The U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision that had legalized abortion nationwide some five decades ago. The ruling in June opened the way for Georgia to put an end to nearly all abortions. "God has heard and answered our prayers on behalf of the most helpless of human beings," said W. Thomas Hammond, executive director of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board.

DULUTH, Ga. – Some congregations have missed the initial deadline for completing what’s known as the Annual Church Report, a census of sorts for the Georgia Baptist Convention. But it’s not too late to complete the fill-in-the-blank report that can be completed in a matter of minutes.

Georgia Baptists were busy in 2022 sharing the gospel in communities throughout Georgia, across the country and around the world. Here is a look back at the year through images published in The Christian Index.

Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers were busy in 2022 responding to disasters around the state,  nation and world. From  Georgia to Kentucky, Florida to Colorado, and overseas to Poland,  they offered help, hope and healing to people impacted by catastrophes.

SWAINSBORO, Ga. – Revival arrived in Swainsboro in June when more than 50 people responded to an invitation to receive Christ during a four-night crusade in the city’s auditorium. “There was just an atmosphere that was ripe for salvation,” Joe Bedgood, the evangelism director in the Emanuel Missionary Baptist Association, said at the time. Similar instances of revival were reported across Georgia throughout 2022, netting thousands of salvation decisions in some of the state’s smallest communities and largest cities.

MARIETTA, GA – In A Charlie Brown Christmas Movie, Charlie said, “Rats. Nobody sent me a Christmas card today. I almost wish there weren’t a holiday season. I know nobody likes me. Why do we have a holiday season to emphasize it?” Unlike Charlie Brown there are millions of Christians who find themselves enmeshed in the spirit of Christmas, joined with their loved ones sharing centuries-old traditions and rejoicing in the amazing glory of the incarnation. For many families Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year.

ATLANTA – One of the nation’s most-sought-after Christian speakers will be at Georgia's Legislative Prayer Breakfast next month. Longtime college football coach Tommy Bowden will headline the event that draws most of Georgia’s lawmakers and a standing-room-only crowd of Christian leaders from across the state.

LaGRANGE, Ga. – Some 4,000 people turned out to watch Rosemont Baptist Church’s Christmas presentation, The One. The production, described as Disneyesque in its quality and scope, went beyond the Nativity of Christ by including scenes from the Old Testament that point forward to His birth.

DULUTH, Ga. – Mission Georgia has provided nearly $392,000 in grants to ministries that provide direct care to children, mothers-to-be, victims of human trafficking and international refugees. “Through the generous giving of Georgia Baptists through Mission Georgia, we are able to come alongside churches, associations, and specialized ministries to help make an impact on the needs of the most vulnerable in our state,” said Beth Ann Williams, lead strategist for Georgia Baptist Women.

DULUTH, Ga. – Several training events have been scheduled for Georgia Baptists who want to join Disaster Relief crews that minister to victims of hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, wildfires, and other natural calamities. Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief Director Dwain Carter said it’s important to have as many people as possible trained and certified to ensure the ministry has the manpower needed to offer help, hope and healing to people in need.

DULUTH, Ga. – Georgia lawmakers will see a renewed effort from the state’s largest religious group to protect biblical definitions of gender and to oppose efforts to expand gambling when they convene next month in Atlanta for the start of the 2023 legislative session. Messengers to the 1.4 million-member Georgia Baptist Convention approved a series of resolution last month, including one that reiterates their opposition to allowing male athletes to compete as females in sporting events.

The holidays are a time to focus on faith, fellowship and family. For some international students it can be difficult to get together with family during this festive season. And for others, celebrating Thanksgiving or Christmas at all can be a new experience. To help international students feel more at home, Baptist Campus Ministries on campuses across Georgia welcomed international students to celebrations marking the national day of thanks and the birth of Christ.

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. – Georgia Baptist Convention First Vice President Rubén Torres told a group of the state’s top ministry leaders on Tuesday to keep their church members reminded that they are special instruments to be used by the Lord.

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. – A veteran pastor, evangelist and seminary professor has been elected chairman of the Georgia Baptist Executive Committee. In the role, David Mills, 57, will head the group of 110 ministry leaders charged with guiding the cooperative work of Georgia Baptists.

DULUTH, Ga. – Rhon Carter knows the benefit of music and worship leaders getting together to discuss their successes and failures. Carter, the worship and music catalyst for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, spent the past year leading a network of 18- to 28-year-old worship leaders from across the state who have gotten to know each other through monthly online get-togethers and one in-person gathering.

GAINESVILLE, GA – There is nothing quite as remarkable and wonderful as the birth of a child, but the pain a woman may have to endure in childbirth is often excruciating. In Galatians 4:19 the Apostle Paul speaks of the emotional and physical experience of suffering which typically precedes the celebration of the birth of a child.

WASHINGTON  — Democratic lawmakers gave final approval Thursday to legislation protecting same-sex marriages, a move that was adamantly opposed by evangelical Christians across the country.

GLEN ALLEN, Va. – Paul Chitwood felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude when he stepped into the baptismal waters with his 10-year-old daughter Lilly, the youngest and last of his four children to accept Jesus as Savior. “My prayer has always been that God would allow me to see each of my children come to Christ,” said Chitwood, president of the International Mission Board.

SMYRNA, GA – Churches across America and around the world decorate their facilities for Christmas. Some decorations are modest, and others are extravagant, but all are beautiful, because of the intent of those who decorate and the meaning of the decorations.

ROME, Ga. – Baseball-superstar-turned-evangelist Darryl Strawberry told student-athletes at Shorter University last week that Christ is all that matters. The eight-time MLB All-Star and four-time World Series Champion was the guest speaker at Shorter’s President’s Gala at the school last Thursday. Shorter President Dr. Don Dowless described Strawberry as “somebody who has gone through the darkest part of life only to find redemption in Christ.“

BUFORD, Ga. – Randy Kennedy, current interim/transitional pastor of Bethany Baptist Church in Snellville, is one of the most winsome individuals you will ever meet. He is also versatile – very versatile. The affable minister is not only an excellent preacher, but he has had an effective ministry to many professional athletes through the years. He is an exceptional golfer himself. He knows how to use a very big pencil to challenge and motivate people, and he is a percussionist.

COLUMBUS, Ga. – Tashonda Stephens had enrolled in an education program at the Columbus Baptist Association to earn her GED. In the process, she found G-O-D. Stephens, a single mom of three boys, surrendered her life to Christ through the Christian Women’s Job Corps of Greater Columbus, a Southern Baptist ministry that’s intended to lift women out of poverty.

DULUTH, Ga. – In a move that will provide “an opportunity for more Cooperative Program funds to go to ministry and missions,” the Georgia Baptist Mission Board is moving out of its five-story executive office building into a smaller and more efficient space. The Mission Board has secured a letter of intent from a corporation that wants to lease the building at 6405 Sugarloaf Parkway beginning in the next two months.

HINESVILLE, Ga. – Pastor Luis Trejo of Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana of Hinesville, Ga., has reached a ministerial milestone – 50 years of service. Trejo’s half-century in the pulpit was celebrated last month at the church where he serves as full-time senior pastor. “The greatest thing in my career,” he says, “has been to know Christ. Everything else flows from there.”

ATLANTA - God can use  prayer for government leaders “to make a difference in our lives.” That’s what the Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s Mike Griffin says is the driving force behind the annual Christmas Prayer tour he leads through the state Capitol. Beginning next week, Georgia Baptists will once again have an opportunity to see the Capitol in its Christmas finest while also praying for lawmakers and other political officials.