The Holmes Family: September/October '10

Since February of 2008, except for times when our church is hosting a conference, every month I have responded

to an invitation for preaching in one of our 85 independent Baptist churches. Another opportunity to be a blessing was in the middle of October, when I preached the 6th Anniversary of Lighthouse Independent Bible Baptist Church [the pastor's family is pictured with Ms. Pat], one of the three churches in which I’ve ministered at least once every year since we’ve started our church. It is rewarding to watch this church mature, fulfilling to see them start a Temple Baptist Institute, and stirring to learn the pastor’s vision for future ministries.

Early in October, as a kickoff for the third semester in the seminary,

we hosted our first Open House. Our 20 students [several pictured] had a chance to fellowship with 10 area independent Baptist pastors; we enjoyed breakfast, a special chapel service, some testimony time, and a snack while the pastors’ wives had a tea fellowship with my wife. We plan to conduct a similar meeting each semester. At the end of the month, Dr. Darrell Moore, the director of our mission board, honored us by visiting for our 3rd Annual Great Commission Conference. He not only preached each day for the missions meeting, but he also taught a compelling series on church multiplication to our seminary. Truth Baptist Church helps to support seven different ministries, and, as I write this, our members’ faith promise missions giving has more than tripled!

We are thrilled that the Nigerian Basic Education Board (NBEB) has recently accepted a ministry that we presented to

them. Virtually every government (public) school in Nigeria allows religious programs during their week. However, in the past, anytime we wished to represent our church during such a time, we were forced to go through the Pentecostal/Charismatic-dominated Fellowship of Christian Students (FCS); the only other fellowships allowed are Catholic or Muslim (Nigeria’s population is half-Muslim). Just three months ago, the NBEB approved our new Bible Proclaimers Student Fellowship, a ministry of Truth Baptist Church, so that it now carries the same authorization as the FCS, and is permitted to go into any government school of the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja area). Our seminary students are currently trying to reach as many areas as possible, taking part in the schools’ allotted religious program times [my wife is pictured doing a Bible club at such a time]. This new ministry would also serve as a great opportunity for any visitor who would like to be a part in helping us reach our city’s students.

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

September/October '10

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