The Georgia Baptist Mission Board has launched a new round of Public Affairs training events, designed to equip pastors and church members with the tools and insights they need to effectively engage in today’s cultural and political landscape. The training sessions, set to run from April through November, will take place in nine cities across the state, beginning April 29 in Dalton.
With the theme “Salt and Light: Your Role in the Public Square,” this year’s events build on the momentum of a highly successful legislative session for Georgia Baptists. Mike Griffin, the mission board’s public affairs representative, called the 2025 session “one of the most successful” in his 18 years working at the Capitol.
Among this year’s key victories for Georgia Baptists was the long-awaited passage of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). Thomas Hammond, executive director of the GBMB, pointed to RFRA as an example of what can be accomplished when God’s people engage in politics. “This is an example of the impact we can have when we respectfully speak to the issues that concern us most.”
The legislation, modeled on the 1993 federal RFRA, was signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp on April 4, making Georgia the 40th state to enact such protections. The law ensures that people of faith receive the same level of constitutional protection as those exercising rights to free speech, press, and assembly.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Henry Durand and originally published by the Christian Index.
