March/April '11

These two months have set a new standard for my being busy on all levels. Our church conducted two baby dedications (at one [pictured] we had a “non-big day” record attendance of 311), succeeded in having our first-ever banquet to focus on our building fund, hosted a missionary that told us of his plans to start a church in another state, and helped two members in the planning of their weddings. The changes in our institute and Sunday evening services (mentioned in our last update) took effect during these two months, and six straight weeks of teaching daily in our seminary put me at the church more often than ever before. Outside of Truth Baptist Church, I preached for a special missions day at a nearby church, participated in an ordination, made a flight to be the guest speaker at a church’s 25th Anniversary (actually on February 20th), and planned our next five conferences and big days. Our busyness was not made easier by the fact that we had problems with our vehicle throughout both months, and the whole country was nervous about four straight Saturdays of national elections. Yet we could rejoice in the success of all the aforementioned activities, along with a couple of more that I want to feature now.

In the middle of April, Truth Baptist Church held its 3rd Spirit Renewal Week. This revival meeting closely followed the aforementioned banquet where we unveiled our theme for the year, “Built upon the Rock,” from Matthew 7:24. An evangelist, who has started a church, school, and orphanage in a village near Nigeria’s largest city, thoroughly encouraged our people as we are entering a very crucial time of expansion and multiplication when our ministry especially needs strengthening.  Our guest preacher is currently in the U.S. to raise more needed support.

On the 20th of March, Faith Baptist Church of Masaka was started with four families and an institute graduate from our church. Christ Baptist Church of Karshi (which will have two families and a seminary graduate from our church) is planning to begin in May [both pastors of new churches on right side of picture], and a church in another state is preparing to launch in July. With the three new plants, it brings the total number of churches started by those trained in our institute, or ordained by our ministry, to 15!

I want to conclude by expressing my appreciation to the pastors who responded to the letter from my sending pastor [pictured below with his wife during their trip to Nigeria] with a gift, love offering, word of encouragement, or needed prayers. In April, we were able to buy land that is planned to be the site of a home for our family. Please continue to pray as we raise money for the project of building the house, and consider helping us financially as you read our pastor's letter:
1 March 2011

Dear Pastors:

Please allow me to introduce myself as the sending church pastor of Missionary Mark Holmes, who has been serving with his family in Nigeria for the past six years. For two years before Mark started deputation, I gladly employed him as the Ministries Director in our church, and it was a joy for Faith Baptist to help him and Sabrina get to West Africa. God has blessed the Holmes family with three children, a growing church, a full-time Bible college, and a part-time institute, whose graduates have already started 11 churches.

Obviously, they have been planted in Abuja, Nigeria for a purpose, and I would like to ask you to help them as they take the next step in solidifying their ministry in the capital city. Almost 5 years ago, the Holmes family was miraculously provided with the money to buy church property. Mark has recently been able to buy another plot of land in a secure area of the city for under $30,000. Now, they need about $45,000 in order to build a house for their family. The timing of this is crucial as property and rental prices continue to rise and the lease on their current house ends in May 2012.

As a pastor, you know how heartbreaking and frustrating it is to have a missionary come “home” from the field to which he was called. It is encouraging to me that Mark and Sabrina are doing obvious things to establish themselves more permanently in their place of service. Please help me to assist them in this needed endeavor by taking up an offering or sending a gift for the Holmes family. You may mail the donation to their mission board or directly to us here at Faith Baptist Church. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Because Jesus Lives!

Pastor Dan Carr
Galatians 6:9

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