MARIETTA, Ga. (BNc) by David Decker — The Georgia School of Preaching & Biblical Studies hosted its 8th Annual Bible Lectureship May 4-5, at its Marietta campus located at the Piedmont Road church building.

This year’s lectureship theme, taken from Esther 4:14, was “For Such a Time as This.” Speakers included the youngest student currently enrolled at GSOP, 16-year-old Thad Williams from Bremen, Ga., as well as brother Allen Webster of Jacksonville, Ala.

Also on the program were Mike Greene (Bowling Green, Ky.); Gene Godfrey (Hahira, Ga.); Laron Poulian (Warner Robins, Ga.); Ricky Phillips (Martin, Tenn.); Robert H. Martin (Missionary, Pacific Islands); Misty Golden (Marietta, Ga.).

Topics included “Bearing a Young Person’s Cross,” “Bearing an Ancient Cross,” “No White or Black Church,” “What the World and the Church Need from Men of God,” “Offering Acceptable Worship,” and “Overcoming a Dangerous World in Such a Time as This.”

Several awards of recognition were given.

Bill and Connie Dedmon of the Bowdon church and LeRoy and Nila Fogle of the Piedmont Road congregation were recognized with the GSOP Distinguished Service Award for their years of faithful service in various capacities in the body of Christ.

Thad Williams became the inaugural recipient of the Tate Williams Memorial Scholarship, given in his brother’s memory.

Michael Lovelady of the Lithia Springs congregation was recognized as the GSOP Alumnus of the Year.

GSOP graduates for 2013, Mass Kalango Darcio and Michael David Domingue, received their Preaching Certificates during the Commencement portion of Saturday’s program.

Lectureship attendance in 2013 more than doubled that of past years. Neil Richey, Piedmont Road preacher, estimated that the number “was just shy of 200.”

GSOP is enjoying its fourteenth year of service as a school of preaching and biblical studies. There are nine GSOP campuses located across Georgia, with an average enrollment of 225 per quarter.

The school’s web address is www.gsoponline.org.