State missionaries give reports at Executive Committee meeting

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Will Bacon, president and chief financial officer of the Georgia Baptist Health Care Ministry Foundation, shared ways the Foundation is changing lives for eternity. JOE WESTBURY/Index Will Bacon, president and chief financial officer of the Georgia Baptist Health Care Ministry Foundation, shared ways the Foundation is changing lives for eternity. JOE WESTBURY/Index

In addition to unveiling a proposed $41,000,000 budget and conducting other business at their Sept. 13 Executive Committee meeting, members heard from several Georgia Baptist ministries. The overview of the business meeting can be read here.

The state missionaries gave reports or overviews of upcoming events. Among them:

  • Will Bacon detailed the advancements for the Kingdom through thfke Georgia Baptist Health Care Ministry Foundation. Among those advancements were, year-to-date since 2005 with 518 grants totaling more than $36 million, 62,679 volunteers touched 3,311,129 lives; 16,692 people accepted Christ, 16,418 babies have been carried to full term as a result of pregnant mothers visiting one of the crisis pregnancy resource centers we have assisted, 5,453 ministers and their wives and have received medical and dental care and counseling for their families.
  • State Missionary Stuart Lang, who oversees disaster relief, reported that Georgia Baptists provided 1,705 Buckets of Care for flood victims in Louisiana. The buckets provide items to help homeowners “muck out” their homes as they restore them to a livable dwelling. National totals from all state convention disaster relief participants showed there were 2,633 gospel presentations and 343 professions of faith.
  • State Missionary Marty Youngblood, who serves in Church-Minister Relations, reported on the Rio Olympics ministry which he oversaw with Lang. Youngblood stated that more than 60 Georgia Baptists from 24 churches served for parts of four weeks during the athletic event. There were 3,600 pins given away in conjunction with gospel presentations, 177 decisions, 122 rededications, and 1,300 conversations in malls, police precincts, and city streets.

Training for pastors to engage political, cultural matters

State Missionary and Public Affairs Representative Mike Griffin detailed upcoming events to train pastors and update them on legislation dealing with religious liberty and other pressing concerns.

Public Affairs State Missionary Mike Griffin shares information on upcoming events to help pastors become more involved in legislative issues. JOE WESTBURY/Index Public Affairs State Missionary Mike Griffin shares information on upcoming events to help pastors become more involved in legislative issues. JOE WESTBURY/Index

The Public Affairs Pastors Training will be held Oct. 10-11 at the Missions and Ministry Center in Duluth. The training is for pastors interested in ministering to their local representative and/or senator to develop a relationship and fulfill needs for ministry for him or her and their family. The Mission Board will cover all travel expenses, meals, and lodging. To register by Sept. 26 email Karen Wheeler at kwheeler@gabaptist.org or call (770) 936-5204.

A Protecting Your Church seminar will be held from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. on Nov. 1 at the Ministry Center with lunch provided. Register online here.

The annual Legislative Prayer Breakfast will be on Jan. 25, 2017 in the Empire Room at the Slopply Floyd Building in downtown Atlanta. Georgia Baptist Convention President Thomas Hammond will be guest speaker.

Pastors Days at the Capitol will be held Feb. 2 and 9, 2017 at the Georgia State Capitol. Lunch will be included for the 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. gatherings. Guest speaker will be Truett-McConnell University President Emir Caner. For more information contact Karen Wheeler at kwheeler@gabaptist.org or by calling (770) 936-5204.

• Larry Wynn, state missionary and vice president for Church Revitalization and Evangelism, urged pastors to attend the upcoming Reach 2016 Strategy Conference Sept. 19-20 at Northway Church in Macon. Speakers include James Emery White, Hal Seed, Chuck Lawless, Joel Southerland, and James Merritt. Registration is limited to keep the attendance at a manageable size for a highly personal conference, but a few openings remain. Wynn said interested pastors should register immediately at GBCEvangelismConferences.com. Online registration is $37 and payment at the door is $47.

Annual Meeting, Executive Committee reports, GBC, prayer, state missionaries, training