ROME, Ga. — “A lot has changed in 150 years. One thing, however, remains constant; Shorter University continues to provide an excellent Christ-centered education equipping the next generation of nurses, teachers, pastors, musicians, actors, historians, journalists, scientists, business leaders and more… men and women ready to step into their God-given calling,” said Dr. Dana King, dean of the College of Education, in her commencement address.

TOCCOA, Ga. — Some students who enrolled in the new Christian learning centers that have opened in northeast Georgia are getting more than Bible-based education. They’re finding salvation. More than 30 students in Stephens, Banks and Franklin counties have made professions of faith this school year through the Christian learning centers opened over the past two years.

In one rural district of Zimbabwe, the HIV infection rate is at an all-time high. While many villagers are learning to live with the disease, several communities have lost family members who were the sole breadwinners, leaving behind orphans who are struggling with HIV, too. The region is a drought-prone area that doesn’t yield many crops. Those living with HIV are hit the hardest by these famines because they need healthy, consistent diets to balance their drug regimens.

AUGUSTA, Ga. — More than 44,000 residents of Augusta and Richmond County live at or below the poverty level according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Others who are not at poverty level cannot afford basic health or dental insurance even though they may work several jobs to make ends meet. Two Georgia Baptist Health Care Ministry grant recipients, Miracle Making Ministries, Inc. and Christ Community Health Services of Augusta, Inc., daily meet the needs of this population with either free or significantly reduced health care services.

International Mission Board trustees approved 92 fully funded missionaries for appointment during their meeting this week in Richmond, Virginia. Missionaries approved for appointment will be recognized during a Sending Celebration on June 13 in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. The event will be livestreamed on sbcannualmeeting.net.

A prison seminary largely funded by Arkansas Baptists celebrated its first graduating class last Friday at the Varner Unit of the Arkansas Department of Corrections, a high-security prison in Lincoln County.  The 18 students, who are all serving life or long-term sentences for their crimes, donned graduation robes and caps as they accepted their bachelor’s degrees in Christian Studies from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary.

CARTERSVILLE, Ga. – Lottie Moon was in a worship service at what’s now First Baptist Church when she heard God's call her to missions, prompting her to leave Cartersville for China 150 years ago. The 4-foot, 3-inch firebrand would go on to become a giant in the world of international missions, inspiring countless Southern Baptists throughout the generations to take the gospel to the nations while at the same time anchoring this Georgia community’s commitment to global missions.

DACULA, Ga. – More than 500 Georgia Baptists prayed Thursday for messengers who will gather in New Orleans next month for the SBC annual meeting, asking the Lord to enable them to look past their own desires and concentrate on what’s best for the kingdom. “We want to be people who are obedient to God,” said W. Thomas Hammond Jr., executive director of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board and organizer of the prayer event. “We want revival. To have that, we have to have unity.”

LOUSIVILLE, Ky. — “What is happening here will determine whether or not persons who have not yet heard the gospel of Jesus Christ will hear that gospel and believe in Christ and be saved,” said President R. Albert Mohler, Jr. in his opening remarks at the Commencement of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Pansies are my favorite flowers in the spring.  My great-grandmother loved them, too.  The bright colors with the black centers are the ones I love best.  Because my beloved knows that, each spring he makes sure I have lots of them to plant in pots on the front and back porches.  This year, he got me more than ever before.  They are hardy in the cool weather and make me smile every time I see them.