The Georgia Baptist Association, a group of more than 50 Baptist Church in Wilkes and surrounding counties, will celebrate its 225th year in existence with an eight-day schedule of special events, October 10-18.

The Georgia Baptist Association is the first, and perhaps the largest, association of churches in Georgia. Rev. Andy Perryman is the Director of Missions for the Association with headquarters on North Jefferson Street in Washington. "As the first Baptist association in the state, it is also the mother to many Southern Baptist Convention and Georgia Baptist Convention entities," Rev. Perryman says.

The celebration will begin Saturday, October 10, at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Greensboro with Dr. Morris Chapman as keynote speaker. Dr. Chapman is president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee. Also on the program will be Dr. Tom Nettles, Professor of History at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., who will talk about the rich history of the Georgia Association.

The children of the Association will celebrate at 3 p.m. Saturday at Phillips Mill Baptist Church, Washington, with "Hippo, the Clown," inflatables, games and refreshments.

Morningside Baptist Church in Lincolnton will be host for the Sunday evening, October 11, service. Dr. Clyde Meadow from the International Missions Board (IMB) of the Southern Baptist Convention will be the speaker. The IMB supports more than 5000 career missionaries throughout the world. The service will begin at 6 p.m.

Monday, October 12, will be North American Missions Emphasis Day with Dr. Hugh Townsend as the main speaker. Fishing Creek Baptist Church near Tignall will host this meeting which begins at 11 a.m. and includes lunch.

Tuesday's meeting will feature The Christian Index, the Baptist newspaper for Georgia, and traces its roots back to the Georgia Association with Rev. Jesse Mercer as founder and editor. Bethesda Baptist Church in Union Point will serve as host for the 11 a.m. service with lunch served afterwards. Dr. Gerald Harris, editor of The Christian Index, will be the speaker.

Greenwood Baptist Church in Lincoln County will host the Wednesday night service with emphasis on Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. Dr. David Francis from LifeWay Christian Resources, will be the speaker for the 6 p.m. service on October 14.

Thursday, October 15, the emphasis will be on higher education with Dr. Dan Parker from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary as the speaker. Little Brier Creek Baptist Church in McDuffie County will be host for the 6:30 p.m. service.

The service on Friday night, October 16, will be a concert at Abilene Baptist Church in Martinez, featuring The Akins, at 7 p.m.

Saturday, October 17, the emphasis will be on missions and includes a fair at the Washington First Baptist Church from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Ministries from the Georgia Baptist Convention will be present to display the resources that are available to local churches. Lunch will be provided.

At 5 p.m. on Saturday, the Tignall Baptist youth will sponsor "Lazarus Unwound" in concert. Rev. Scott Kindig will be the speaker.

Missionaries from the Georgia Baptist Convention will be speaking in the morning worship services throughout the Association Sunday, October 18.

The historic 225th annual meeting will begin at 3 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, Washington. Dr. J. Robert White, Executive Director of the Georgia Baptist Convention, will be the speaker. A covered dish meal hosted by the First Baptist Church, Washington, will end the day and the celebration.