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Georgia BCM students join Helene relief efforts

Valdosta State University BCM student Alessio Williams, right, helps a Disaster Relief volunteer from Kentucky carry a container of hot food at Northside Baptist Church in Valdosta, Ga., Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. (Index/Henry Durand)
VALDOSTA, Ga. — In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers, supported by teams from other states, spread through the affected area. In some cases, they were joined by local college students from Georgia Baptist Collegiate Ministries.
Jeff and Sandra Parmer. (Photo/First Baptist Church, Reynolds)
Hurricane Helene made for a stormy transition for new Ogeechee River Baptist Association AMS Jeff Parmer
“Well, I didn’t have that on my bingo card,” has been Jeff Parmer’s reply when asked about his first week as associational missionary for Ogeechee River Baptist Association. After a lifetime of serving in pastoral positions in churches across Georgia, Parmer’s first day in his new role was Monday, Sept. 23. Three days later, Hurricane Helene roared across the South, leaving a trail of death and destruction that encompassed the counties comprising the ORBA – Bulloch, Bryan, and Candler.
An aerial view of Tropicana Field's shredded roof in downtown St. Petersburg, Fla., in the wake of Hurricane Milton early Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024.  (Max Chesnes/Tampa Bay Times via AP)
Hurricane Milton plows across Florida, pounding cities and whipping up tornadoes
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Hurricane Milton barreled into the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday after plowing across Florida, where it knocked out power to more than 3 million customers and whipped up a barrage of tornadoes. The storm caused at least four deaths and compounded the misery wrought by Helene while sparing Tampa a direct hit.
Messengers vote during the annual meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention in November 2022. (Index/Henry Durand, File)
Resolutions may now be submitted for the 202nd Georgia Baptist Convention
This year, Georgia Baptists will celebrate the 202nd anniversary of the Georgia Baptist Convention. The theme of the annual meeting will be “Answering the Call.” It will be held at First Baptist Church, Statesboro, on Sunday, Nov. 10 through Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024.
Max Watts, of Buford, Ga., walks in the parking lot to check on a trailer parked outside the hotel where he is riding out Hurricane Milton with coworkers, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. Watts, who works for a towing company, was deployed with colleagues to Florida to aid in the aftermath of the storm. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
More than 2 million without power as Hurricane Milton slams Florida, causes deaths and flooding
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Hurricane Milton plowed into Florida as a Category 3 storm Wednesday, bringing misery to a coast still ravaged by Helene, pounding cities with winds of over 100 mph after producing a barrage of tornadoes, but sparing Tampa a direct hit.
Disaster Relief volunteers from Georgia, Arkansas, and Kentucky pray before another day of helping survivors of Hurricane Helene in Valdosta, Ga. (Index/Henry Durand)
Southern Baptists stage resources for Hurricane Milton response as Helene relief efforts continue
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A tractor-trailer loaded with generators, temporary roofing, more than 20,000 meals, and equipment to serve meals to first responders and survivors, has staged at Send Relief’s headquarters in Alpharetta.
Baptist Life

Churches work hard for impact of Vacation Bible Schools to extend long past the summer

Kids enjoy a lesson during VBS at Palmetto Baptist Church. (Photo/Palmetto Baptist Church)
Summer may be over, but the impact of Vacation Bible Schools held at Georgia Baptist churches will carry far into the future. Krista Staton, the Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s kids ministry consultant, reports that this year more than 1,400 children made commitments to Christ at churches large and small across the state.
CLEVELAND, Ga. — Keys for Mission, a campaign presented by the School of Music, is well under way to pay for the purchase of five new concert pianos. The fundraiser, in honor of Dr. Lombard, began in August 2024, with a goal of raising $30,000.
ONTARIO, Calif. — The inauguration of Adam Groza as the eighth president of Gateway Seminary conveyed a sense of joy and hope for the future for those in attendance.
NEW YORK CITY — North American Mission Board trustees approved the 2024-2025 budget and celebrated missionaries serving as church planters and in compassion ministry throughout the metro New York City area as they gathered for meetings Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 7-8.
SIESTA KEY, Fla. – With more than 3 million people without power following Hurricane Milton’s landfall and subsequent pounding of central Florida, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) is ready to deploy meals as early as Saturday through its partnerships with The Salvation Army and American Red Cross.
Georgia
Cotton grows on a farm near Nashville, Ga., Oct. 9, 2024. (Index/Henry Durand)

Helene damage to Georgia farms estimated at $6.46 billion

ATLANTA – Hurricane Helene caused at least $6.46 billion in losses to Georgia farmers, according to preliminary estimates released Thursday by the University of Georgia College of Agriculture & Environmental Science.

Man who entered U.S. illegally and is charged in the killing of a Georgia nursing student faces hearing

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — The man accused of killing a nursing student whose body was found on the University of Georgia campus is due in court Friday for a motions hearing ahead of his scheduled trial next month. Jose Ibarra, who entered the U.S. illegally, is charged with murder and other crimes in the February killing of Laken Hope Riley.

A Georgia county official dies after giving testimony about a hazardous chemical plant fire

ATLANTA (AP) — A Georgia county official died after he collapsed at the state Capitol following testimony he gave during a hearing about a chemical plant fire.

Pilot of larger plane was looking away from smaller plane in Atlanta airport mishap, report says

ATLANTA (AP) — The pilot of a larger plane was looking away from the tail of a smaller plane when the larger plane’s right wing hit the tail and knocked it over while taxiing at Atlanta’s airport on the morning of Sept. 10, according to an aviation safety report.
Nation

A vehicle dropping off a shooting victim struck 3 nurses, critically wounding 1

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A vehicle fleeing a Philadelphia hospital after dropping off a gunshot victim early Saturday struck three nurses who were trying to treat the patient, injuring one critically, authorities said.

Far from where Hurricane Milton hit, tornadoes wrought unexpected damage

WELLINGTON, Fla. (AP) — Tony Brazzale, a diving boat captain who has lived for 10 years in his Wellington home in southeastern Florida, wasn't worried about Hurricane Milton. The storm's center was forecast to make landfall on the opposite side of the peninsula and then cross the state well to the north of his family.

Residents repair their homes and clean up after Hurricane Milton tore through Florida

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Florida residents repaired damage from Hurricane Milton and cleaned up debris Friday after the storm smashed through coastal communities and tore homes to pieces, flooded streets and spawned a barrage of deadly tornadoes.

Although Milton has moved on, at least 8 are dead and millions remain in the dark

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Rescue teams plucked Florida residents from the flotsam of Hurricane Milton on Thursday after the storm smashed through coastal communities where it tore homes into pieces, filled streets with mud and spawned a barrage of deadly tornadoes. At least eight people were dead.
World

Powerful storm knocks out power to 1.4 million homes in Brazil's largest city

SAO PAULO (AP) — Around 1.4 million households in Sao Paulo, Brazil, were without power on Saturday almost 24 hours after a brief but powerful storm swept through South America's largest metropolis. At least seven people were killed.

Tribal clashes kill at least 11 people in Pakistan

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Tribal clashes killed at least 11 people in northwestern Pakistan on Saturday and injured eight, including women and children, a local official said.

Hindus in Bangladesh celebrate their largest festival under tight security following attacks

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Schoolteacher Supriya Sarker is glad to celebrate Bangladesh's largest Hindu festival of Durga Puja but feels the festivities would be more jubilant without the fear and violence that overshadow this year's event.

Nobel Peace Prize given to Japanese organization Nihon Hidankyo for its work against nuclear weapons

The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded Friday to Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese organization of survivors of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, for its activism against nuclear weapons.
Perspectives
When I graduated from high school, I received a gift from a family in our church with the following note. “Hope you can use this throughout your whole life.” I have. Over 40 years later, I still use that gift almost weekly. The gift? The Random House College Dictionary. (I know, I’m a luddite, still using a real, hard-cover dictionary.)
Often I feel led to do or to write something that proves most appropriate and even fruitful. Recently, I came to realize how often I do things unaware that it is the result of the Holy Spirit’s leadership. I have even come to depend on His guidance in many of the things I do.
Not long ago I officiated a wedding ceremony that followed the predictable theme of faithfulness. I, groom, take you bride, to be my wedded wife. I promise to love you, comfort you, honor and keep you, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, and forsaking all others, be faithful only to you so long as we both shall live. Soon, the bride pledged the same loyalty to her new husband.
 Once upon a time, the renowned 18th Century English preacher George Whitfield was getting the people of Edinburgh, Scotland out of bed at 5:00 am to come hear him speak. On one occasion, a man on his way to a service was surprised when he met up with David Hume, the Scottish philosopher and skeptic.
As a Georgia woman, wife, and mother, I’m incensed by Fulton County Superior Court’s ruling last week to strike down the LIFE ACT in favor of more liberal abortion regulations in our state. It is important for everyone to understand what is at stake, and what outcome may exist as a result of this ruling.
Business
The Social Security Administration's main campus is seen on Jan. 11, 2013, in Woodlawn, Md. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

Social Security recipients will get a 2.5% cost-of-living boost in 2025, smaller than in recent past

WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of Social Security recipients will get a 2.5% cost-of-living increase to their monthly checks beginning in January, the Social Security Administration announced Thursday. The cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, for retirees translates to an average increase of more than $50 for retirees every month, agency officials said.

Delta's Q3 profit fell below $1 billion after global tech outage led to thousands of cancellations

Third-quarter earnings fell 26% at Delta Air Lines, which struggled to overcome a global technology outage that led to thousands of flight cancellations, and indications that growth in air travel is beginning to slow.

Hyundai has begun producing electric SUVs at its $7.6 billion plant in Georgia

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Hyundai has begun producing electric SUVs in Georgia less than two years after breaking ground on its sprawling, $7.6 billion manufacturing plant west of Savannah. Hyundai's factory in Georgia held an “employee-focused celebration” Thursday as its first EV for commercial sale rolled off the assembly line, Bianca Johnson, spokesperson for Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, said in a statement provided Monday to The Associated Press.

Authorities are investigating after a Frontier Airlines plane lands with fire in one engine

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Federal authorities said Sunday that they are investigating the emergency landing of a Frontier Airlines plane in Las Vegas.

Solar power companies are growing fast in Africa, where 600 million still lack electricity

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (AP) — Companies that bring solar power to some of the poorest homes in Central and West Africa are said to be among the fastest growing on a continent whose governments have long struggled to address some of the world's worst infrastructure.
Sports
Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith (11) catches the ball during an NCAA college football game against Mississippi State, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Beck passes for 459 yards and 3 TDs as No. 5 Georgia holds off Van Buren, Mississippi State 41-31

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Carson Beck passed for a career-high 459 yards and three touchdowns and No. 5 Georgia withstood Mississippi State's second-half comeback bid for a 41-31 win Saturday.

Braves hitting coach Kevin Seitzer and 2 other coaches won't return to Brian Snitker's 2025 staff

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves are making changes to manager Brian Snitker's coaching staff following the team's quick exit from their NL Wild Card Series by informing hitting coach Kevin Seitzer and two other coaches they won't return.

Coach Smart focused on ‘pride’ as No. 5 Georgia prepares for SEC test vs underdog Mississippi State

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Kirby Smart doesn't believe he needs to use last week's shocking wave of upset losses by four highly ranked AP Top 25 teams as motivation for No. 5 Georgia in Saturday's visit from underdog Mississippi State.

Georgia university leaders ask NCAA to ban transgender women from sports

ATLANTA (AP) — The regents who govern Georgia's 26 public universities and colleges voted on Tuesday to ask the NCAA and another college athletic federation to ban transgender women from participating in women's sports.