TESTIMONIES

 Jimmy Carter, the former U.S. President and Baptist layman will give a testimony about his faith at the afternoon General Session on Friday, August 7. 

You do not have to be a Baptist to attend, but please pre-register to reserve your seat.

Former President Jimmy Carter – 39^th President of the UnitedStates, was born in the small farming town of Plains, GA and grew up in thenearby community of Archery.  He was educated in the public school of Plains, attended Georgia Southwestern College andthe Georgia Institute of Technology, and received a bachelor of science degree from the United States Naval Academy.  In the Navy, he rose to the rank of lieutenant. In July 1946, Carter married Rosalynn Smith of Plains.  After resigning his naval commission, he andRosalynn returned to Georgia where he won election to the Georgia Senate in 1962.  He became Georgia’s 76^th governor on January 12, 1971.  On December 12, 1974, he announced his candidacy for president of the United States, and was elected on November 2, 1976. Jimmy Carter served as president from January 20, 1977 – January 20,1981.  Significant foreign policy accomplishments of his administration include the Panama Canal treaties, the Camp David Accords, the treaty of peace between Egypt and Israel, the SALT II treaty with the Soviet Union, and the establishment of US diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China.  He championed human rights throughout the world. On the domestic side, the administration’s achievements included acomprehensive energy program conducted by a new Department of Energy;  deregulation in energy, transportation, communications, and finance; major educational programs under a new Department of Education; and major environmental legislation.

Former President Carter is the author of 23 books, including “A Remarkable Mother,” 2008, and “Beyond the White House:   Waging Peace, Fighting Disease, Building Hope.”

In 1982 he became the University Distinguished Professor of Emory University in Atlanta, GA, and founded The Carter Center.  Actively guided byPresident Carter, the nonpartisan and nonprofit Center addresses national and international issues of public policy. Carter Center associates, fellows, and Staff join President Carter inefforts to resolve conflict, promote democracy, protect human rights and prevent disease and other afflictions.

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter volunteer one week a year for Habitat for Humanity.  He also teaches Sunday School, and is a deacon in the Maranatha Baptist Church of Plains.

The Carters have three sons, one daughter, eight grandsons, three granddaughters, and one great-grandson.

On December 10, 2002 the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2002 to Mr. Carter“for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.”