By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – The world was a summertime mission field for 245 students from the state’s Baptist Collegiate Ministries.
From serving at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center, in Vacation Bible School with Louisiana Baptist churches and a camp in Wyoming to working overseas alongside International Mission Board missionaries in Chile, Mexico, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and other undisclosed locations due to security concerns, the students relied on the Lord to help them be His hands and feet.
“Through serving, students not only discover but also internalize their gifts and calling – experiencing firsthand what it means to share the Gospel, rather than just hearing about it,” Louisiana BCM State Director Mark Robinson told the Baptist Message. “It is a joy to watch them grow in confidence and boldness as they share their faith. At Louisiana BCM, our four pillars are Reach, Connect, Strengthen and Mobilize. We remain committed to mobilizing students with the Gospel to reach a world far from God.”
GOLA VBS Ten students sowed Gospel seeds through GOLA (Go Louisiana) VBS in Louisiana and Wyoming. GOLA VBS is an LBC BCM emphasis that allows students to serve on teams who share God’s love through what is the largest evangelistic outreach (VBS) of the year for many congregations. The teams typically con[1]duct VBS for churches with low baptisms and who could not hold such an outreach without the help of GOLA volunteers.
“I asked them to be flexible as teammates and evangelistic in what they do,” GOLA Coordinator and Louisiana Christian University BCM Director Brad Gill told the Baptist Message. “We have had churches say they appreciate what we did along the way. We were helping and serving churches who otherwise couldn’t put on a VBS.”
Maisey Courtney, a sophomore with Louisiana State University of Alexandria, called her time as a summer missionary with GOLA “one of the most beautiful seasons” of her life. One memory that touched her heart was when she led a youngster, Massy*, to Christ during a VBS. Massy recently had moved into the community following the death of her father. By the end of the week, the youngster discovered that she has a Heavenly Father who loves her.
“Even though many kids have made decisions this summer and each one is so precious to me, I’ll never forget how God used Smiley Massy to remind me of the joy and healing only He can bring,” Courtney said. “Watching her mom’s face light up as well when the pastor told her Massy gave a profession of faith reminded me that God isn’t just working in the kids, He’s reaching into homes and hearts I may never fully see. I could feel how happy they both were.”
Courtney was reminded of Psalm 34:18: “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
“He was near to Miley, near to her mom, and near to me too, even when I felt worn out and under attack,” Courtney said. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that God uses willing hearts, not perfect ones. He moves even in our exhaustion. And He delights in child-like joy. Matthew 18:3 says, ‘Unless you become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.’
“That truth came alive in Miley,” she continued. “So, I’d just encourage anyone: don’t give up when things feel heavy. Keep planting seeds. The joy of the Lord is still blooming, even in the hardest soil. And don’t ever feel too grown-up to worship like a child stay full of wonder, trust, and joy.”
MISSIONAL CULTURE
Joe Luna, BCM director with Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, was excited that his students shared the Gospel in villages, Vacation Bible School, camps and construction and medical mission assignments.
“We are seeing a culture of missional living developing in our ministry, first for our campus and now reaching out to the ends of the earth,” Luna said. “I’m so proud that they are not only willing, but desiring, to be self-sacrificial because it will help them understand and reflect the life of Jesus more fully. They recognize that it not only helps restore the world around them but also helps to further transform them into an image of Christ. That type of perception shift can’t be taught or forced but is all due to Christ’s transformation of their hearts.”
