Amite Baptist Church - A very brief history
On October 9, 1841, a constitution was adopted by a new body of believers
to create Amite Baptist Church. Named for the river forming the western
boundary of Livingston Parish, the church has, from its beginning, been
a vibrant part of the Eastern Louisiana Baptist Association. Most of the
first members were part of the Allen family, who had recently migrated
from South Carolina. A circuit preacher who often rode trails used by
bear hunters, Reverend William B. Allen served as pastor for forty-five
years.
Land was donated and a building erected in 1856; the pastor's annual
salary was fifty dollars. Christian education was important, so a Sunday
School was formed by 1883, and the first Vacation Bible School in 1934-forty
children, one room, no air conditioning. The tide of events brought more
growth and new ministry opportunities. During the Depression, a storeroom
was built where members could bring farm produce as their tithe. The corn,
eggs, potatoes, and syrup were then shared with those in need. Whether
caring for people, sending missionaries, or training children in the way
they should go, ABC has been hard at work for 165 years. May the Lord
find us doing so until he returns. . .
What We Believe
We believe the Bible. The Bible is divinely inspired
and is God's perfect revelation of Himself to man. The Scripture
is totally true and trustworthy and as such is the supreme and final standard
for all human conduct and religious belief.
We believe in one God. God is a living, personal,
intelligent, spiritual, and eternal being. God reveals himself to us as
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is perfect and absolute in knowledge
and power.
We believe Jesus Christ is the only Savior. Christ is the eternal Son of God. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed the will of God.
He was completely human yet completely without sin. He died a substitutionary
death on the cross to make provision for man's salvation. He was
raised from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion and later
ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God the Father.
Christ will personally return to this world in power and glory to complete
His redemptive mission.
We believe man is uniquely created in the image of God. God
created them male and female. In the beginning man was innocent of sin
and endowed by his Creator with the freedom of choice. By his free choice
man brought sin into the human race. Because of this nature of sin, as
soon as man is capable of moral action, he transgresses God's law
and is under condemnation for sin. Only the grace of God can bring man
back into fellowship with God.
We believe salvation is offered freely to all who accept
Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior. There is no salvation apart
from Jesus Christ. Repentance (turning from sin) and faith (turning in
devotion to Christ) are two expressions of salvation. Salvation is both
immediate and eternal and brings a change of heart and mind and action
and attitude.
We believe the church is the body of Christ. A New Testament church is the autonomous local congregation of baptized
believers coming together by faith in fellowship for service and witness
for Christ in the world.
We believe in The LORD'S Day. Sunday,
the first day of the week, is The LORD'S Day. It is a Christian
institution commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ and should
include public and private worship and spiritual devotion to Christ.
We believe in evangelism and missions. It is
our duty and the necessary expression of Christian love to share the witness
of Christ with the lost.
We believe in Christian stewardship. All our
material and spiritual resources are gifts from God and are to be managed
according to the teaching of Scripture. Our time, talent, and money are
to be used for the glory of God and the good of others.
