Christian recording artist promotes faith, patriotism on U.S. bases

Christian recording artist promotes faith, patriotism on U.S. bases

An American contemporary Christian recording artist is using music not only to preach the gospel but also to promote patriotism. Today, the ministry of gifted musician Eric Horner is taking him to U.S. military bases nationwide.

Before September 11, 2001, Horner spent years traveling the United States with country music superstar Lee Greenwood and a number of other country music acts. After that fateful event, the Christian recording artist began writing more songs with patriotic and gospel messages.

Now, Horner and his wife, Debby, whose first husband was killed in the terrorist bombing of the Marine barracks in Lebanon in 1983, travel the country performing at military bases. The Christian songwriter says he is able to motivate and encourage those soldiers who are about to head overseas. "They're hungry. They really are," he notes. "They're hungry for the gospel, they're looking for answers."

Many of the people in the armed services have come from "tough backgrounds," Horner points out, "and some of them have never set foot inside a church before. And we get the opportunity to ... go in as a patriotic concert, most of the time, but we are allowed by song to share our faith with them."

It is a privilege to minister through music to soldiers who are willing to fight for the nation's freedom, the Christian recording artist adds. "We've got such a catalogue of songs that will speak to these soldiers, and I know God didn't give them to me for no reason," he says.

And it is God, Horner asserts, who has opened the doors that have led him to this present ministry. "You know, I can look back at my career and I can see every piece of the puzzle falling into place," the musician says. "There's not a doubt in my mind He's called us to minister to the military."

Horner, who is originally from Paducah, Kentucky, grew up with Christian recording artist Steven Curtis Chapman.