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Georgia BCM students join Helene relief efforts

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)

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.

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Georgia BCM students join Helene relief efforts

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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.

Messengers vote during the annual meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention in November 2022. (Index/Henry Durand, File)

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

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.

Max Watts, of Buford, Ga., walks in the parking lot to check on a trailer parked outside the hotel where he is riding out Hurricane Milton with coworkers, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. Watts, who works for a towing company, was deployed with colleagues to Florida to aid in the aftermath of the storm. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

More than 2 million without power as Hurricane Milton slams Florida, causes deaths and flooding

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Hurricane Milton plowed into Florida as a Category 3 storm Wednesday, bringing misery to a coast still ravaged by Helene, pounding cities with winds of over 100 mph after producing a barrage of tornadoes, but sparing Tampa a direct hit.

Disaster Relief volunteers from Georgia, Arkansas, and Kentucky pray before another day of helping survivors of Hurricane Helene in Valdosta, Ga. (Index/Henry Durand)

Southern Baptists stage resources for Hurricane Milton response as Helene relief efforts continue

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A tractor-trailer loaded with generators, temporary roofing, more than 20,000 meals, and equipment to serve meals to first responders and survivors, has staged at Send Relief’s headquarters in Alpharetta.

Baptist Life

Churches work hard for impact of Vacation Bible Schools to extend long past the summer

Kids enjoy a lesson during VBS at Palmetto Baptist Church. (Photo/Palmetto Baptist Church)

Summer may be over, but the impact of Vacation Bible Schools held at Georgia Baptist churches will carry far into the future. Krista Staton, the Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s kids ministry consultant, reports that this year more than 1,400 children made commitments to Christ at churches large and small across the state.

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.

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Nation

Natasha Ducre surveys the kitchen of her devastated home, which lost most of its roof during the passage of Hurricane Milton, in Palmetto, Fla., Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Residents repair their homes and clean up after Hurricane Milton tore through Florida

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Florida residents repaired damage from Hurricane Milton and cleaned up debris Friday after the storm smashed through coastal communities and tore homes to pieces, flooded streets and spawned a barrage of deadly tornadoes.

Nobel Peace Prize given to Japanese organization Nihon Hidankyo for its work against nuclear weapons

The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded Friday to Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese organization of survivors of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, for its activism against nuclear weapons.

Nobel Prize in chemistry honors 3 scientists who used AI to design proteins — life's building blocks

LONDON (AP) — Three scientists who discovered powerful techniques to decode and even design novel proteins — the building blocks of life — were awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry Wednesday. Their work used advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, and holds the potential to transform how new drugs and other materials are made.

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.

Hyundai has begun producing electric SUVs at its $7.6 billion plant in Georgia

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Hyundai has begun producing electric SUVs in Georgia less than two years after breaking ground on its sprawling, $7.6 billion manufacturing plant west of Savannah. Hyundai's factory in Georgia held an “employee-focused celebration” Thursday as its first EV for commercial sale rolled off the assembly line, Bianca Johnson, spokesperson for Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, said in a statement provided Monday to The Associated Press.

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.

Georgia BCM students join Helene relief efforts

Churches work hard for impact of Vacation Bible Schools to extend long past the summer

Helene damage to Georgia farms estimated at $6.46 billion

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

A Georgia county official dies after giving testimony about a hazardous chemical plant fire

Pilot of larger plane was looking away from smaller plane in Atlanta airport mishap, report says

Residents repair their homes and clean up after Hurricane Milton tore through Florida

Although Milton has moved on, at least 8 are dead and millions remain in the dark

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Hurricane Milton spawns destructive, deadly tornadoes before making landfall

Nobel Peace Prize given to Japanese organization Nihon Hidankyo for its work against nuclear weapons

South Korean author Han Kang wins the Nobel Prize for literature

Israeli defense minister warns an attack on Iran would be 'lethal' and 'surprising'

Nobel Prize in chemistry honors 3 scientists who used AI to design proteins — life's building blocks

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

Delta's Q3 profit fell below $1 billion after global tech outage led to thousands of cancellations

Hyundai has begun producing electric SUVs at its $7.6 billion plant in Georgia

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

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