By Staff, LBC Communications
STATEWIDE – Remember growing something from seeds as a science experiment in school?
In most of those science experiments, as in most of our own planting of flowers or fruits, we see a picture of what will be produced by the seeds we plant.
The Bible promises us that the seeds we sow in faith for the kingdom of God will also produce a crop. We don’t always know what that crop will look like, nor do the faithful men and women who are planting churches and doing compassion ministries throughout Louisiana.
They have a burden for the lost and, following God’s call, step out in faith to sow seeds regardless of the tears and pain involved, trusting that God will reap His crop “with shouts of joy.”
The Georgia Barnette Offering for State Missions is one way to sow these seeds of faith. Here are some examples of the way those seeds are sprouting:
n A new church plant, Living Waters Baptist Fellowship in Bossier City, catering to African-American families, is meeting in the Southern Hills Baptist Church facilities.
n Don and Melba Moss operate the Community Outreach Center in Dequincy “to demonstrate God’s love in practical ways.” The Mosses cling to Proverbs 22:9. “He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed for he giveth of his bread to the poor.”
n The Carlos Schmidt family talked with many farmers in Mowata, Branch, New Iberia and Church Point who have brought Mexicans to work in the crawfish industry and found a need to provide services for them.
“The workers are separated from their loved ones for a long period of time,” Carlos explained. “Often times this makes it harder for them to resist temptation so they get themselves in relational nightmares. They need Jesus to get them through.”
n Comfort Corner in Oak Grove began as a ministry to reach low-income families, explained Jean Donahue. Comfort Corner has been reaching people that the local churches cannot reach for over 20 years. They are currently working on adding a Crisis Pregnancy Center to the ministries they offer. Jean asks that Louisiana Baptists pray they can continue to be “an arm of our Lord, showing compassion, meeting needs and sharing hope.”
n Inhabiting a church building that closed its doors nine years ago, Julieto Magbanua is hoping to bring light to the now churchless community of Talisheek. Northside Baptist Church in Slidell saw the need for someone to reach out to the growing Filipino community and other culture groups in Talisheek and the Northshore area, so they planted Light by the Lake Church.
“My heart breaks seeing the many people in spiritual and moral bondage,” Julieto said. “They are lost and hurting. Marriages are broken, people are going through financial crisis, and there is a high rate of suicide and addiction.”
Throughout his years of vocational ministry, John Hebert has been sensitive to the needs of all ethnic groups. Hebert is director of the missions and ministry team for the Louisiana Baptist Convention.
“In obedience to Christ we must be a witness to these people,” Hebert says. “GBO is one way to do so.
“Through GBO we are sowing seeds that have the potential to produce much fruit,” the state missions director continued. “Pray and encourage your church to give generously.”