Articulate, matter of fact, and genuine, hometown girl and college sophomore, Faith Edwards already has a heartbeat and a mind for missions. Her mission field is not across the ocean on a foreign continent with people who know nothing about Christ, it’s right here in her home state, in Louisiana churches that run few in number and simply need a helping hand or two.

This past summer, Faith offered her hands, her time and her talent to reach out and fill the gaps through an effort sponsored by Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM).

Faith and four other BCM team members from various colleges across Louisiana spent six weeks of their summer, traveling to various Baptist churches to plan, organize and teach Vacation Bible School in small rural areas which do not have the membership or workforce to conduct VBS on their own. The experience has left her with a greater desire to something for God and a determination to follow His will in her life.

“The program was funded by the Louisiana Baptist Convention through the Georgia Barnette Offering in conjunction with the Baptist Collegiate Ministries,” she said explaining her decision to participate. “The churches wanted young people to come in and I really wanted to go and get experience in the mission field.”

The team of five young women interchanged VBS assignments weekly in each church, with Faith taking on the duties of ‘teacher’ four of the six weeks. Desiring to gain experience in mission work, she found herself working with “kids” and as a result, learning “a lot of patience.” She also improved her people skills, collaborating and gathering ideas, and putting the ideas into action in winning others to Christ.

“I found that ideas may vary from person to person, but we can find a happy medium. My biggest take away (from the experience) is there is never a wrong time to share the gospel and you can always bring up a good gospel conversation!” she said enthusiastically.

Faith contends that she would participate in the BCM program again “in a heartbeat” and that she has already received reports of ‘kids’ who attended the vacation bible schools turning their lives over to Christ. As for herself, she has become bolder in her faith despite being terrified when she first learned that she would be teaching in the program and now has a new level of confidence. She feels she has progressed and learned that “God speaks through you,” and that, she confesses, is “really cool!”

“I am an introverted person who doesn’t like to get out of my comfort zone,” she confessed. “My work this summer gave me the opportunity to do just that.”

In the meantime, Faith is ardently pursuing a degree in in Wildlife Habitat at Louisiana Tech and her college goals include a wildlife summer program in the summer of 2024, strengthening her walk with God, learning more about outreach and sharing the gospel – thus the reason for this past summer mission’s efforts and her participation in various outreach programs at LA Tech. In her words, “I know what I want my life to look like in four years after college, but it’s whatever He wants – literally!” She’s involved in ministry campus outreach work at Tech as well.

“We find cool ways to go out on campus and to meet and to talk to people,” she shared. “We provoke their curiosity, engage them in conversations, then tell them about what we’re doing for God.”

Their efforts of creative outreach have included dressing in hazmat suits holding signs that read “What do you find your value in?” and weekly $1.00 lunches that include sharing food and then talking about Jesus. Once rapport is established, people are receptive.

“We don’t start off throwing the gospel in their faces. We get to know them first,” she said, wisdom that would help anyone and everyone desiring to lead others to faith.

Faith’s immediate plans are geared toward ongoing home mission work and becoming even more involved in college campus ministry. BCM has given her the means to meet people her age and has encouraged her to develop a leadership role in her local church, Pleasant Hill Baptist. She is excited about what the Lord has for her in the future and wants to grow in her relationship with Him.

“Through BCM, I met a lot of very firm believers who wanted to better their churches and communities,” she concluded. “They inspired me to go out and serve. I wanted to gain experiences then come back and do things in my home church.”

It’s evident that six weeks of outreach and mission efforts have greatly enriched Faith Edward’s life and widened her perspective on what matters most. As she puts it, she’s “been in church forever and never missed a Sunday” (thanks to her parents) but now she’s looking at a new horizon of helping others and becoming more integrated in her local church congregation.

Ultimately, Faith wants to graduate college and return to Jena to make her home and build her life, but again, she’s open to God’s ultimate will.

“I love it here,” she concluded, “but I’m going where the Lord leads me.”

It’s a sure fact with her willing heart to listen and follow that He’ll lead her into good things.