EDUCATION COMMISSION
J. Robert White
Georgia Baptists are committed to providing higher education in a Christian environment. This commitment is based on the understanding that Christian education is essential in providing leadership for our churches, our denomination and our nation. The Education Commission of the Georgia Baptist Convention has been charged with advising and encouraging our Georgia Baptist colleges in their mission and commitment to excellence in accomplishing this goal. The Commission is composed of nine members elected at-large by the Convention and several ex-officio members, including GBC elected leadership and the Baptist college presidents.
The Education Commission is driven by a desire to:
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Increase Convention awareness of and support for Georgia Baptist colleges
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Encourage the colleges to provide educational experiences designed to help students grow in grace and knowledge and develop a biblical world-view
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Seek to make Christian higher education accessible to students across the state
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Encourage and support the training of ministers and church leaders
Brewton-Parker College, Shorter University, and Truett-McConnell College continue to be excellent options for students across Georgia. In addition to the three main campuses, several extension sites bring quality Christian education close to nearly every person in Georgia.
The Commission assists the colleges in promotion and circulation of information related to each of our colleges. Education Commission staff and college admissions staff work together to promote our Baptist colleges at major youth events around the state. Each year at Superwow and other youth events, information about our schools is shared with hundreds of students. Materials produced by our colleges and the Education Commission provide excellent information to young people and their parents.
The Commission also serves the colleges and Georgia Baptists through the administration of scholarship programs. The Student Achievement Award is given annually to as many as thirty deserving high school seniors. To be considered, applicants must first be nominated by their pastors or other church staff in the fall of their senior years. The Ministerial Education Fund is a scholarship for students preparing for careers in vocational ministry. Over 140 Georgia Baptist ministerial students received this assistance during the 2013-2014 academic year. The Cooperative Program makes it possible for GBC to provide this support for future church and denominational leaders.
Additional information about our Georgia Baptist colleges and university, as well as scholarship information, is available upon request by phone toll-free at 800.746.4422, ext. 240 and in the Atlanta area at 770.936.5240 or via the GBC website http://ec.gabaptist.org.
WOMAN’S MISSIONARY UNION AND WOMEN’S ENRICHMENT MINISTRY
Beth Ann Williams, Executive Director
bawilliams@gabaptist.org
The purpose of WMU and Women’s Enrichment Ministry is to encourage and equip Georgia Baptist churches to fulfill the Great Commission, and more specifically to lead women and girls to engage our lost world through prayer, ministry, evangelism and Kingdom generosity.
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We assist new and existing churches in creating a tailored mission involvement strategy.
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We connect women and churches to local and global mission opportunities.
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We lay the foundation essential for children and youth to become tomorrow’s mission leaders.
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We offer a customized, comprehensive ministry strategy for women.
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We prepare women to lead through personalized consultations, team training, and workshops.
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We challenge children, youth and women to a deeper commitment to Christ that leads to a missional lifestyle.
Ministries that highlight our 5 Smooth Stone priorities include:
Spiritual Renewal
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Approximately 700 women gathered at beautiful Callaway Gardens for the 2014 Spring Event to hear speaker and author, Jennifer Kennedy Dean, musician Babbie Mason, and a variety of outstanding conference leaders and missionaries. To learn more visit www.gabaptistwomenspringevent.com.
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The annual Hispanic Women’s Retreat was held in two locations with 291 participants at Pinnacle Retreat Center and 128 participants in Adrian. There were 3 salvations.
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Fifteen women’s ministry leaders gathered for three days at Pinnacle Retreat Center to participate in a retreat designed for networking, fellowship, and spiritual enrichment.
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Our Sisters Who Care Missions Summit attracted 70 African-American women for the purpose of inspiration and missions challenge.
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Women on Mission sponsored a One in Prayer Retreat at Pinnacle, which drew approximately 100 women. Through the theme, A Burning Ember, and guest speaker, Gordon Fort, IMB, women were challenged to pray without ceasing.
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One in Prayer is our web-based prayer initiative to equip and encourage a more effective individual and corporate praying life. For more information visit www.oneinprayer.net.
Kingdom Generosity
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3 in1, our online ordering resource, continues to enable churches to create a standing order that leads to automatic shipments of materials for the Lottie Moon, Annie Armstrong, and Mission Georgia (State Missions) offering emphases. Visit www.3in1missions.org.
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The Georgia Missionary Parents Fellowship continues to provide support and encouragement to parents of missionaries through a fall retreat, a spring meeting and a vibrant prayer network.
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In 2014, staff provided awareness of the Cooperative Program at events and in local churches and utilized missionary personnel at events to personalize giving through the Cooperative Program.
Church Revitalization
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Equipping of 1,400 Anglo, African American, Hispanic, Korean, Cambodian, Vietnamese, Laotian and Moldovan leaders took place through a variety of venues.
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Summer Missions Camp exists to help girls and teens experience God and understand His desire to reach the nations with the truth of Jesus Christ. Our 2014 missions/culture camp focused on Israel. Twenty girls accepted Jesus, 6 surrendered to missions, and 3 reaffirmed their faith in Christ. Visit www.camppinnacle.net to learn more.
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More than 500 boys and girls were encouraged to Be Strong in their relationship to God by Strong Man, Cameron Bailey at the Children’s Extravaganza. Through missionaries, games and prayer children learned our greatest strength is salvation in Jesus.
Authentic Evangelism
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Women focused on Project HELP: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and continue to learn how to minister to those affected by PTSD.
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Fifty Georgia Baptists were mobilized to participate in Lobby Day for domestic child trafficking victims at the State Capitol.
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In November, 58 young women, ages 18-35, gathered in Macon/Warner Robins for a weekend of missions serving victims of human trafficking. The project was a partnership among Georgia WMU&WEM, Out of Darkness Middle Georgia, Rehoboth Baptist Association and Shirley Hills Baptist Church. They also learned ways to be involved in ongoing missions discipleship through the church.
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In partnership with churches and associations in Georgia, women participated in Christmas in Appalachia filling over 20,000 backpacks.
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Women participated in the Hygiene Project: Southeast Asia. Either because of cost or availability, it is not always easy for women in the developing world to access feminine hygiene products. We provided reusable feminine hygiene products that were used as a part of an overall strategy to share the Gospel in Southeast Asia.
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Christian Women’s Job Corps (CWJC) provides a Christian context in which women in need are introduced to Christ and equipped for life and employment. Currently there are five CWJC sites.
Pinnacle Retreat Center in Clayton, Georgia, is owned and operated by Georgia WMU. This beautiful multi-purpose conference center, nestled in the northeast Georgia mountains, is an ideal setting for staff, deacon or church retreats from August through May. June and early July are reserved for our summer missions camp. Visit www.pinnacleretreatcenter.com.
We are eager to assist churches and associations with personal consultations and customized training. If we can serve you, please contact us at 770-936-5234 or 1-800-746-4422, extension 324 or visit us at www.georgiawmu.org.
North American Mission Board
4200 North Point Parkway, Alpharetta GA 30022-4174
Kevin Ezell, President
The North American Mission Board (NAMB) is focused on planting more Southern Baptist churches and discovering and developing new missionaries who will take the Gospel to North America. NAMB has challenged Southern Baptists to plant 15,000 churches over the next 10 years which will require new workers who will go to the harvest fields. In order to do this, NAMB will provide student missionaries a more focused, ministry oriented experience with they serve North America. NAMB will provide opportunities for those who desire to serve long-term. This will be accomplished through church planting internships and church planter apprenticeships. Every church that is planted will focus on reaching new people for Christ and ministering in the community.
NAMB provides assistance to churches through the following:
In 2013, 936 church plants were reported. NAMB continues to promote and encourage participation in the Send North America strategy. There are 32 Send Cities and each city has a strategy team. Updated Send City information is available at namb.net/cities.
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Evangelism and Making Disciples
Through God’s Plans for Sharing initiative 49,000 boxes of Find It Here New Testaments were mailed to churches to distribute. There are 3,514 chaplains serving around the world.
NAMB continues to see growth in the missionary Farm System. In 2013, 1,255 student missionaries, 276 church planting interns and 69 church planter apprentices were placed. To facilitate the placement process, NAMB launched a new online application system, Mobilize Me.
Woman’s Missionary Union receives resources for North American missions materials that are used in publications from NAMB. Since WMU began overseeing Royal Ambassadors, there has been an increase in membership and materials distribution. Through a Volunteer Opportunities website, there have been more than 300 volunteer opportunities for mission teams and individuals posted.
NAMB equips pastors, church leaders, church planters, ministers’ wives and missionaries through Churches Planting Churches Training, Multiplying Churches Training, Generation Send, Flourish, Timothy+Barnabas and Sendnewtork.com.
Each week in 2013 a Disaster Relief team was responding to those in need across the United States. Through these volunteers, 14,343 ministry contacts, 1,948 Gospel presentations and 227 professions of faith were recorded.
International Mission Board
PO Box 6767 (3806 Monument Avenue) Richmond VA 23230
David Platt, President
The mission of the International Mission Board (IMB) is to make disciples of all peoples in fulfillment of the Great Commission. The vision is: a multitude from every language, people, tribe and nation knowing and worshipping Jesus Christ.
IMB provides assistance to churches through the following:
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Evangelize people, plant churches and nurture church planting movements
There are a total of 2,166 unreached people groups with populations greater than 100,000. 395 of these large people groups remain unengaged. Unreached people groups of all population sizes number 3,605. 6,192 new churches were reported.
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Send and support missionaries and volunteers
In 2013, 257 new long-term personnel and 218 new short-term personnel were appointed. New personnel are placed in the most strategic assignments around the world. IMB continues to make Southern Baptists aware of opportunities for mission service.
The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering goal was $175,000,000 and the amount received was $149,276,304. IMB continues to promote the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering in a variety of ways. Approximately 4,900 full-time missionaries and close to 100,000 short-term volunteers work together to share the Gospel across the world.
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Develop global strategies
Human needs operations administered 309 relief and development projects in 67 countries. Almost 6,000 communities were assisted through development projects and disaster relief projects. Over 1.6 million people were helped with basic life essentials using SBC World Hunger Funds and funds designated for Global Hunger Relief.
GEORGIA BAPTIST CHILDREN'S HOMES AND FAMILY MINISTRIES, INC.
James Harper, President and CEO
www.gbchfm.org
Today, we are seeing children who come from more traumatic situations and have a much higher need for care. Poverty, grandparents raising grandchildren, substance abuse in the home, human trafficking, extreme abuse, and more complex behavioral issues have created a need for more intense care and therapy for our children. In the midst of their crisis, each one of our kids is hoping that someday things will get better.
Georgia Baptist Children’s Homes & Family Ministries helps our children find their “someday” – today. Our campuses, residential group homes and family foster care programs offer a new beginning for children who have experienced abuse, abandonment or neglect. Our specialty ministries offer hope to young teen mothers, girls who have been victimized through human trafficking, children with higher behavioral needs, children with developmental disabilities in need of respite care, and individuals coping with physical and developmental disabilities through an innovative therapeutic riding program. Our community counseling centers, located on our campuses throughout the state, serve as a place for families to seek help, guidance, and understanding. In 2014, we also began a Family Care program dedicated to helping mothers and their children overcome domestic violence and homelessness. We recognize that there are mothers trying desperately to keep their families together despite incredible odds. Our goal is to minister to these women and children to help them find a safe place to begin a new life. In 2014, we helped 829 children find their “someday.”
We continue to minister to all of our children’s spiritual needs and show them that true healing and hope only comes through the salvation of Jesus Christ. We are blessed to share that this past year 59 children in our care made professions of faith!
This ministry can’t serve these children without your help. We are proud of our heritage as an agency of the Georgia Baptist Convention. Since we do not receive Cooperative Program funding, we are especially grateful to many of our Georgia Baptist churches across the state that place us in their church budgets, recognize special offerings for our ministry and participate in associational truck loadings. Together, we can make “someday” begin today!
THE GRAHAM FOUNDATION
The Graham Foundation provides emergency loans to students who need assistance to remain in school. In 1991 the trustees turned over daily administration of the Foundation funds and loan servicing to the Georgia Baptist Foundation, Inc. The Georgia Baptist Foundation was chartered in 1941 to serve as the independent trust agency of the Georgia Baptist Convention.
The Georgia Baptist Foundation is audited annually. Their report is submitted to the Executive Committee for inclusion in the Book of Reports. The audit of the Georgia Baptist Foundation suffices for the Graham Foundation’s requirement for an annual audit. The unaudited Graham Foundation financial statements and notes submitted here are compiled from account information provided by the Georgia Baptist Foundation.
GEORGIA BAPTIST HEALTH CARE MINISTRY FOUNDATION
Will C. Bacon, President and CEO
www.gbhcmf.org
Georgia Baptist Health Care Ministry Foundation is pleased to present our annual report for 2014. As we selected the grant recipients for this year, we continued to emphasize transforming health care ministries in and through Georgia Baptist associations. Our intent is that we demonstrate the teachings of Jesus, especially those of being the neighbor and showing mercy, by offering health care grants.
Our efforts in health care offer generosity that we pray will eventuate into continual deeds of kindness, both for the ones receiving the ministry, and the ones who offer it. As we partner together in health care, we follow the Apostle Paul’s advice to Timothy to “teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.” Our grants are distributed to help transform communities for Christ, by touching individuals at their points of health care need.
Demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ through a health care ministry, grants from the Georgia Baptist Health Care Ministry Foundation make a significant impact on the world, now and in the future. We thank you for your interest, prayers, and efforts to help us fulfill our mission.
Please access our website at www.gbhcmf.org to learn more about our organization, and the grant application process.
BAPTIST RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES OF GEORGIA
Peggy J. Beckett, President and CEO
pbeckett@brcga.org
Baptist Retirement Communities of Georgia, INC. has been providing comfortable, secure homes for senior adults at affordable rates, within a Christian environment, since 1967. Today over 400 seniors receive services daily from our three communities.
Palmetto Park, situated in rural part of South Fulton County in Palmetto Georgia, offers spacious grounds, lovely rolling hills and peaceful meadows. Twenty-six garden cottages for independent living are nestled around a pond filled with fish, turtles, and alternately wild geese. Deer and turkey often visit the property. Situated on a small rise next to the cottages, stands Baptist Manor, a two-story congregate living facility offering independent living studios, and one bedroom apartments. Also located within this structure via a private entrance are 24 personal care suites known as Garrison Personal Care. Baptist Manor has a large, elegant dining room with vaulted ceilings and wide windows facing the pond wherein residents enjoy waiter/waitress service from a select menu. Other amenities include weekly light housekeeping, and a full program of social, spiritual, and physical activities, led by a full time Lifestyles Director and full time Chaplain. Local businesses deliver groceries, pharmacy prescriptions and supplies at no additional charge to residents. An on- site beauty and barber shop, and physicians’ office make life convenient for residents. A new ministry added this year is our cottage for people receiving long term cancer treatment at the nearby Cancer of America. Cancer Center patients and their families can find a comfortable respite stay in our cottage called Hope Haven. Designed to meet their needs Hope Haven offers cancer treatment patients and families a place where they can relax in a fully furnished 2-bedroom cottage, complete with a functional kitchen, Television, and DVD player for music, movies or teaching videos. Meals can be delivered from the main kitchen at Baptist Manor.
Clairmont Crest is located in Decatur, Georgia near Emory University and hospital, Veterans’ Hospital, and charming revitalized downtown Decatur. This community attracts seniors who enjoy the urban life. Two 5 story apartment buildings are connected with lighted pathways through gardens, a fountain, and an in ground swimming pool. Studios, one, two and large two- bedroom apartments for independent living are available. The residents of Clairmont Crest call themselves Crestors, and live full active lives. Regular planned trips help them take advantage of the plethora of cultural and entertainment events provided by a large Metro area. From simple shopping, dining out, to the fabulous Fox and its variety shows and plays to the more refined concerts, and church services the Crestors can be found enjoying themselves. An organized activity program makes sure that those who prefer staying near home have ample opportunity to games, parties, and enrichment services such as Bible study and prayer meeting. Other amenities of Clairmont Crest are an on-site beauty ad barber shop and a fully equipped senior gym. New for this year at Clairmont Crest is our chaplain. Our staff chaplain is available for hospital visits, counseling, and supportive spiritual care. We now offer periodic communion services and special small focus groups. We are so thankful that God sent us just the right man for this much needed role in our community.
Hiawassee Park, our community still under construction, is located in scenic northeast Georgia, the resort town of Hiawassee. For mountain resort retirement, this community is second to none. Presently we have 34 cottages offering independent living and a central clubhouse that features a large kitchen and recreational area, a stone fireplace and large screen TV where games, movies and videos are shared. There is a fully equipped senior gym, and a separate pool room where residents may work out in the resistance pool which has cross currents, and a retractable under water treadmill. This no impact exercise is great for osteoarthritis.
We look forward to the addition of personal care and independent living apartments for this community in the near future. An attractive lodge will house both these ministries as well as a central dining room that will offer meals to all within the community.
There is never a large buy-in fee for BRC. Rental rates are all inclusive; no additional maintenance or amenity fees apply. Our age requirement begins at fifty. Presently all our communities are in the 90 percentile for occupancy. God has richly blessed our ministry and we give Him the glory for all the success it enjoys. As an agency of the Georgia Baptist Convention we are a part of the Cooperative Program budget and receive funds each month. Many churches have been led to place us in their budget on a monthly or quarterly basis. Individuals have remembered us in their wills, either with an outright gift or a trust through the Georgia Baptist Foundation. These funds enable us to adhere to our ministry mission of offering comfortable housing at affordable rental rates within a Christian environment.
We are grateful to Georgia Baptists for their generous and faithful support of our ministry. Please keep us in your prayers as we seek to develop new services and complete this new community, all to the Glory of God. You are welcome to visit us at any location at any time, or you may take a virtual tour and view pictures from all our communities on our website. The individual communities also maintain Facebook internet for residents, families, and friends to interact and get a firsthand view of BRCGA Community life.
Palmetto Park: Sharalene Roper (770-463-2460)
Clairmont Crest: Cathy Humphrey (404-325-9077)
Hiawassee Park: Shannon Watson (762-500-2021)
President/CEO Peggy Beckett (404-325-9077)
Web site www.brcga.org
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