Pastor Wayne Robertson preaches at the Georgia Baptist Convention's annual meeting in Augusta. In 2022, the Georgia Baptist Convention celebrated its 200th anniversary. (Index/Henry Durand)
Georgia's JJ Washington points people to Christ during a sermon earlier this year. Washington, who led the Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s state-level evangelism efforts, began a new job in 2022 as the North American Mission Board’s national director of personal evangelism. (Index/Roger Alford)
A new believer celebrates his baptism at Cascade Hills Baptist Church in Columbus, Ga. A post-COVID revival swept across Georgia in 2022, with many churches seeing record numbers of baptisms. (Photo/Cascade Hills Baptist Church)
Georgia Baptist Mission Board Executive Director W. Thomas Hammond Jr. speaks to messengers at the Georgia Baptist Convention's annual meeting in Augusta. 2022 saw the Georgia Baptist Convention celebrate its 200th anniversary. (Index/Henry Durand)
A Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief volunteer works equipment during a deployment in Florida. Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers reacted to multiple catastrophes in 2022, prepared for more in 2023, and saw numerous decisions for Christ during their deployments. (Photo/Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief)
Georgia Baptists gather for a regional SPARK conference event. Attendance numbers from in-person and digital participants showed huge turnout for these whole church strengthening events.
Danny Moreno smiles as he prepares for baptism at New Hope Baptist Church. With the pandemic in the past, the congregation saw 40 baptisms during a span of 40 days in 2022. (Photo/New Hope Baptist Church)
Newly elected president Josh Saefkow walks off the stage after his election as president was announced by outgoing president Kevin Williams, right, at the 200th annual meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention in Augusta. (Index/Henry Durand)
Kids pray during vacation Bible school at First Baptist Church of Cairo, Ga. Free from the grip of COVID-19, churches across Georgia reported record numbers of children turning out for vacation Bible school. (Photo/First Baptist Cairo)
Newly elected Georgia Baptist Convention President Josh Saefkow poses with the new vice presidents after the GBC's 200th annual meeting in Augusta. From left, Second Vice President Anthony Wilson, Third Vice President Steve Taylor, Saefkow, First Vice President Rubén Torres, and Fourth Vice President David Lambert. (Index/Henry Durand)
A team of Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers remove soggy drywall from a Kentucky home damaged by flash flooding. Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers reacted to multiple catastrophes in 2022, prepared for more in 2023, and saw numerous decisions for Christ during their deployments. (Photo/Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief)
Pastor Kevin Williams of First Baptist Church of Villa Rica, Ga., makes good on his promise, kissing a bearded lizard during Vacation Bible School. Free from the grip of COVID-19, churches across Georgia reported record numbers of children turning out for vacation Bible school. (Photo/First Baptist Villa Rica)
More than 650 gathered at Baptist Collegiate Ministries’ annual Confluence conference at Eagles Landing First Baptist Church, pressing into what it means to "Live Sent." (GBMB/Cameron Wilkins)
Campers enjoy the mountaintop view at Camp Pinnacle. (Photo/Georgia Baptist Mission Board)
BCM students gather for a Thanksgiving celebration with international students at Georgia Tech. (Photo/Georgia Tech BCM)
Disaster Relief volunteer Tom Young hauls away tree branches from a home in Pembroke, Ga. Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers reacted to multiple catastrophes in 2022, prepared for more in 2023, and saw numerous decisions for Christ during their deployments. (Photo/Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief)
Georgia Baptist Mission Board former Executive Director Bob White prays with Executive Director W. Thomas Hammond Jr., left, at the 200th annual meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention in Augusta, Ga., Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022. (Index/Henry Durand)
Eddie Johnson orders at Robo's Drive-In restaurant in Pound, Va., where he received not only a belly full of food but a heart full of Jesus. An encounter with a Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief volunteer at the drive-in led Johnson to rededicate his life to Christ, and to salvation decisions by Johnson's son and three others.
Pastor Tommy Fountain Sr. baptizes Larry Crawford at Monroe's 1025 Church. Crawford, a 6-6, 250 pound defensive end and Division 1 prospect from Monroe Area High School, is among the more than 100 people baptized at the church over the past year. (Photo/1025 Church)
Students participate in recreation activities at Impact camp. (Photo/Georgia Baptist Mission Board)
Campers participate in an activity at Camp Pinnacle. (Photo/Georgia Baptist Mission Board)
Georgia Baptist Mission Board strategist Beth Ann Williams speaks with Mary Frances Bowley, executive director of Wellspring Living, prior to the Atlanta Braves game Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, in Atlanta. Representatives from Mission Georgia were at the game to promote Wellspring Living, which provides housing to survivors of human trafficking, prior to the Atlanta Braves game Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, in Atlanta. (Christian Index/Henry Durand)
Nearly 2,500 teenagers gathered at the Wild Adventure Theme Park last week in Valdosta for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board's MOVE Conference. Organizers of the conference said more than 30 students said they’re feeling called to full-time ministry while another 16 made salvation decisions and six rededicated their lives to Christ.
Participants in Pastors Day at the Capitol gather for a group photo in February 2022.
Mission Georgia mobilizer Lorna Bius takes a photo of the Houston family to promote Wellspring Living, which provides housing to survivors of human trafficking, prior to the Atlanta Braves game Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, in Atlanta. (Christian Index/Henry Durand)
Kids participate in vacation Bible school at 1025 Church in Monroe, Ga. Free from the grip of COVID-19, churches across Georgia reported record numbers of children turning out for vacation Bible school. (Photo/1025 Church)
Suzanne and Rachel Guy pose outside a Planned Parenthood Clinic in Marietta, Ga., in June 2022. (Christian Index/Roger Alford)
Hundreds of people let their lights shine at a gospel crusade in Swainsboro in May 2022. More than 50 people made salvation decisions.
Georgia Baptist Mission Board Executive Director W. Thomas Hammond Jr. receives the Champion of Life Award from the Atlanta Morning Center's Daphne Nicely.
New Bethel Baptist Church Outreach Minister Ryan Bennett is leading a door-knocking campaign and bus ministry that has generated significant growth.
An Easter crowd fills Midway Church at Villa Rica, where 20 new believers came to Christ on Sunday.
Bill Barber poses for a photo in the ornate sanctuary of First Baptist Church in Thomaston. He retiring in 2022 after 20 years as senior pastor at the church. (Index/Roger Alford)
Levi Skipper, who leads the church strengthening team at the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, speaks during a training session at an evangelism conference at First Baptist Church of Cumming. (Index/Roger Alford)