STATEWIDE – Nearly all the state’s 1,597 churches that affiliate with the Louisiana Baptist Convention hosted a Vacation Bible School this summer, and there was something special about each one.
Following is a smattering of information from the reports that came in:
VBS was combined with a soccer camp at New Hope Baptist in DeQuincy. During the time set aside in VBS for recreation and camp, New Hope VBS practiced soccer skills.
“The climax included soccer games on Saturday morning, with parents, grandparents and friends invited – a great outreach for the community,” reported VBS Director Tracey Smith.
Hill Baptist Church in Oak Grove “gave our material” to another church in the area, and gave its $415.02 offering to local missionaries, reported VBS Director Tina Vernon.
Grosse Tete Baptist Church in Grosse Tete as a VBS missions project “collected school supplies for children on Louisiana’s coast whose families have been affected the by Deepwater Horizon oil spill,” reported VBS Director Julie Bayham.
Calvary Baptist Church in Sabine used the free curriculum “Armor of God,” and as their offering filled boxes for soldiers in Afghanistan, reported VBS Director Cindy Byles. Of the 69 youngsters and 60 workers enrolled, 11 made professions of faith.
“We would like to thank the group from Concord Union Baptist Association for coming to help us with our Bible school, especially the group from Paron Baptist Church in Sterlington,” said Lisa Adams, VBS Director at Calvary Baptist Church in Thibodaux.
“We were overwhelmed with the awesome love offering we received from the children in our church,” reported VBS Director Mary Lea Dunn of the $930.67 given at New Zion Baptist Church in Oak Grove. “Abbie and Boomer came and talked to us about the amount of unreached people in North and South Dakota and that God sent them there to plant a church.
“We decided to send our offering to them and each night the plates overflowed with change, piggy banks, Ziplocs full of pennies, etc.,” Dunn said. “It was an awesome week and we had three children accept Christ as Savior.”
First Baptist Church of Slidell enrolled 491 youngsters – 25 made professions of faith – and 221 workers for its VBS, plus 43 special adults, 36 senior adults and 12 parents who attended their own VBS class, reported VBS Director Maggie Fredericks.
After Coteau Baptist Church in Houma’s VBS – 44 youngsters, 50 workers, 4 decisions and $840 given for the Louisiana Baptist Childrens Home – the workers led in a 3-day VBS for Cornerstone Baptist, a new church in the area, reported VBS Director Sheri Ledet. “There were 40 children there, along with 35 adults. The pastor is Henry Lightshead. They are off to a great start,” Ledet said. Six weeks prior to Coteau’s VBS for children, they led one for 105 adults.
Monica Meaux was VBS director at Kaplan Baptist Church in Kaplan, where 122 youngsters were enrolled, and 31 workers. Fifteen made professions of faith.
“Our VBS was God-annointed, which has produced continual parents interest in the total ministry of Kaplan Baptist Church,” reported Pastor Loyd Sowers. “[P]eople in this area of South Louisiana are predominantly Catholic. VBS is one of the best tools that Southern Baptists have to reach people for Christ. … Our Catholic friends enjoy our yearly VBS efforts and respond to it with their faithfulness and enthusiasm. Combining the outstanding curriculum [Saddle Ridge Ranch] withprayer, having the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and observing the dedication of my church members touched many lives, including mind, as we reached out to towns surrounding Kaplan. Our VBS will be aired soon on TV!”