May 8, 2024
With near perfect weather across the state, Georgia Baptists joined other Christians in celebrating the Resurrection on Easter Sunday beginning with sunrise (alternate spelling "Sonrise") services at dawn and throughout the morning. Often, those earliest services were followed by breakfast in the fellowship hall before the more highly attended worship gatherings inside later.
As associational missions strategist for Stone Mountain Baptist Association, Larry Cheek joined some 4,000 other worshippers on the top of Stone Mountain to brave wind and chilly temperatures. Stone Mountain Missions, an ecumenical group to which the Association lends support, led the service that included a message by Atlanta minister and former R&B singer Montell Jordan.
"It was a beautiful morning and we had a great time," said Cheek, who attended with his wife and grandson. "It was a great blessing for me to see Christians from different backgrounds coming together. There was singing and celebration in the Resurrection. When the sun came up it was in a clear sky. The experience was something to behold."
Lakeside Church at Lake Oconee in Greensboro, where Jay Thompson is senior pastor, also started with a service at dawn before moving inside later.
"What a great blessing today was with an awesome day of worship at church and an awesome day with the best family," Student and Missions Pastor Jay Reber shared on Facebook.
Easter services at Air Line Baptist Church in Gainesville continued a trend being witnessed for over a month, said Lead Pastor Mike Dorough.
"One prodigal rededicated his life and our attendance was almost double to last Easter. Glory to God!" Dorough told The Index. "We baptized two. That was our fifth week in a row of baptizing. God is so good."
Preparation ahead of time paid off, he noted.
"We had billboards, yard signs, and invite cards. Hindu and Muslim friends of church members were present. Pray for the seed of the Gospel to germinate and bear fruit!" he requested.
