SUWANEE — Georgia Baptist churches experienced significant growth in 2024, with baptisms surpassing the 25,000 mark – an increase of more than 20% over 2023. Also, average church attendance grew by more than 6%, and churchgoers have been more generous, with churches reporting a 5.4% increase in undesignated receipts.
The figures come from the Annual Church Profile, a yearly survey completed by churches to track key metrics like baptisms, attendance and giving. Nearly 70% of churches participated in the 2024 survey, the highest level of response since 2017.
W. Thomas Hammond, Jr., executive director of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, expressed his gratitude for the positive trends.
“Praise God,” he said, “for the remarkable growth we’re seeing across Georgia! It’s clear that God is working in and through His churches.”
In terms of baptisms, Georgia Baptists saw a significant increase, with a total of 25,632 baptisms in 2024 – nearly 70% higher than 2022.
Brad Marchman, Evangelism Consultant for the Mission Board, believes the increase in baptisms is part of a larger spiritual movement across Georgia.
“I believe we are seeing the stirrings of a gospel movement in our state as pastors and churches are putting intentional effort into mobilizing their people to be witnesses and investing in their communities,” he said. “I believe people in our world are open to having spiritual conversations more now than I've seen in my lifetime, and if we will be faithful, we will see a mighty move of God.”
While the increase in attendance is a source of encouragement, Hammond emphasized that spiritual transformation remains the ultimate goal.
“It’s not just about filling seats — it’s about lives being transformed, families being restored, and communities being impacted for the Kingdom of God,” he said. “I am so grateful for our pastors and church leaders who are faithfully shepherding their congregations and for the dedication of our Georgia Baptists who continue to serve and reach others.”
As Georgia Baptists look to build on this momentum, the Georgia Baptist Mission Board is holding a series of listening sessions with pastors and ministry leaders across Georgia, seeking to understand the needs and challenges that churches face as they seek to reach their communities.