The Holmes Family: November/December '10

For the third time since last November, I had the privilege of visiting Calabar (a historic Nigerian city in the southeastern part of the country, ministry area of missionary great Mary Slessor) towards the end of 2010. The ordination of a pastor friend was the premise for this particular trip. Eight pastors [pictured below] joined me for the ceremony on Sunday morning, and the church recorded a new attendance high; there was a wonderful spirit among the ministers, members, visitors, and the candidate’s family. Another such service in mid-December for two pastors in Abuja capped off a wonderful year in which several men have started new churches and ministries.

Other new beginnings have been celebrated as our church has rejoiced in the birth of eleven babies in the last four months alone! These blessed arrivals command much attention from our ministry: our staff makes every effort possible to be at the hospital for the birth or at least before the mother returns home, our ladies fellowship visits the mother with a gift, I normally conduct a naming ceremony within seven days, and we set a date for some of the families to

participate together in a baby dedication service at the church. Baby dedication [Brian's pictured from 3 years ago] always sees an increase in visitors as many relatives, neighbors, and friends are invited; usually there is a sweet time of fellowship with testimonies and refreshments at the close of these services.

The month of December gave our family some time to “catch our breath.” Since arriving in Nigeria from furlough on the Saturday before Easter, we have located a suitable house, secured a lease, and moved all our belongings; our church has hosted four major conferences in addition to my “regular” duties and travels as pastor and missionary, and we’ve conducted two seminary semesters in a row while I’ve also taught three courses in the Bible institute. From December 10th until January 10th our semester and institute were put on break, and I celebrated! Our family

took advantage of a holiday deal in an Abuja hotel and filled four days with games for our children, family time, good food, and relaxation. Friends and relatives in the U.S. gave our children a great Christmas by sending lots of presents by postal mail [our children pictured with some of their "stash"]. Yet, our favorite gift was one purchased by a Nigerian family who was a neighbor to us in our previous location; they bought a full-month membership for us to join a family club where our children could play basketball, soccer, water games, tennis, and ping-pong. We are now refreshed and ready for a year where we hope to see the graduation of several students, the beginning work on a church auditorium, and a number of new church plants.

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

November/December '10

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