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Index Magazine: The Mission Messenger provided a voice for Georgia Baptist women, helping them obtain state-level leadership roles

A group of Georgia Baptist women prepare The Missions Messengers for mailing. The long-defunct newspaper played an important role in raising financial support for missions while also giving women a voice in Baptist issues. (The Mission Messengers via Mercer University archives)
For over a quarter of a century, from 1895 to 1921, the Woman’s Missionary Union of Georgia published a monthly paper called The Mission Messenger. In the beginning, it was written and published by a small band of volunteers, mostly state WMU officers. They understood the need to inform and inspire the Baptists women of Georgia to support missions. The early editions were four pages long, and a subscription cost 10 cents a year.
Truett McConnell Unversity President Emir Caner and his wife Hana, right, chat with guest speaker Riley Gaines at the school's Friends and Family Weekend on Friday in Cleveland, Ga.
Former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines tells Truett McConnell crowd, 'When they want you silent, speak louder'
CLEVELAND, Ga. — Truett McConnell University hosted a Friends and Family Weekend on Friday and Saturday for students, alumni, faculty, staff, trustees, and partners for a variety of exciting activities. The featured speaker for the special weekend was Riley Gaines, who was introduced by University President Dr. Emir Caner as a 12-time All-American swimmer for the University of Kentucky with 5 SEC titles.
A young man raises in arms in victory after being baptized at Midway Church in Villa Rica, Ga. The count of baptisms among Georgia Baptist churches has topped 21,000 over the past year, the largest number since 2016. (Photo/Midway Church)
Georgia churches posting impressive numbers: 10.6% increase in Cooperative Program giving, 30% increase in baptisms
SUWANEE, Ga. — Georgia Baptist churches have been posting some impressive numbers when it comes to baptisms and Cooperative Program giving. W. Thomas Hammond Jr., executive director of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, said Cooperative Program giving was up 10.6% in January and February compared to the same two months last year, and that the baptism count was up more than 30% in the past year.
Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson with his wife Becky and children Faith and Max.
Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, triggering outpouring of prayer from fellow Southern Baptists
ATLANTA, Ga. — Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson’s announcement that he has been diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer that has spread to his liver has triggered an outpouring of prayer from his fellow Southern Baptists across the state. Thompson, a member of First Baptist Church of Woodstock, said he will provide updates on his health as they become available.
Guys of all ages turned out for a wild game dinner at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Bowman, Ga., on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. (Photo/Pleasant Grove)
Revival continues: 60 people make salvation decisions at Bowman wild game dinner
BOWMAN, Ga. — A spiritual movement that began in Georgia in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic is continuing in Bowman where 60 people made salvation decisions at a Wednesday evening wild game dinner. “It was incredible,” said Chris Pritchett, pastor at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church where some 550 people had tickets for the meal that included bison, duck, wild boar, rabbit, and alligator,
The Barna Group's latest survey on pastor wellness shows some good news.
Pastors getting their grooves back after 2 years of stress and anxiety, survey finds
SUWANEE, Ga. — After a couple of stress-filled years, the majority of America’s pastors are feeling better about their ministries. That’s according to research from the Barna Group, an organization that monitors cultural and religious trends in the U.S. In an article last week, the Barna Group said 90 percent of pastors surveyed said they felt more confident in their calls to ministry than they did when they first started, a sure sign that the nation’s preachers are no long feeling “discouraged, depleted and defeated by their day-to-day work.”
Baptist Life

Index Magazine: Georgia preacher John Yarbrough has served as interim pastor 16 times

Georgia preacher and professor John Yarbrough preaches in one of the 16 churches he has served as interim pastor.
CLEVELAND, GA – John Yarbrough has one of the most impressive ministerial resumes imaginable.  He has been a successful pastor. He has academic credentials to be envied. His denominational engagement on the associational, state, and national levels is extraordinary. His preaching opportunities have taken him to 48 states and seven foreign countries.
I hate death. I despise it more than anything else. In the brief time it takes you to read these few words, it is estimated that more than 500 people will have passed away around the world. The certainty of death causes many to become anxious or worrisome, and the heavy burden of grief that accompanies losing a loved one can seem unbearable.
Jacob had a dream in which he saw a stairway to heaven with angels going up and down on it. The imagery of a stairway to heaven has been picked up in our culture in examples such as a song by the rock band Led Zeppelin, a name for cottages in the Smoky Mountains, and an iconic structure in Seaside, Florida.
FRANKLIN , Tenn. — Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief teams are helping transport hay to Texas to aid the recovery efforts after recent wildfires in North Texas. Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, was contacted last weekend by Kentucky Disaster Relief state director Ron Crow.  Crow informed Jones that they had been asked to send hay to Texas in response to the fires. The Kentucky teams had collected hay from donations, but did not have any trucks or trailers to haul it. 
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — As part of the royal priesthood of believers, theology is for all Christians—not just those teaching in the academy or serving in vocational ministry. It’s the call and privilege of every believer to know, love, and worship God. But how do we help the people in our pews see themselves as theologians? And how can we equip them to think rightly about God so their knowledge of God will lead them in greater love for God?
Georgia

Lawsuits against insurers after truck crashes limited by Georgia legislature

ATLANTA (AP) — The ability of people to sue insurance companies directly after trucking crashes would be limited under a bill receiving final passage in the Georgia legislature. The House voted 172-0 on Monday to pass Senate Bill 426, sending it to Gov. Brian Kemp for his signature or veto. The measure says someone could only sue an insurance company directly if the trucking company involved has gone bankrupt or when the plaintiff can't find the company or the driver.

A new kind of hospital is coming to rural America but to qualify, facilities must close their beds

As rural hospitals continue to struggle financially, a new type of hospital is slowly taking root, especially in the Southeast.

Georgia State Patrol advises don't push your luck drinking and driving

ATLANTA — State Troopers are urging motorists to prioritize safety and avoid drinking and driving during the St. Patrick's Day weekend and spring break season. More people on the road mean a higher risk of serious accidents, especially with thousands of students traveling to spring break destinations. 

Onset of spring bringing decline in respiratory viruses in Georgia

ATLANTA – Cases of COVID-19, RSV, and influenza have declined significantly as winter moves into spring, State Epidemiologist Dr. Cherie Drenzek reported Tuesday. On the fourth anniversary of the first reported death from coronavirus in Georgia, Drenzek told members of the state Board of Public Health the vast majority of patients hospitalized with the virus had not been vaccinated.
Nation
Migrants are taken into custody by officials at the Texas-Mexico border, Jan. 3, 2024, in Eagle Pass, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, file)

Supreme Court extends block on Texas law that would allow police to arrest migrants

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday continued to block, for now, a Texas law that would give police broad powers to arrest migrants suspected of illegally entering the U.S. while the legal battle it sparked over immigration authority plays out. A one-page order signed by Justice Samuel Alito indefinitely prevents Texas from enforcing a sweeping state immigration enforcement law that had been set to take effect this month.

3 people killed and infant in critical condition after SUV slams into bus shelter in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Three people were killed and an infant was hospitalized in critical condition after an SUV crashed into a bus shelter in San Francisco, authorities said Sunday. Two victims, including a child, died at the scene of the crash Saturday afternoon in the city's West Portal neighborhood, police said. Three others were taken to hospitals.

Supreme Court weighs how far federal officials can go to combat controversial posts on hot topics

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a busy term that could set standards for free speech in the digital age, the Supreme Court on Monday is taking up a dispute between Republican-led states and the Biden administration over how far the federal government can go to combat controversial social media posts on topics including COVID-19 and election security.

Man suspected of killing 3 people in Philadelphia area arrested in New Jersey, police say

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A man suspected of fatally shooting three family members in their Philadelphia-area homes Saturday was arrested in New Jersey after evading law enforcement for hours as police mobilized across two states, shutting down a parade and an amusement park and ordering some residents to stay in their homes.
World
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, and Philippines' Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo shake hands during a joint press conference in Manila, Philippines, March 19, 2024. (Evelyn Hockstein/Pool Photo via AP)

Blinken underscores 'ironclad' support for the Philippines as it clashes with China in disputed sea

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken underscored Washington’s “ironclad commitment” Tuesday to help defend the Philippines in case of an armed attack against its forces after clashes between Chinese and Filipino coast guards in the disputed South China Sea recently turned more hostile. Blinken, the latest high-level official to visit the United States treaty ally, met his Philippine counterpart Enrique Manalo on Tuesday before separately meeting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Manila.

Notre Dame Cathedral's restoration has been a 5-year journey of dedication and recovery

PARIS (AP) — The restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris following a tragic blaze in April 2019 is a story of dedication and recovery. The iconic medieval monument immortalized in history, film and literature has been gradually rebuilt over the past five years, through challenges that have included delays during the pandemic and the loss of the project's leader. It's slated for completion by the end of 2024.

Sex trade to slavery: A UN agency says criminals reap $236B a year in profits from forced labor

GENEVA (AP) — Illegal profits from forced labor worldwide have risen to the “obscene” amount of $236 billion per year, the U.N. labor agency reported Tuesday, with sexual exploitation to blame for three-fourths of the take from a business that deprives migrants of money they can send home, swipes jobs from legal workers, and allows the criminals behind it to dodge taxes.

US defense chief vows continued aid to Ukraine, even as Congress is stalled on funding bill

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin vowed Tuesday that the U.S. will continue to support Ukraine's war effort against Russia, even as the U.S. Congress remains stalled over funding to send additional weapons to the front. “The United States will not let Ukraine fail,” said Austin, addressing more than 50 defense leaders from Europe and around the world who are meeting at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
Perspectives
I recently made a wallpaper image for my phone, computer and external monitor. It reads: “Jesus is Lord. I am not.” I’m not bragging or super spiritual. I’m confessing. I need help focusing on the most important thing. I need a way marker.
With many churches now having worship online, how will your church empower volunteers to help you relationally address this platform? It seemed like a distant past nearly four years ago when many pastors used their phones, laptops, tablets, and anything else that could connect online for streaming services.
Forced pastoral exits are crippling thousands of churches every year, as these sobering statistics prove.
Not since 2016 have Georgia Baptist churches reported so many baptisms — more than 21,000 of them in the past year. And the good news is the number continues to grow as more congregations report. The baptism numbers represent a more than 30% increase over the past year and a more than 90% increase since 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic had the state in its clutches.
State Representative Todd Jones said two years ago in a press conference that it is intellectually dishonest to talk about the benefits of gambling without talking about the detriments. Notably, Rep. Jones was the co-author of the mental health legislation that was passed in 2022.
Business
People pass the front of the New York Stock Exchange, March 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan, File)

The average bonus on Wall Street last year was $176,500, down slightly from 2022

NEW YORK (AP) — The average Wall Street bonus fell slightly last year to $176,500 as the industry added employees and took a “more cautious approach” to compensation, New York state’s comptroller reported Tuesday. The average bonus for employees in New York City’s securities industry was down 2% from $180,000 in 2022.

EPA bans asbestos, a deadly carcinogen still in use decades after a partial ban was enacted

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency on Monday announced a comprehensive ban on asbestos, a carcinogen that kills tens of thousands of Americans every year but is still used in some chlorine bleach, brake pads and other products. The final rule marks a major expansion of EPA regulation under a landmark 2016 law that overhauled regulations governing tens of thousands of toxic chemicals in everyday products, from household cleaners to clothing and furniture.

Federal Reserve likely to leave rates unchanged as prices remain high

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and his fellow Fed officials are expected to play it safe when they meet his week, keeping their rate unchanged for a fifth straight time and signaling that they still need further evidence that inflation is returning sustainably to their 2% target.

Older Boeing plane found to have missing panel after flight from California to southern Oregon

A post-flight inspection revealed a missing panel on an older Boeing 737-800 that had just arrived at its destination in southern Oregon on Friday after flying from San Francisco, officials said, the latest in a series of recent incidents involving aircraft manufactured by the company.

High home prices frustrating many voters

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lori Shelton can't fathom ever having the money to buy a home — and that's a major reason why so many voters feel down on the economy ahead of this year's presidential election. Shelton, 67, drives an Uber to help pay rent in Aurora, Colorado. An advance on her pay covered her apartment's security deposit. But it also cut into her next paycheck, leaving her bank account dangerously low when the rent was due — a cycle that never seems to end.
Sports
Los Angeles Lakers' Anthony Davis (3) shoots the ball over Atlanta Hawks' Dejountee Murray (5) during the first half in Los Angeles on Monday, March 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

LeBron scores 25, D'Angelo Russell ties Lakers 3-pointers record in LA's 136-105 win over Hawks

LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James had 25 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds, and D'Angelo Russell scored 27 points while tying the Lakers' single-season record for 3-pointers in a 136-105 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night. Russell's six 3-pointers against the Hawks gave him 183 this season, passing Kobe Bryant's 180 in the 2005-06 season and tying Nick Van Exel's franchise record set in 1994-95.

NL East Preview: Braves and Phillies primed for another clash

NEW YORK (AP) — Ronald Acuña Jr. and the Atlanta Braves are ready for another crack at Philadelphia. They won't need to wait long: opening day, first pitch. The reigning NL MVP and his Braves teammates begin their 2024 schedule right back at Citizens Bank Park, where last season ended with a painful playoff loss in Game 4 of a Division Series.

Falcons sign receiver return specialist Ray-Ray McCloud to 2-year contract

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons signed receiver Ray-Ray McCloud to a two-year contract on Monday. McCloud is a return specialist who also provides new Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins with another potential target on offense.

Historic Baptist university teams among the 68 selected for the 2024 men's NCAA basketball tournament

Twelve Protestant and Catholic schools — three of which have historic Baptist ties — are among the 68 represented in the 2024 NCAA basketball tournament. Ready for “March Madness” — the frenzy of championship playoff games taking place all over the country starting this week and leading into the championship game on April 8 — fans anxiously tuned into the selection announcement show Sunday to learn the seeding and schedule of their teams.