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Georgia college students commissioned for summer service

Paul Gotthardt, pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church, addresses students at Equip on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Maynard Baptist Church in Forsyth. Ga. (Index/Henry Durand)
FORSYTH, Ga. — Last Saturday, April 20, some 250 Georgia college student leaders gathered at Maynard Baptist Church in Forsyth for Equip, a day of equipping leaders to be on mission on their campus, in their community and around the world.
Crystabel Kwarteng of Georgia College & State University joins other students in worship at Equip on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Maynard Baptist Church in Forsyth. Ga. (Index/Henry Durand)
Photo gallery: Scenes from the Georgia BCM Equip conference
FORSYTH, Ga. — Last Saturday, April 20, some 250 Georgia college student leaders gathered at Maynard Baptist Church in Forsyth for Equip, a day of equipping leaders to be on mission on their campus, in their community and around the world.
Hannah and her two children, Melissa and Daniel, stand beside Richie and Melissa Howard and their son, Jaxson. (Photo/Richie Howard via The Baptist Paper)
Pregnancy resource center, First Baptist Jonesboro help single mother find Christ
JONESBORO, Ga. — Hannah’s life was “broken.” She was raised in Ghana by her father, who was a pastor, and sister after her mother left the family when she was only 3 months old.
Macedonia Baptist Church pastor Wade Lott embraces a newly baptized believer. (Photo/Macedonia Baptist Church)
‘God truly showed up’ at Macedonia Baptist Church Spring revival
HIAWASSEE, Ga. — Macedonia Baptist Church in Hiawassee wrapped up a fruitful week-long Spring revival last week, seeing seven people profess faith in Christ and 14 come forward to be baptized since Easter Sunday.
More than 200 newly-endorsed church planters pose at the Send Network Orientation. (Photo/NAMB)
Send Network hosts orientation for 200+ new church planters
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — More than 200 church planters represented 189 sending churches at Send Network’s most recent orientation for newly endorsed church planters last week. Five different languages were spoken among the planters, who hailed from 24 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces.
The Sons of Jubal perform at First Baptist Church of Dallas, Ga., on Aug. 24, 2023. Inset: Historical photo of the sons of Jubal. (Main photo: Index/Henry Durand, File; Inset: Photo courtesy Ken Drane)
Sons of Jubal celebrate 70 years of making joyful noise to the Lord
For the past 70 years, the members of the Sons of Jubal chorus have been raising their voices in song to worship and glorify the Lord.  From the group's inception, they have used music to declare the truth of the gospel across Georgia, the United States, and the world.
Baptist Life

Tennessee pastor Dan Spencer to be nominated for SBC president

Dan Spencer, senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Sevierville, preaches at the church. (Photo/FBC Sevierville livestream)
SEYMOUR, Tenn. — Dan Spencer, senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Sevierville, has become the sixth nominee for the presidency of the Southern Baptist Convention at the 2024 SBC annual meeting in Indianapolis.
It’s rare that Gene Mitchell drives anywhere in his truck listening to Christian music without getting teary-eyed, some 18 months after his wife died of cancer.  “Songs now have a different meaning, things I’ve never heard in a song before,” Mitchell told The Alabama Baptist. 
Do you have a favorite Bible verse? One that has been with you in the valley and carried you to the other side?  Your go-to in time of crisis? The first Bible verse I ever remember remembering is James 4:8.
Comparing ourselves to others is a trap. It’s hard not to do, but it is definitely not good for us at all. I can see how my grandchildren struggle with this, but honestly I do as well.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Midwestern Seminary welcomed hundreds of students, staff, and community members, along with their families, to campus for the Spring Picnic on April 19. The event featured free food, fun, and fellowship for the seminary community.
Georgia
Lorna Bius, a Mission Georgia mobilizer, and Mike Griffin, Public Affairs representative of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, pose beside Gov. Brian Kemp and his wife Marty, right, at a bill signing ceremony. (Index/Courtesy of Mike Griffin)

Georgia Gov. Kemp signs bills to combat human trafficking

ATLANTA – Gov. Brian Kemp signed three bills Wednesday aimed at human trafficking in Georgia. “We are taking three important steps forward to make sure Georgia is a safe haven for survivors … turning Georgia into a national leader for victims’ rights and putting criminals behind bars,” Kemp said during a bill signing ceremony at the state Capitol.

New evidence in Georgia couple's killing found by person dredging creek with a magnet, officials say

McRAE-HELENA, Ga. (AP) — Someone using a magnet to fish for metal objects in a Georgia creek pulled up a rifle as well as some lost belongings of a couple found slain in the same area more than nine years ago.

Kemp signs private-school vouchers bill

ATLANTA – Gov. Brian Kemp signed a private-school vouchers bill Tuesday, culminating a fight Republicans have waged for years to give students in low-performing schools another option.

Crew members injured in crash on Georgia set of Eddie Murphy Amazon MGM movie 'The Pickup'

Several crew members were injured and two were hospitalized when a car and truck collided during shooting of the Eddie Murphy film “The Pickup" from Amazon MGM Studios, the studio and a person close to the production said Tuesday.
Nation
Georgia State Patrol officers detain a demonstrator on the campus of Emory University during a pro-Palestinian demonstration Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

USC cancels graduation ceremony and dozens are arrested on other campuses as pro-Palestinian demonstrations grow

The University of Southern California canceled its main graduation ceremony and dozens more college students were arrested at other campuses nationwide Thursday as pro-Palestinian demonstrations continued to spread.

Strict new EPA rules would force coal-fired power plants to capture emissions or shut down

WASHINGTON (AP) — Coal-fired power plants would be forced to capture smokestack emissions or shut down under a rule issued Thursday by the Environmental Protection Agency.

First cargo ship passes through newly opened channel in Baltimore since bridge collapse

BALTIMORE (AP) — The first cargo ship passed through a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore on Thursday after being stuck in the harbor since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed four weeks ago. The Balsa 94, a bulk carrier sailing under a Panama flag, passed through the new 35-foot channel headed for St. John, Canada.

Police clash with students and make arrests at Texas university as Gaza war campus protests grow

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Police bulldozed into student protesters at a Texas university Wednesday, arresting over a dozen people, while new student encampments sprouted at Harvard and other colleges in part of a growing wave of pro-Palestinian protests.
World
An agent from the Attorney General's office enters Save the Children's headquarters during a raid in Guatemala City, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

Guatemalan prosecutors raid offices of Save the Children charity

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Guatemalan prosecutors raided the offices of the charity Save the Children on Thursday, citing a complaint alleging the violation of migrant children’s rights. Prosecutor Rafael Curruchiche said in a video to media that the complaint filed by an unidentified foreigner had raised serious concerns because it involved allegations of abuse of children.

From the mission field: Ariel Henry resigns as prime minister of Haiti, paving the way for a new government to take power

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Ariel Henry resigned Thursday as prime minister of Haiti, leaving the way clear for a new government to be formed in the Caribbean country, which has been wracked by gang violence that killed or injured more than 2,500 people from January to March.

From the mission field: Malaria is still killing people in Kenya, but a vaccine and local drug production may help

MIGORI, Kenya (AP) — As the coffin bearing the body of Rosebella Awuor was lowered into the grave, heart-wrenching sobs from mourners filled the air. Her sister Winnie Akinyi, the guardian to Awuor’s orphaned son, fell to the ground, wailing.

US coalition warship shoots down missile fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels over the Gulf of Aden

JERUSALEM (AP) — A warship — part of a U.S.-led coalition protecting shipping in the Mideast — intercepted an anti-ship ballistic missile fired over the Gulf of Aden on Wednesday, the American military said, marking a new attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels after a recent lull.
Perspectives
I once read a story about a man who tore down an old building that stood on his property for many years. After clearing away the debris, he broke up and smoothed over the ground. Soon, spring rains fell and sunshine flooded the area.
Did you see the recent B. C. Sunday comic in which the character is working strenuously to climb the steep mountain? Each panel shows his progress. Then he finally reaches the summit, and asks, “Ever arrive at a place and forget why you’re there?”
In a recent breakfast meeting with Pastor Todd Wright of Midway Church in Villa Rica, our conversation turned to the importance of leaving a legacy for those who will come behind us. It was a meaningful discussion for many reasons, but I was reminded of the words of King Solomon in Proverbs 13:22: “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children” (NKJV).
Recently, my wife, Carolyn and I were eating a sandwich for lunch in one of our favorite restaurants. We were quietly talking about a lot of things when suddenly my wife pointed out a little bug which was sitting on the window ledge.
More than 2 million people flocked to northern Italy in 2015 to take a rare glimpse at the Shroud of Turin, purportedly the burial cloth in which the crucified Christ was wrapped and which now bears His image. Around the same time, CNN featured the shroud in the first of several documentaries attempting to uncover the “historical Jesus” by examining such relics.
Business
A person pushes the doorbell on his Ring doorbell camera, July 16, 2019, at his home in Wolcott, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)

FTC sends $5.6 million in refunds to Ring customers as part of video privacy settlement

NEW YORK (AP) — The Federal Trade Commission is sending more than $5.6 million in refunds to consumers as part of a settlement with Amazon-owned Ring, which was charged with failing to protect private video footage from outside access.

US growth slowed sharply last quarter to 1.6% pace, reflecting an economy pressured by high rates

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s economy slowed last quarter, growing at an annual rate of 1.6% in a sign that high interest rates may be taking a toll on borrowing and spending.

Norfolk Southern's earnings offer railroad chance to defend its strategy ahead of board vote

Norfolk Southern’s first-quarter earnings report Wednesday gave the railroad the opportunity to publicly defend CEO Alan Shaw’s strategy again before investors decide on May 9 whether to back him. Since the railroad already preannounced its disappointing results earlier this month when it disclosed a $600 million settlement over the disastrous February 2023 Ohio derailment there were few surprises in Wednesday’s numbers.

Boeing posts a $355 million loss as the plane maker tries to dig out from under its latest crisis

Boeing said Wednesday that it lost $355 million on falling revenue in the first quarter, another sign of the crisis gripping the aircraft manufacturer as it faces increasing scrutiny over the safety of its planes and accusations of shoddy work from a growing number of whistleblowers.

Tesla 1Q profit falls 55%, but stock jumps as company moves to speed production of cheaper vehicles

Tesla’s first-quarter net income plummeted 55%, but its stock price surged in after-hours trading Tuesday as the company said it would move up production of new, more affordable vehicles.
Sports
Georgia tight end Brock Bowers (19) carries the ball after a reception during the second half against Auburn, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)

Las Vegas Raiders take Georgia tight end Brock Bowers with the 13th pick in the NFL draft

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — The Las Vegas Raiders drafted Georgia's Brock Bowers with the 13th overall pick Thursday, the second year in a row they have taken a tight end high in the NFL draft. Las Vegas traded up last year to take Notre Dame's Michael Mayer in the second round with the 35th overall pick. Mayer caught 27 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns last season.

Quarterbacks Williams, Daniels, Maye, Penix Jr., McCarthy and Nix selected in top 12 of NFL draft

DETROIT (AP) — Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades. Five other teams selected quarterbacks among the top 12 picks, setting a record with five in the top 10 and tying a record for the most in the first round.

Former Georgia coach Mark Fox joins Kentucky basketball staff as associate coach

LEXINGTON, Ky. (KT) — Mark Fox gave Kentucky coach Mark Pope his first coaching opportunity at Georgia. Pope returned the favor on Wednesday. Fox, who has spent 18 seasons as a head coach at Nevada, Georgia and most recently California, joined Pope’s staff as his associate coach.

Michael Harris II hits an RBI double in the 10th inning to lift Braves past Marlins 4-3

ATLANTA (AP) — Michael Harris II doubled home Ronald Acuña Jr. in the 10th inning and the Atlanta Braves edged the Miami Marlins 4-3 after blowing a two-run lead in the ninth Wednesday night to complete a three-game sweep.