steep discounts intended to lure more buyers.

Tesla wants shareholders to reinstate $56 billion pay package for Musk rejected by Delaware judge

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Tesla will ask shareholders to reinstate a $56 billion compensation package for CEO Elon Musk that was rejected by a judge in Delaware this year and to move the electric car maker’s corporate home from Delaware to Texas.
Sports
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Max Fried delivers to a Miami Marlins batter in the first inning Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Max Fried throws Atlanta's first 9-inning complete game since 2022, beats Marlins 5-0

ATLANTA (AP) — Max Fried pitched a three-hitter for Atlanta's first nine-inning complete game since 2022, Adam Duvall had a two-run homer and the Atlanta Braves blanked the Miami Marlins for the second night in a row, 5-0 on Tuesday.

Travis d'Arnaud homers again and Bryce Elder shuts down Marlins in Braves' 3-0 win

ATLANTA (AP) — Travis d'Arnaud hit his fifth home run in four games and Bryce Elder pitched 6 2/3 spotless innings in his return from the minors as the Atlanta Braves beat the Miami Marlins 3-0 on Monday night. David Fletcher capped a three-run fourth with an RBI single to help the Braves win for the seventh time in eight games.

Matt Ryan officially announces his retirement

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — On the very first pass of his very first NFL minicamp, Matt Ryan delivered a wobbly throw that left his new Atlanta Falcons teammates shaking their heads. They couldn't help but wonder if the team made a huge mistake drafting this skinny kid out of Boston College with the No. 3 overall pick in 2008.

Rangers hit 3 homers, overcome early deficit to stop Braves' 6-game win streak with 6-4 victory

ATLANTA (AP) — Andrew Knizner hit a three-run homer, Adolis García added a two-run shot and the Texas Rangers avoided a three-game sweep with a 6-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday night.