By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Eighteen students from the state’s Baptist Collegiate Ministries gave up most of their summer break to sow the Gospel through Vacation Bible Schools held in Louisiana, Montana and Wyoming.
Through early July, the teams reported 28 decisions for Christ.
GOLA (Go Louisiana) 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 conduct VBS for churches with low baptisms and who could not hold such an outreach without the help of GOLA volunteers.
Three teams of six students each served at churches around the state, June 2-July 12; in Montana, June 2-July 22; and in Wyoming, June 2-July 28. Additionally, most of the state’s BCM directors and associate directors served as team leaders for up to a week each.
Louisiana Baptist Collegiate Ministry Team Director Mark Robinson said the experience allowed the students to gain experience working with children and churches to advance the Gospel.
“We’ve been doing GOLA VBS missions in Louisiana for 16 years now and it’s amazing to see those missionaries from those years that have gone on to lead in churches across the nation,” Robinson told the Baptist Message. “They are building on a call from God that was strengthened during their college years.”
All the students were commissioned to share the Gospel from GOLA Coordinator and Louisiana Christian University BCM Director Brad Gill and received VBS training from Louisiana Baptist Childhood Ministry Strategist David Anderson.
“It was a great experience because the students believe in evangelism and GOLA gives them ways to serve and purposefully share their faith,” Gill said. “They teamed up with churches to help them reach their communities and conduct a VBS – something that the churches might not have been able to do on their own.”
Among the churches the students helped was Sweetwater Church, Abita Springs, in late June. They assisted nine members to hold a VBS that drew as many as 12 children to the city’s recreation center.
“As a small church plant in our third year, we would not have been able to do VBS without GOLA,” Pastor Ken Schroeder said. “This was a good fit for us. The students really jumped in and did a fantastic job leading the VBS.”
IN THEIR WORDS
Students representing multiple schools shared their thoughts with the Baptist Message, but also asked not to be identified by name out of humbleness.
— R.S. said he “had an amazing opportunity with GOLA summer missions to serve churches in Louisiana at their VBS. God was on the move this summer.”
— M.M. said “GOLA has opened my eyes to the need for the Gospel to be spread throughout our state and country. God has used this experience to give me an even greater desire to go out and tell everyone I can about God’s love.”
— B.H. said he was changed by “getting to tell children about the love of Jesus each and every day. I’m so thankful to have the opportunity to teach the Gospel to children.”
— O.D. was blessed by working “alongside other adults who are excited to teach young children about God. This experience has been such a blessing and an encouragement to me.”
— Meanwhile, L.R. asked Louisiana Baptists to pray for the communities that were served, and she expressed appreciation “for the local church and how the Lord works among his people. I’ve been so encouraged by each church’s story and their passion to reach those in front of them with the Gospel.”
— Finally, G.A. said, “GOLA gave me a whole new meaning and appreciation for local missions. I am living in a big mission field and don’t have to leave the country to let God use me.”
