Click to Login or Sign Up

Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Advance

By Steve Horn When I was in college, I was invited to attend an “Advance” sponsored by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. I had been on retreats before, but I had never heard of an “Advance.” When I asked about the meaning of an “Advance,” my leader asked if I had ever been on a retreat. When I indicated that I had been on many retreats, my leader told me that an advance was like a retreat. My leader continued that Christians are never to retreat, but always to advance. As Christians, even when we go on a retreat, we do so in order to advance. Paul said it this way to the church at Philippi. “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14 NIV) Christians do not run away from tough times; we run toward the prize for which God has called us. Christians do not panic, but instead we pray, trust God, and react with peace. As we contemplate the back to school season and many of us get back to “normal routines,” let’s pray about how we might advance. Let’s advance first of all in our personal lives. Set some new goals spiritually. Then, let’s work together for the advance of the kingdom of God. Steve Horn is executive director for Louisiana Baptists. … [Read more...]

Louisiana native Robert Finley, AGT contestant, hits high notes of faith at Zion Hill

By Message Staff PINEVILLE, Louisiana – America’s Got Talent contestant Robert Finley paid a visit to the Zion Hill Church Family in Pineville Sunday, August 4, to share a simple, yet profound musical message of hope. “Hold onto God’s unchanging hand,” Finley said in between songs. “Keep your faith. Good things come to those who wait, if you wait upon the Lord.” Finley, who is a bluesman from Bernice, Louisiana, first caught the attention of the nation July 9 when he received a standing ovation for his song “Get It While You Can” in his audition on America’s Got Talent, a television show that features acts who advance through several rounds with hopes of winning a million dollar prize and a guaranteed show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Finley advanced through another preliminary round July 23 to the live performance quarter-final round later this month in Hollywood, California. The air date has not been announced. According to a biography on his website, Finley joined the armed forces as a teenager and, after working as a helicopter technician, used his musical talents to lead an Army band that toured Europe. After he completed his military service, Finley returned to the United States to work as a carpenter. Four years … [Read more...]

Abraham: Cut taxes, create jobs

By Message Staff PINEVILLE – Congressman Ralph Abraham championed his gubernatorial vision for tax cuts and attracting new businesses to the state during a July 31 meeting of the North Rapides Business and Industry Alliance. Abraham, who is one of three candidates for governor and a member of Alto Baptist Church, told a crowd gathered in Louisiana College’s Granberry Conference Center that, if elected, he would better position the state to end a recent streak of last-place finishes in an annual ranking of quality of life measures by the U.S. News & World Report. “We are going to incentivize businesses to come, stay, grow and give that living wage job with benefits,” Abraham said. “If we do that, then they can invest and they grow.” Among the ideas he presented to stimulate the economy in central Louisiana is the proposed Interstate 14 that would run from Texas through South Carolina, incorporating Louisiana Highway 28 between Texas and Mississippi, as a strategic highway connecting military bases to deep water ports for ease of shipping heavy combat equipment overseas. Abraham is a member of a multi-state caucus advocating for HR 6111, which would build existing roads into the congressionally designated … [Read more...]