Florida
Westside Baptist Church in Wewahitchka, Florida, “has made a commitment to reaching our community, and food distribution is one vehicle that we use,” said Pastor Derrick Gerber, the Florida Baptist Witness reported. The church, responding to a hunger need that has escalated since the pandemic outbreak, delivered 120 backpacks filled with food to children at a local elementary school over fall break and plans to do the same over winter break.
Georgia
Fleeing an abusive environment, Melissa and her two sons fled Florida, with no idea where they might go. After several nights of sleeping in their car and a temporary stay in a domestic violence shelter in Georgia, she and her sons were accepted into the Family Care program at the Georgia Baptist Children’s Homes & Family Ministries, the GBCH&FM Messenger reported. There, Melissa’s life has turned around and her faith has been strengthened. “I’m just really blessed to be here,” she said.
Louisiana
Paul Will, founding pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, was granted parole and released from prison Dec. 11. While serving his life sentence, Will earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary’s extension and was ordained. Grace Baptist is believed to be the first fully recognized Southern Baptist church inside prison walls, the Baptist Message reported.
Mississippi
Physician assistants like Mississippi College graduate Ryne Graham are spending many hours on the front lines at medical facilities as COVID-19 cases soar nationwide. A Navy officer, the Clinton, Mississippi, native is practicing medicine at a U.S. Navy clinic in Everett, Washington. Earlier this year, he was among three physician assistants treating sailors with COVID-19 aboard the USNS Mercy. Mississippi College launched the state’s only physician assistant program in 2011, MC University News reported.
Tennessee
Tennessee Baptists collected 5,826 Christmas backpacks this year, an increase from the approximate 5,500 collected in 2019 and approximate 3,500 collected in 2018 when Tennessee Baptists joined other state conventions in the effort. The backpacks are filled with school supplies, clothes, hygiene needs, food, toys and other items and are delivered to low-income families throughout the state as a tangible way to share Christ’s love, the Baptist and Reflector reported.
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