October 1, 2026
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Georgia Baptists will launch into the new year with two statewide Evangelism Conferences built around a theme drawn straight from Scripture: Not Ashamed. Hosted at North Metro Baptist Church in Hoschton on Feb. 22–23 and First Baptist Church of Thomasville on March 1–2, the conferences will offer pastors, staff members, volunteers, and church leaders a weekend of preaching, training, and practical encouragement for reaching their communities with the gospel.
Georgia Baptist Mission Board Evangelism Catalyst Steve Foster said the theme was born out of Paul’s words in Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.”
“Paul believed that the gospel has the power to work in any culture, and he was not ashamed to share it with everyone,” Foster said. “This passion for the gospel empowered Paul to impact lives with the gospel.”
Foster said the prayer behind the 2026 conferences is that Georgia Baptists would recover that same boldness as they look toward the mission field right outside their doors. “Georgia is our home field, and the light that shines the furthest always shines the brightest at home first,” he said. “Seven million people in Georgia don’t know Jesus, and every church has a role to play in reaching them together.”
GBMB Executive Director Thomas Hammond agrees. “The need for the gospel in Georgia has never been greater. Now is the time for God’s people to stand together, unashamed of the gospel that has the power to change every life it touches.”
The Hoschton conference opens Sunday evening with messages from Kevin Hamm and Caleb Turner. Hamm has shepherded Gardendale First Baptist Church in Alabama since 2006. Turner is pastor of Mesquite Friendship Baptist Church in Texas.
Monday’s sessions will feature Scott Dawson, who has spent nearly 40 years presenting the gospel to more than 3 million people through citywide crusades and evangelistic partnerships across the nation. Following him will be Levi Skipper, now pastor of Sagemont Church in Houston, a 16,000-member congregation. Skipper previously led the Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s evangelism and church strengthening efforts and will also lead a Lunch & Learn on helping believers move naturally from hospitality to gospel conversations.
The Thomasville event opens with veteran preacher Bob Pitman, who began preaching at age 16 and has more than six decades of ministry experience. He will be followed again by Turner, who will speak at both conferences.
Dawson will preach the first morning session, and be joined by Chip Luter, senior associate pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, where he ministers alongside his father, former SBC president Fred Luter. Luter will also lead the Lunch & Learn, exploring Mark 2:1–12 and offering practical, real-world strategies for doing “whatever it takes” to bring people to Jesus.
Foster said the two-site approach is intentional, designed to make the conference accessible to churches throughout the state while strengthening a shared evangelistic focus.
“Our prayer is that the Lord will use these gatherings to encourage and equip pastors, staff, leaders, and church members alike,” he said. “Let’s own Not Ashamed of the gospel as we labor together to reach our mission field.”
“I want to personally invite every pastor, staff member, and church leader across Georgia to join us for the Evangelism Conference this year," said Hammond. "When we come together, we sharpen one another, and we leave better equipped to reach the people God has placed around us.”
Registration is required for both conferences and must be completed by Feb. 18, 2026.
Share with others
