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The Spark Conference premieres Aug. 12. Check out the line up on pages 6-7.
Cooperative Program Impact Overview
How God used your CP dollars during 2020.
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Su Convención estatal
De igual manera, por medio de su fidelidad al Programa Coo- perativo, usted apoyó a nuestro hermano árabe para iniciar esta obra.
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Baptist Collegiate Ministries
BCMs celebrate 100 years of ministry this year; SendMeNow Missions looks back over 10 years.
> Pages 4 & 5
Public Affairs
How a Christian can preserve and increase biblical values in culture, policy and government.
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Georgia Baptist Convention
LETTER FROM KEVIN WILLIAMS, GBC PRESIDENT & MISSIONS TOUR PREVIEW
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Mission Georgia gains traction as September emphasis approaches
Pastor Wellness
PASTORS, WIVES INVITED TO UPCOMING RETREATS, OUTINGS
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JULY 2021
NEIGHBORS
By Lorna Bius
Mission Georgia Mobilizer lbius@gabaptist.org, 770-936-5326
Bringing the gospel to those who are farthest from it in word and deed is the priority of Mission Georgia. As our state emerges from the pandemic, one thing is clear – churches are eager to engage the needs of neighbors with the hope of the gospel.
The theme for this year is “Num- bers are Our Neighbors.” When we look at the numbers and statistics that tell us our state is in desperate need of help, we must remember that these numbers have names. They are our neighbors. Statistics are souls.
Mission Georgia participated in and hosted a number of events in the spring that represent the new vi-
sion and heart of the initiative mov- ing forward.
Preview of September emphasis
Behind every statistic and piece of data is a face, a soul. These num- bers are your neighbors. This year’s Mission Georgia emphasis during the month of September will help churches better understand the re- ality of these issues in more person- al ways. You’ll have the opportunity to meet individuals who are leading efforts to transform their communi- ties through videos, prayer guides, speakers and special events. All gifts to the Mission Georgia offering are used to strengthen ongoing min- istry and enable outreach and pro- gramming that bring gospel-cen- tered care to the most vulnerable in
See MISSION GEORGIA, Page 12
NEWS JOURNAL OF THE GEORGIA BAPTIST MISSION BOARD
Marketing: Not such a bad word after all
By John Courtney | Lead Strategist jcourtney@gabaptist.org 770-936-5220
We want as many people as possible to hear God’s Word preached and taught within our church services. We want these people to hear the life-giving gospel, so that they might accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. Our outreach efforts as the church are for the purpose of bringing Jesus to a lost and dying world. But sometimes we struggle on how to properly promote and market our church in such a way that attracts non-members to consider attending our church for the first time.
In addition to our struggles, we live in a world that has be- come deafening and chaotic with messaging. Advertisers use social media, ads and commer- cials to share their products with us. Research shows that people need to experience about eight touchpoints before they are ready to make a decision.
See MARKETING, Page 8
GBMB provides security training for Georgia Baptist churches
By Linda Wilkins | Editor lwilkins@gabaptist.org, 770-936-5312
It can happen in a second. Just a single moment where everything is changed forever. Ben O’Neal knows this is true, and that’s why he does what he does.
According to the FBI, there were 28 active shooter incidents during
2019 in the U.S. Between 1999 and 2015, 1,198 deadly force incidents took place in churches or faith-based operations. About 364 of these inci- dents resulted in deaths.
O’Neal is the security director for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board. The statistics show that churches are not immune to acts of violence and moments of tragedy. His goal is to
help equip and prepare churches to prevent and/or respond to security threats.
While he supports GBMB events and properties, the largest portion of his job is dedicated to providing security training and implementa- tion for any Georgia Baptist church. O’Neal travels to individual churches
See SECURITY, Page 11