The year in photos: Georgia Baptists busy people in 2023

Marty Hollingshead with Eagles Wings Disc Golf ministry concentrates on a putt during a tournament at Shorter University in Rome, Ga., Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. (Index/Henry Durand)

Kids enjoy jumping from a bridge into the lake at Camp Kaleo, July 18, 2023. (Index/Henry Durand)

Russell Jackson, family pastor at Holly Creek Baptist Church, is one of several school bus drivers from his congregation. (Index/Roger Alford)

Georgia Baptist Mission Board discipleship catalyst Scott Sullivan preaches at one of the SPARK regional conferences on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023. (Index/Roger Alford)

David Laughner sits at his desk at Chapel by the Sea, a small sign declaring: "Just another day in paradise." The Georgia Baptist preacher has been ministering to his beach community for more than three decades. (Index/Roger Alford)

Mark Williams, pastor of First Baptist Church in Centralhatchee, tells children about Jesus. He and his church had a big year for evangelism. (Photo/Centralhatchee First Baptist Church)

Georgia Baptist Mission Board Executive Director W. Thomas Hammond preachers at a SPARK regional conference. (Index/Roger Alford)

Kevin McDade poses next to a sign at Camp Pinnacle's entrance on Wednesday, August 23, 2023. McDade is the new administrator at Camp Pinnacle. (Index/Roger Alford)

Caelyn Hatcher is all smiles after being baptized by Pastor Brian Shuler at Eagles Landing First Baptist Church. (Photo/Mary Catherine Photography)

Anna Grace Davis holds a photo of Teresa Royall at a Baptist student event. Royall, the legendary campus ministry director at Georgia State University, who retired earlier this year. (Photo/Baptist Collegiate Ministries)

Jack Lee and his wife, Lynn, pose for a photo in their dining room in Jesup, Ga., Wednesday, June 28, 2023. (Index/Roger Alford)

Pastor Bob Richardson smiles as he talks about an experience in which he said the Lord delayed his flight to allow time for him to introduce a Louisiana couple to Christ. (Index/Roger Alford)

Dr. Donald Dowless, president of Shorter University, and Provost John Reams, right, speak with a messenger at the school's booth in the vendor area during the third day of the Georgia Baptist Convention's 201st annual meeting Tuesday at Church on Main in Snellville, Ga. (Index/Henry Durand)

A messenger walks past a video sign during the third day of the Georgia Baptist Convention's 201st annual meeting at Church on Main in Snellville, Ga. (Index/Henry Durand)

Ken Gabrielse, chair of the music school at Truett McConnell University, leads a choir at the Georgia Baptist Convention's annual meeting at Church on Main in Snellville, Ga., Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023. (Index/Henry Durand)

Georgia Baptist Convention's annual meeting at the Church on Main in Snellville, Ga., Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023. (Index/Henry Durand)

Derrick Milner, associate director of students at Dunwoody Baptist church, left, watches his drive during a disc golf tournament at Shorter University in Rome, Ga., Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. (Index/Henry Durand) during a disc golf tournament at Shorter University in Rome, Ga., Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. (Index/Henry Durand)

Rafael Valter, pastor of Iglesia Bautista Agape in Stone Mountain, prays over Javier Lopez, pastor of the Hispanic ministry at First Baptist Church of Douglasville, at the 2023 Hispanic Church Strengthening Conference held at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Ga., Saturday. Valter announced that Tim Akin, pastor of FBC Douglasville, will nominate Lopez for vice president of the Georgia Baptist Convention at the annual meeting in November. (Index/Henry Durand)

Students fill backpacks at a "Backpack Party" during Confluence 2023 at Eagle's Landing First Baptist Church in McDonough, Ga., Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. Students filled 600 backpacks with school supplies as part of Mission Georgia's outreach to students. (Index/Henry Durand)

Shorter University's defensive back Milton Adams pulls down Erskine College running back Kaavan Parker (2) in the open field during the third quarter Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Rome, Ga. Shorter won 28-7. (Index/Henry Durand)

The Sons of Jubal perform at First Baptist Church of Dallas, Ga., Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023. (Index/Henry Durand)

The Sons of Jubal walk into a packed sanctuary to perform at First Baptist Church of Dallas, Ga., Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023. (Index/Henry Durand)

Jon Duncan directs the audience as they join in singing with the Sons of Jubal during a performance at First Baptist Church of Dallas, Ga., Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023. (Index/Henry Durand)

Campers engage in a water battle while canoeing at Camp Kaleo in Forsyth, Ga., on July 18, 2023. (Index/Henry Durand)

Volunteers fill backpacks with school supplies Monday at Lawrenceville First Baptist Church. Volunteers packed more than 250 backpacks to be given to foster families in Gwinnett County. (Index/Henry Durand)

Former UGA football coach Mark Richt looks out at the crowd during the Fellowship of Christian Athletes UGA Night of Champions event on Friday at First Baptist Church of Woodstock. (Index/Henry Durand)

Civil War reenactors fire an artillery volley during a demonstration at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park on Saturday. Reenactors and visitors gathered to mark the 159th anniversary of the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. (Index/Henry Durand)

Erskine College wide receiver Justin Wilson (5) prevents Shorter University defensive back Trey Thomas from intercepting a pass in the end zone in fourth quarter Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Rome, Ga. Shorter won 28-7. (Index/Henry Durand)

Sheree Starkey takes a selfie seated beside the grave of her husband, U.S. Air Force veteran Alfonso Starkey, after placing a flag at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, Ga., Saturday, May 27, 2023. (Index/Henry Durand)

Toysha Thomas reacts after being baptized by Pastor Tim Akin during a bilingual worship service at First Baptist Church Douglasville on Sunday. (Index/Henry Durand)

Pastors Tim Akin and Javier López preach during a bilingual worship service at First Baptist Church Douglasville on Sunday. (Index/Henry Durand)

Georgia Baptist Mission Board Public Affairs Representative Mike Griffin speaks during Pastors Day at the Capitol. (Index/Henry Durand, File)

Dr. David Drake, director of Church Relations at Truett McConnell University, speaks to attendees on the second day of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board's evangelism conference in Warner Robins, Ga., Monday, Feb. 27, 2023. (Index/Henry Durand)

Samuel Ayala, the Georgia Baptist Mission Board's missions consultant for South Georgia, holds a sticker during the second day of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board's evangelism conference in Warner Robins, Ga., Monday, Feb. 27, 2023. (Index/Henry Durand)

Mark Clifton, senior director of replanting at the North American Mission Board, preaches on the second day of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board evangelism conference in Warner Robins, Ga., Monday, Feb. 27, 2023. (Index/Henry Durand)

Jenni Carter, kids ministry consultant for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, leads a breakout session on "Guiding Parents (and Grandparents) to have Gospel Conversations with their Kids" on the first day of the GBMB's evangelism conference in Warner Robins, Ga., Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. (Index/Henry Durand)

Helen Hobbs sits in front of the organ at Marie Baptist Church in Dublin. She has been playing piano and organ at the church since she was a teenager. (Index/Roger Alford)

Attendees listen during the second day of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board evangelism conference in Warner Robins, Ga., Monday, Feb. 27, 2023. (Index/Henry Durand)

Brad Marchman, evangelism consultant for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, preaches on the second day of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board evangelism conference in Warner Robins, Ga., Monday, Feb. 27, 2023. (Index/Henry Durand)

Robbie Lane, the starting shortstop on the East Georgia State College baseball team and an aspiring minister, baptizes one of his teammates on Friday, December 1, in Swainsboro, Ga.

Children line up to get backpacks filled with Christmas goodies in Dawson, Ga., on Saturday, December 2, 2023. (Index/Roger Alford)

Charles Rogers holds a sign that he keeps in his office at McFarland Hill Baptist Church in Dalton.The congregation is prospering after nearly closing more than a decade ago. (Index/Roger Alford)

Burnt Hickory Baptist Church Pastor Matt Petty, left, cuts a ribbon in May at the grand opening of the Kenya Ministry Center as Peter Abungu and his wife Julie cheer. (Photo/Burnt Hickory Baptist Church)

Bud and Pat Braddock pause for a photo on a trail in the north Georgia mountains. The Georgia Baptists lead trail tours in the Appalachians. (Index/Roger Alford)

Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief volunteer Scott Smith saws a tree from a home in Valdosta, Ga., in the wake of Hurricane Idalia. The size of the toppled trees complicated the cleanup process.

Bethany Baptist Church Executive Pastor Rick Kirkland, right, talks with Sgt. Michele Pihera outside the church in Snellville, Ga., on Monday, September 11, 2023. The church has designated an area specifically for on-duty police officers. (Index/Roger Alford

Georgia Baptist Convention Vice President Steve Taylor delivers a devotional message to churches leaders in Fayetteville, Ga. on Tuesday, September 12, 2023. (Index/Roger Alford)