By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer TIOGA, La. (LBM) - While other teenagers may have headed to the beach or theme park at the end of the most recent school year, Andrew O’Neal, 14, chose instead to spend some of his summer directing the Vacation Bible School with Tioga First Baptist Church. Despite being a teenager, O’Neal combined his love for VBS with his personal experiences as the son of a former VBS director to coordinate a fruitful week. In the end, one of the 51 children who attended accepted Christ, with more making other spiritual decisions during the evangelist outreach, June 23-27. “It had been in the back of my mind for several years of doing this,” O’Neal told the Baptist Message. “When we didn’t have anyone to direct VBS, I felt like the time was now, and I took on this opportunity.” O’Neal has served in various volunteer roles as a member of the congregation and enjoyed giving back as VBS director, with coaching from his mom, Claire, who served in that role from 2012-22. “I've really found a place here at the church and love serving,” O’Neal said. “So I feel very comfortable and very fulfilled when I come and work up at the church.” His mother added that she felt comfortable handing … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff BATON ROUGE (LBM) - Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry has signed a proclamation designating July as a month of prayer. Introduced by State Sen. Rick Edmonds, pastor with First Baptist Church, McComb, Mississippi, the proclamation calls “upon the people of Louisiana to come together during the month of July in a season of prayer and fasting, seeking God’s blessing, protection, and wisdom for our state and nation.” Jay Johnston, pastor with First Baptist Church, Melville, and leader with the digital prayer site,  Somebodyspraying.com, said he is grateful for the state’s recognition of the importance of calling on the Lord. “There is no more urgent time to seek Him than now,” Johnston told the Baptist Message. "The world still stands in the shadow of wars, threats of war, and a growing spiritual unrest. So many souls remain unsaved, and so many prodigals need to return. May the Lord burden our hearts so that we go out and share Jesus, and as we go, let us be faithful to pray for an increase of laborers. May the churches of Louisiana recognize our desperation for God, and we call upon Him to work in our families and churches, to bring healing to our state, to forgive us of all our sinful ways, and to unify … [Read more...]