Augusta, GA

800 GA Baptists fan across Augusta for hands-on ministry in community – The Baptist Paper

Published

2 years ago

February 17, 2024

800 GA Baptists fan across Augusta for hands-on ministry in community – The Baptist Paper

Nearly 800 people recently gathered in Augusta for hands-on ministry that included renovating schools and churches, building a playground, providing free dental care, throwing block parties and more.

In the process, at least 24 people made salvation decisions.

“We’re rejoicing over that,” said David Nowling, associate director of missions at the Augusta Association of Baptist Churches.

The initiative, which involved 65 churches from 10 states, kicked off at West Acres Baptist Church for a rally that included former University of Georgia football coach Mark Richt, Send Relief President Bryant Wright, and Georgia Baptist Mission Board Executive Director W. Thomas Hammond Jr. as speakers.

Meeting the community’s needs

Richt told WRDW-TV the idea behind the initiative was to meet the community’s needs, whether they were physical, mental or spiritual.

About 60 teams fanned out across the city, some ending up at Garrett Elementary School where two teacher lounges were renovated.

“It was more than what I expected, so I was overwhelmed,” Stacey Walk, school principal, told the TV station. “And I know that my teachers are going to be overwhelmed as well.”

“Our hope is that what happens this weekend is that the local leaders here in Augusta and churches will just take the ball and run with it,” Wright said. “This could be an annual thing in Augusta. … That’s our hope.”

The Augusta Association of Baptist Churches published a list of ministry projects.

That list said the volunteers accomplished the following:

Completed an Extreme Makeover: Church Edition for one local church by refurbishing the sanctuary, welcome area, parking lot and playground.
Painted a church’s fellowship hall and welcome area and did a deep clean of its kitchen.
Hosted block parties, including one in what was described as “the most lost zip code in Georgia” where 10 people came to faith in Christ.
Provided meals for teachers at a local school where the principal allowed volunteers to pray for faculty and students that were in their classrooms.
Built a playground for an after-school program.
Removed a dilapidated fence and built a new wooden fence for a foster family.
Built new shelves, new doors and a ramp for the food ministry at a local mission.
Volunteers helped with a Night to Shine program for people with special needs.
Painted a local rescue mission, made repairs at a pregnancy center, did random acts of kindness in downtown Augusta, and visited local nursing homes.
Removed old carpet and installed new carpet squares for a local church.
Gave “blessing and encouragement bags” to 24 foster families.

EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written and originally published by the Christian Index.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta Stars hosts Christmas bowling event with Fort Gordon soldiers

Published

10 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

Augusta Stars hosts Christmas bowling event with Fort Gordon soldiers

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Stars Special Olympics team hosted their annual Bowl with Soldiers Christmas party.

The goal was to bring together local athletes and military personnel from Fort Gordon for an evening of bowling at Bowlero.

The Augusta Stars is a Special Olympics team that offers bowling and basketball programs. The team is currently preparing for the Winter Special Olympics, which begin Jan. 30 in Marietta.

“I like the bowls because it’s fun and I like to get to play,” said Victoria Valootton, an Augusta Stars athlete.

The annual event allows soldiers to join the Special Olympics athletes for bowling and community connection.

“Personally, it’s important because Jeff Keating is one of our teammates and we want to support them,” said Sapriya McLendon, U.S. Army. “Secondly, just for the community in general, just coming out here and being part of the team that cares about us and supports us, and we’re here to serve you today.”

The Winter Special Olympics will be held in Marietta, Georgia, starting Jan. 30.

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Augusta, GA

Through pain, acid victim still smiling as she recovers in Augusta

Published

23 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

Through pain, acid victim still smiling as she recovers in Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. – A Savannah woman faces a long road to recovery after a stranger attacked her with acid that ate through her clothes and covered 50% of her body with burns.

Ashley Wasielewski is trying to recover after receiving a first round of emergency surgery at the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital in Augusta.

The attack happened last Wednesday at Savannah’s iconic Forsyth Park when a man stepped out of the shadows and poured acid all over Wasielewski.

The recovery has been extremely difficult, according to her friend Kristen Oddi, of Marietta.

Most of the burns have been diagnosed as third-degree, covering over 50% of her body, Oddi wrote on a GoFundMe page.

She said it’s unlikely one burned area of Wasielewski’s scalp will ever grow hair again.

She added that the most crucial next step is to see if Ashley’s body will accept the cadaver skin from a recent surgery.

If that happens, skin graft surgeries will proceed, Oddi said.

Plastic surgery is ahead for her, but there’s no timetable yet.

Beyond that, Wasielewski faces rehabilitation, occupational therapy, wound management, long-term support and follow-up.

For now, she’s stable, according to Oddi.

Women suffers third-degree burns in Forsyth Park acid attack; Community concerned(WTOC)

And despite the hardship she’s been through and that lies ahead, she’s smiling in a photo from her hospital bed, with little other than her eyes and mouth visible through openings in gauze that covers her face.

“She will come back so much stronger,” Oddi said. “That, I don’t have a single doubt about.”

The investigation continues

Police are looking for the suspect and have spoken with two witnesses.

They’re hoping to speak with a third person whose photo they posted and to find the driver of a vehicle that was spotted nearby.

Meanwhile, the FBI is offering a $5,000 reward for tips.

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Augusta, GA

AU’s Healthy Grandparents program holds Christmas party

Published

1 day ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

AU’s Healthy Grandparents program holds Christmas party

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta University’s Healthy Grandparents program had its Christmas party Sunday.

Santa is continuing his trip across the csra and was at the party to give presents to the kids.

The program was started in 1999 to support grandparents raising their children.

They help with necessary services like food assistance and transportation.

We spoke with one of the grandparents about the program.

“My grandchildren love it. They do a lot of things going on the year, like summer camp and all that stuff, book bag, getaways,” said Carolyn Thompson.

The program has helped more than 660 families, 900 grandparents, and 1,300 grandchildren.

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