The Holmes Family: June/July '04

Much traveling was done by Sabrina and me during these first two months of summer. June saw us “up north” (that’s any area past Jackson, Mississippi!) for three weeks in Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Kentucky. Then we were able to spend a week with my aunt and uncle in Houston, Texas, before going to Arkansas to close out the month of July.

Unfortunately, the survey trip to our field had to be postponed again. In

order to visit Nigeria on even a tourist visa, a letter of invitation from a government-recognized source has to be obtained. We had some delay in that document being sent, and by the time we received it, there were no flights available for the dates we needed. Our idea now is to take a trip around the first of the year, close to the time we hope to start our first term in early 2005. This would allow us to secure a home and maybe even a vehicle in our place of service; moreover, we would be able to get definite details about shipping our goods and also the cost of necessities. Please pray with us about our plans.

On the last Wednesday of July, I preached at a church near Sabrina’s home town of Denham Springs, Louisiana. After the message, I first asked for anyone who was unsure of their salvation to raise their hand. Just when I was about to make a plea for Christians to make a decision, a young adult lady in the very back barely lifted her hand as she was looking at me. I immediately prayed and then gave simple instructions to anyone who was ready to make a decision. On the second verse of the invitation song, I made eye contact with the same lady, and she started shaking her head, unwilling to come forward. Before the next verse was over, this young single mother was walking down the aisle with the lady who brought her to church. The assistant pastor’s wife then led her to receive Christ as her Saviour. Usually, I turn the invitation over to the pastor, but because he was out of town, I had the special privilege of seeing someone get saved right in front of me. My sermon explained to the people that doing the work of God would get them through the tough times of life. The church member who brought the visitor was experiencing a particularly hard trial, and she became a living illustration to the message that had just been preached! Many instances like this have kept me excited about deputation, for God is definitely using Sabrina and me even before we get to the field of Nigeria.

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

June/July '04

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