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

Women’s Healthy and Beauty Expo in Augusta celebrates Women’s History Month

Published

8 hours ago

March 8, 2026

Press Room

Women’s Healthy and Beauty Expo in Augusta celebrates Women’s History Month

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Cher’s Sisters Only Club hosted a CSRA women’s health and beauty expo in Augusta to celebrate women’s history month.

The event took place at the Julian Smith Casino on Broad Street, where there was a fashion show, vendors, community engagement and some wellness resources.

“We had CrossFit, we had Fit to Run, we have some other vendors that has like branding wellness type products and things like that, but as a whole, we had 42 vendors that have enjoyed, and the people that come out have seemed to enjoy it too,” Vonteice Davis and Cher Best of Cher’s Sisters Only Club.

The Augusta Parks and Recreation partnered with the club for Sunday’s event.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta teen summit focuses on deterring crime and gang ties

Published

20 hours ago

March 8, 2026

Press Room

Augusta teen summit focuses on deterring crime and gang ties

AUGUSTA, Ga (WJBF)- Saturday afternoon local leaders in Richmond County held a Community Teen Summit and Youth Forum at May Park Community Center to combat the rise in teen violence.

“We wanted to bring in some of the young adults in our community to a safe place where they can utilize their voice. They can be heard,” said Cheryl Bryant, one of the event coordinators.

The forum was centered on reaching teens who may be at risk of joining gangs or other criminal behaviors.

“We see so much happening with our youth. We’ve seen it in the news. I see it in our courtrooms, whether I’m representing the youth or if I’ve seen a youth before me, and if there’s any information I can share that can protect them from coming into the court system, whether it’s for a criminal charge or for some other reason, I like to do that,” said Katrell Nash, a Juvenile Attorney and Judge.

The event featured community leaders like Sheriff Eugene Brantley and included panel speakers and other vendors designed to support local youth.

“We’re here to let the youth know that there are resources in the community for them. There’s job opportunities. There is mentoring. We’ve got gang mentors,” explained Stephanie Allen, the Public Education Specialist for the Augusta Fire Department.

A recurring theme of the event was “It Takes a Village.” Community members said it is important to show up for youth who may be struggling and help them make better life choices.

“We just want them to know that they’re not alone and that whatever their struggles are, whatever they’re going through– cyber bullying, peer bullying, feel like they don’t have the support at home, that they can reach out to community members and that we’re here to help them. All they have to do is ask,” Allen said.

“That they feel as if we care and we want to help and that they know that there are things in place for them to get help,” added Sheriff Eugene Brantley.

The summit was well attended with between 100 and 200 people. Leaders said it made them hopeful that more of Richmond County’s youth will turn from violence and crime and walk a better path.

“I love to see that children are engaged, that they want to know more about their rights. They want to know more about what the law says, as well as what they should do in these situations. It makes me very optimistic about their futures and the future of our community at large,” Nash explained.

“I think it’s going to like open them up to other opportunities. And I hope that they go back to school on Monday and tell their peers what they learned here today,” said Allen.

“Hopefully the kids and the youth who are here will engage with the sponsors and the mentors that are here, and hopefully they’ll learn and make better choices and make better decisions. And learn to respond instead of react to things,” said Sheriff Brantley.

Organizers are hoping the teen summit will become an annual event.

Photojournalist: Avery Van Dusen.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta church hosts 12th annual storybook brunch

Published

1 day ago

March 7, 2026

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Augusta church hosts 12th annual storybook brunch

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A fundraiser to help give back to pediatric burn patients was held in Augusta on Saturday.

The 12th annual storybook brunch took place at the First Baptist Church of Augusta, and several storybook characters attended.

Steve Chalker, who is the chief operating officer of the Burn Foundation of America, spoke about how this event helps.

“It just helps raise funds for direct patient services we provide every single day, and this particular event does help burn patients. It’s an event for kids, but it helps benefit them as well,” Chalker said.

News 12’s Zayna Haliburton was there as Princess of Ceremonies.

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