May 3, 2024
SNELLVILLE, Ga. – Organizations that receive funding from the Georgia Baptist Health Care Ministry Foundation have reported 1,585 salvation decisions so far this year, the leader of the philanthropic group reported Monday.
Executive Director Larry Wynn told the Georgia Baptist Executive Committee that the foundation’s grant recipients have introduced 21,421 people to Christ since it was created from the sale of the state’s Baptist hospitals in 2005.
Wynn said the foundation has ensured that Georgia Baptists could continue to provide hands-on health care in the state through faith-based medical and dental clinics, prenatal clinics, counseling services, and a variety of other ministries, long after the hospitals were sold.
“Since the foundation was formed the amount of grant money that has been awarded has been more than $65.9 million,” he said at the Executive Committee meeting, which was held in conjunction with the Georgia Baptist Convention’s annual meeting at the Church on Main in Snellville.
This year alone, the foundation granted $8.8 million to 97 clinics and other nonprofit organizations that provide care to many of the state’s most-underserved residents. Plans are, Wynn said, to provide a similar amount in 2024.
“One of the most critical statistics,” he said, “are the pregnancies that have been carried to term because of grants awarded by the foundation; 23,527 babies have been born that maybe would have not been born otherwise.”
Wynn said 154,000 doctors, nurses and other volunteers have committed themselves “to being the hands and feet of Jesus” in serving vulnerable Georgia residents who may otherwise not have received the medical care they needed.
Wynn told the story of a woman with "atrocious" dental issues who walked into a clinic funded by the foundation.
“As you know, bad dental work impacts a person’s overall health,” he said. “Not only were they able to help her get on a road to health living and correct her dental problems, the director of that clinic sat down with her just recently and shared the gospel, and this lady gave her heart and life to Jesus Christ. And now, now only is she healthy now, but she’s going to be healthy for eternity as she spends her life with Jesus.”
The Executive Committee also gave its approval to the 2024 budget and updated governing documents. The budget and governing documents will be presented to messengers for votes on Tuesday at the annual meeting.
