By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptists spent their summer on mission for Christ, welcoming children into their facilities for Vacation Bible School.
Through these efforts, they saw many of these youngsters make decisions for Christ in what is considered the largest “simultaneous” evangelistic outreach across the Louisiana Baptist Convention.
GOLA VBS
Twelve students from the state’s Baptist Collegiate Ministries gave up most of their summer breaks to sow the Gospel through VBS events held in Louisiana and Wyoming by participating in GOLA (Go Louisiana) VBS, an LBC BCM emphasis that allows students to share God’s love while conducting VBS ministries with churches.
Through late July, the team reported 60 decisions for Christ.
The Louisiana team was comprised of members from Louisiana Christian University, Louisiana Tech, Northwestern State University
and Southeastern Louisiana University BCMs, who served, May 28-July 16, with First Baptist Church, Morgan City; First Baptist Church, Leesville; Longview Baptist Church, Deville; Community Baptist Church, Youngsville; Ridge Avenue Baptist Church, West Monroe; Indian Village Baptist Church, Kinder; SweetWater Church, Abita Springs; and First Baptist Church, Many. They also helped with community service projects.
Meanwhile, the Wyoming team was made up of members from the Louisiana Tech and SLU BCMs and served in that state, May 28-July 26.
All the students were trained and commissioned to share the Gospel by GOLA Coordinator and Central Louisiana Metro BCM Director Brad Gill. GOLA Louisiana team leader Jason Duncan, also a student with New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, said his team enjoyed seeing children accept Christ, and was blessed by forming new friendships.
“This has been a very rewarding trip both for the team and for me, personally,” he said. “I have been able to be there for the members of this team who struggled through their own trials, poured into them throughout the summer, got to watch them grow in their relationships with Christ and helped them to follow Him better.
“These college students have been able to do so much for these communities, and it is all thanks to ordinary people and local churches supporting us through the LBC,” he continued. “If you could please begin being in prayer for the team next year as God starts calling those who will be going next time. Please pray that they will be willing to listen to God’s calling, that they will be preparing themselves spiritually and that the team
next year will be able to reach as many kids as possible through VBS. Thank you for all of your support this year, the past years and the coming years.”
CYPRESS BAPTIST
Fifty-four of the 1,086 children who attended VBS with Cypress Baptist Church, Benton, July 12-16, accepted Christ.
Kelly Cathey, who leads the congregation’s children’s ministry, said the church staff and adult leaders enjoyed watching the children embrace Jesus through times of worship, activities and messages.
She said that CBC’s VBS utilized many elements for an “Dive into God’s love” theme such as writing praises to the Lord that were then hung on a “Bubbling Over with Praise” booth and the opportunity to win prizes such as a tube of candy and a jellyfish trophy for memorizing 16 verses.
“We are so thankful to cast a net in our community
VBS from page 6
for the Gospel,” Cathey said. “There’s nothing like diving deep into God’s love!! We are praying for every heart to love the Lord with all they have.”
HESSMER BAPTIST
Hessmer Baptist Church saw four children turn to the Lord out of the 70 who attended, and VBS Director Olivia Patton said she was thankful for the children who grew closer to Jesus throughout the week.
Patton said her most cherished memory was when a child approached her to discuss accepting Christ.
“He sat down and began sobbing,” Patton said. “Strangely enough he wasn’t crying about his salvation, but he missed his mom because he had been staying with cousins the whole week. So, I comforted him and he jumped up out of his chair so fast and wrapped his arms around my neck as hard as he could. He needed a hug.
“It then hit me,” she continued. “This is what it is all about. Not numbers, not exhilarating fun, but tending to hearts of these children. It was a little ‘check-back’ on the reality of things. Oftentimes, to successfully share the Gospel, it’s important to create personal relationships.”
Patton said she is excited for the opportunity to help those children who made decisions for Christ to grow closer to Jesus.
“It is always exciting to see God move and I pray He continues to move in the hearts of those who heard the Gospel,” she said. “My goals this year were to be very intentional about connecting with the families, to encourage relationships with our church and for VBS conversations to continue at home.”
CALVARY BAPTIST LONGVILLE
Calvary Baptist Church, Longville, held a grow camp during its VBS, July 7-10.
The first day was disrupted by lightning strike that caused significant damage to electronic equipment, estimated at thousands of dollars. Despite this, the church successfully completed the event by teaching practical skills like sewing, cooking, carpentry and vehicle maintenance to students from pre-K to 12th grade.
The event, inspired by First Baptist Church, Orange, Texas, aimed to teach some valuable life skills along with the Gospel. They had an average attendance of 40-45 kids and planted seeds for a future harvest.
“We wanted to do something different and something that would teach young kids a skill that would point them to Jesus,” Pastor Justin Barrow said. “Through sharing one simple verse from John 15:5, we taught them about how Jesus is the vine and they are branches that can produce fruit if they know Him. We broke that down very simply and we taught them that it just helps you grow in Christ.”
ELWOOD BAPTIST
Fifteen of the 109 children who attended VBS with Elwood Baptist Church, Forest Hill, made decisions for Christ, including three who made professions of faith, July 6-10. Additionally, the children collected canned goods and $1,162, which was given to the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home & Family Ministries.
Pastor Mike Evans praised the teachers, including the youth volunteers, who stepped up and poured into the youngsters.
“We at Elwood knew and emphasized that about 80 percent of those ever saved did so by age 15 and many did so in VBS,” he said. “Also, we got to have some great and positive interactions with the parents of these children and saw them attend not just the VBS commencement ceremony but also had them in church the following Sunday. We found a closeness and unity as we pulled together, and sense an anticipation already for next year’s summer VBS.”
