The Holmes Family: February/March '03

As this letter is written, Sabrina and I are excited to be less than seven weeks away from beginning full-time the process of raising funds for our ministry. At Faith Baptist Church, I continue to teach our young adult Sunday School class, and we recently completed a spring program for our bus ministry during which we increased our attendance for three weeks in a row. I also have the delight of teaching a personal evangelism class at a local Bible Institute.

In the middle of February, the pastor of one of the Christian schools where Sabrina teaches piano had us take part in his church’s missions conference. We had definitely anticipated the meeting and felt “at home” with the people not far from our own home. Preaching in the bus meeting on Saturday was very enjoyable, and I was privileged to lead two men to Christ while visiting for the Saturday afternoon service they have in a neighboring town. On Sunday morning, I drove one of their busses for a military ministry, and during Sunday School, they gave me an opportunity to give my testimony in the youth class and also teach a fifth grade class. Additionally, we were honored to take part in the very first missions conference under a new pastor at a church in Louisiana in March. Many of the members already knew Sabrina and I, and we truly enjoyed the fellowship and the preaching.

Our ten-day survey trip to Nigeria had been scheduled for the first week in April, and we’re thankful that several sent us financial help. When it was evident that our country was going to war in Iraq, we felt the need to postpone considering the potential for unrest among the Muslim factions in Africa. The change of plans allowed Sabrina and I to attend the forti

eth annual Pastor’s School at First Baptist Church in Hammond, Indiana during the third week of March. A “Missions Headquarters” was set up on the property for the first time, and alumni missionaries were encouraged to set up their ministry display boards. I enjoyed seeing many friends and also meeting several pastors to whom I had only previously talked on the phone. Please pray for us as we continue to prepare for our survey trip and the process of raising support for our work.

The following is a letter of recommendation from Sabrina’s home pastor, Dr. B. G. Buchanan, Sr. of Central Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana:

August 7, 2002
Dear Brethren:

Mark and Sabrina Holmes will be going to Nigeria, Africa as missionaries to win souls and start a New Testament Independent Baptist Church. Sabrina practically grew up here at Central Baptist. She is the daughter of Brian and Donna Hopkins. Brian is one of my trustees and also oversees and teaches our young couples class. He is a servant of servants. Donna is on staff as our pianist and music teacher. Sabrina is a lady of character and devotion and I would recommend her for any position in the ministry (except for preaching, of course!).

Mark is a product of Pastor Dan Carr. If you know Bro. Carr of Gulfport, Mississippi, then I do not have to say anymore about Mark. This couple will be a blessing and help to your church. They are worthy of your support. If you have any questions, please give me a call.

Sincerely,
Dr. B. G. Buchanan, Sr.

Who We Are

Mark Joseph Holmes was called to the ministry at the age of fifteen, five years after he was saved. He went to Hyles-Anderson College to receive his training and graduated summa cum laude in 2000 with a degree in Pastoral Theology. During Mark’s senior year, God placed on his heart the desire to reach the people of Nigeria, so he spent an extra year in preparation by taking missions courses. Mark served on the same bus route each college year, as captain for three years.

Sabrina Michelle (Hopkins) was saved at the age of eight and surrendered her life to God five years later. While at Hyles-Anderson College studying music education, she served in the Bible Club and deaf ministry and also traveled one summer with a tour group. After graduation with a Music Education degree, during the year before their wedding, Sabrina taught fourth grade at her home church’s Christian school—Central Baptist in Baton Rouge.

As newlyweds, Mark and Sabrina served at their sending church where Mark oversaw the bus ministry and helped in the youth department, Sunday schools, and junior churches. He was privileged to start a children's church and young adult class during his two years of service, and he also regularly preached at a prison ministry and taught for a local Bible institute. Sabrina taught private piano for two Christian schools; she played often in the church services and also taught the beginner Sunday school class. Mark and Sabrina started full-time deputation at the end of May, 2003. Mark Joseph, Junior was born on December 4th of the same year.

In June of 2005, the Holmes family began their first term as Fundamental Baptist Missions International missionaries in Nigeria. Soon, Truth Baptist Church along with Temple Baptist Institute was started, the church now averaging 220 on Sundays with 42 graduates from the ministry training school. Property with buildings was purchased, and Providence Baptist College & Seminary opened its doors in August 2009 and has now produced 30 graduates. 35 churches have been started by those who have been trained or ordained by their ministry, including one of the most recent, Grace & Glory Baptist Church in Abuja, in which the Holmes family is also involved. Mark and Sabrina have returned to the U.S. for the birth of: Victoria Noel 12/14/05
Brian Michael 8/20/07
Noah Preston 2/3/12

LaDonna Elizabeth 7/3/14
For nearly a decade, Truth Baptist Church has been the home of a national pastors' conference, an annual youth camp, a full curriculum DVD correspondence college, and the City of Refuge recently became their newest ministry.

Where We Are

The Niger River is Nigeria’s most remarkable physical feature, as well as the source of its name. Formerly a British colony, Nigeria gained its independence in 1960 and became an independent nation of three culturally distinctive regions and at least 250 different language groups—more than any other African country. Home of the world’s largest black population, it is estimated that almost one out of every six Africans resides in Nigeria.

Upon independence, Nigeria inherited a currency that was more valuable than the U.S. dollar at the time. Yet the country has consumed itself with the sell of oil and other natural resources and all but abandoned its agricultural sector, leading to Nigeria’s diminished currency value and heightened reliance upon imports and aide from other countries. Military coups, ethnic tensions, a thirty month “civil war” that claimed over a million lives, and economic corruption have been the driving forces behind Nigeria’s instability of the last forty years. In 1998 a democracy was established, ending fifteen years of military rule.

Baptists have enjoyed a presence in the country for over 150 years with the Southern Baptists growing their own national convention and an estimated Baptist population numbering more than 3.5 million people; the former President of Nigeria was a claimed Baptist. However, Muslim influences are growing greater, indigenous beliefs are still popular, and many existing Baptist churches have abandoned biblical doctrines. There is a great need to reach the rest of the more than 170 million people of Africa’s most populous and possibly most influential nation.

The Holmes Family

February/March '03

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