The Holmes Family: March/April '09

April turned out to be the month of the bride and groom as I officiated in the seventh and eighth weddings of my short time here in Nigeria. On the 11th, it was my honor to conduct the union of one of our national pastors in Abuja, Pastor Simon Nyam, to his new wife, Rachel. The occasion was made even more special as several other preachers and missionaries attended. One of the ministers stayed to preach for us that Sunday evening. On the 25th, I was asked to do the wedding of a faithful couple at another independent Baptist church in the area.

We have renewed our focus for outreach recently. A new soul-winners’ training class has been started during the Sunday School hour as a ten-week extension of our discipleship class. We have

been pleased to see as many as twenty-five adults present themselves for this important instruction. Several visitors came and heard the Gospel during the 2nd Anniversary of our Thursday children’s program. Many of those visitors on Sunday morning are parents of the children that attend our kids’ Bible study. Furthermore, we now have two men that go out for soul-winning or follow-up every day of the week. Several of our men are becoming seasoned spreaders of the Word.

It has been an exciting time for my sending church, Faith Baptist in Gulfport, Mississippi, as they have continued seeing growth in the ministry of Bible Education

And Missionary Service (BEAMS). Dr. Dan Carr, my sending pastor, has been the home church pastor of BEAMS for over two years now. They are operating in many countries and have been distributing whole, hardback Bibles to us in Nigeria since before we even started our church. We use the Bibles mainly as a reward for those who complete our Genesis class [pictured] and as a blessing to several national pastors for whom I preach. For anyone who has a desire to get Bibles to the mission field, BEAMS is a worthy investment of your prayers and support.

Joseph (5) and Victoria (3) are learning some songs to present for when their grandmother (Sabrina’s mom) comes to visit in June; Brian (1) is just glad to stand

and look cute while the others perform. Along with the privilege we had of hosting a visiting pastor in April, and my mother-in-law and sister-in-law coming soon, we also are praying towards having two returning guest preachers for our second pastors’ conference in July. Things are never boring here!

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.

1 comment:

bourgeois said...: Bro. Mark and family, what an honor it was to have recieved the email and update about the great work the Lord is doing through you there in Africa. Our family prays for you and cant wait to hear from you again real soon. May God continue to Bless you and protect you. Bro. Brian Bourgeois and family Faith Baptist Church Gulfport; June 16, 2009 at 5:32 AM

The Holmes Family

March/April '09

1 comment:

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