The Georgia Baptist Association, a group of more than 50 Baptist Churches in Wilkes and surrounding counties, is celebrating 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.

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.