The Holmes Family: August/September '03

As Sabrina and I experienced the last weeks leading to the fall seaso

n, I couldn’t help but think that this was the longest and best summer of my life. I have certainly reveled in the fact that we are actually full-time in the ministry, and we have yet to experience a deputation “horror” story. In actuality, we have definitely been spoiled by churches, pastors, and their members. We continue to praise God for a packed schedule. During our first four months (concluding on September 21st) of raising support, we had meetings in forty-five different churches. We have over fifty different churches remaining on our calendar so far, and I am busily planning for more.

So many people have been an extra-special blessing to Sabrina during our travels. Our sending church in Gulfport and her home church (Central Baptist in Baton Rouge, Louisiana) have planned baby showers for her and she has been “showered” with gifts from several individuals, especially family [Sabrina's Mawmaw pictured]. Her due date is still December 20th, and she continues to be in great health. We did find out that, the Lord willing, we’ll be having a boy! He’ll be named Mark Joseph, Jr., and we plan to call him Joseph.

During our time on the road, Sabrina and I have found several unique opportunities to present the Gospel of Christ. Upon our arrival for a meeting at a church outside of New Orleans, I saw that several teenagers were using the church parking lots and sidewalks as a “skateboard park.” We met a few of the church members, and while I went inside to grab a handful of gospel tracts, one of the staff men scolded the teens and ran them off the property. As I came back outside, they were already about a block away and had gathered in front of a house within easy walking distance. I made sure I had my New Testament and walked over to them. Each one of the eight boys received an invitation to the church, and I began to witness to them. When I got to the question of whether they would go to Heaven when they die, I was surprised by their curiosity and seriousness. Each of them stopped their bikes and skateboards and listened intently as I shared with them the wonderful story of Jesus. As I came to the point of decision, I said to them, “I’m sure that you would probably be embarrassed to say in front of your friends that you want to ask Jesus into your heart and be saved.” Before I could even finish, one of the boys spoke up with, “I want to be saved.” Immediately, four of the other young men on their own said the same thing. After I showed them some more scripture and prayed with them, those five teenagers sincerely told me they had received Christ as Saviour. Hallelujah for the Gospel and for the boldness God gives to the soul-winner and to the sinner who is not ashamed to speak out in front of his buddies!

The following is a letter of recommendation of our ministry from Dr. Mike Cox, the co-founder of our mission board, Fundamental Baptist Missions International, and currently the pastor of Victory Baptist Church in Elyria, Ohio:

February 12, 2003
Dear Pastors:

It is with great joy that I sit to write this letter of recommendation for missionary Mark Holmes. Mark and Sabrina Holmes are a quality young couple whom God has uniquely prepared to serve Him. A 2000 graduate of Hyles-Anderson College, Brother Holmes served as Ministries Director of Faith Baptist Church of Gulfport, MS, until the summer of 2003. While serving there he distinguished himself as a hard-working young man of exceptional character.

God has called Mark and his wife to serve in the country of Nigeria. Nigeria is a crime-filled, poverty-stricken land. Life there is hard and uncertain. Mark’s history and experience will prove invaluable as he begins his work there.

I want to encourage you to invite Mark and Sabrina Holmes to your church, in order that they might present their vision and burden for the Nigerian people. I am certain that they will be a great blessing to both you and your people.

Sincerely,
R. Michael Cox

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

August/September '03

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