May 2, 2024
DULUTH, Ga. — A metro Atlanta pastor will lead the Georgia Baptist Education Commission, which provides scholarships to college students and monitors campus trends on behalf of the 1.4 million-member Georgia Baptist Convention.
Tim Akin, pastor at First Baptist Church of Douglasville, was elected chairman of the commission on Tuesday in meeting that highlighted an ongoing spiritual movement not only on the state’s three Georgia Baptist-affiliated campuses but also in the Baptist Collegiate Ministries operating on public universities.
“We’re seeing a mighty, mighty move of God,” said Brewton-Parker College President Steven Echols.
Echols told commission members about last week’s campus chapel service in which 150 students made commitments to Christ.
Shorter University President Donald Dowless and Truett McDonnell University President Emir Caner said they seeing a similar spiritual hunger on their campuses.
Caner said four more Truett McConnell students had accepted Christ in a chapel service that was occurring at the same time as the commission meeting.
“The move of God continues,” he told his colleagues.
Beverly Skinner, collegiate ministry catalyst for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, said standing-room-only crowds of 2,000 per week have been showing up for Baptist Collegiate Ministries worship services on campuses across the state. She said campus ministers are telling her that they don’t have enough chairs to accommodate the crowds but that students are undeterred, opting to sit on the floors.
Skinner said 42 students have accepted Christ through Baptist Collegiate Ministries since classes resumed in August on Georgia’s state universities. In addition, she said, 17 students have reported being called to ministry.
Calhoun pastor Jamey Hunt, pastor at Sonoraville Baptist Church, opted to step aside as education commission chairman, saying he wanted to make room fresh leadership.
Hunt said he will remain on the committee for another year and will fully support Akin and newly elected vice chairman Chuck Jonas, pastor at Reidsville Baptist Church in Reidsville.
Akin had served as vice chairman for the past year. Jonas, as vice chairman, is poised to become chairman after Akin.
