The Holmes Family: 2012

June 25, 2012

Yesterday was our first Sunday back to Nigeria from our six-month furlough [family pictured with our mothers at the airport], and the welcome we received from Truth Baptist Church was very warm indeed. The most encouraging greeting was the successful way that so many things continued in our absence. Not only did the church thrive in sustaining the preaching services, Sunday schools, soul-winning times, Lord’s supper and baptism ordinances, preachers’ meeting, and adding new members, but also the leaders maintained interest in our new programs of family time, special soul-winning days, and church-wide visitation. In addition, for the first time, Providence Baptist College and Seminary completed almost a full semester before our return, and I am truly thankful to the two national pastors who partnered together for such an endeavor. Finally, we are looking forward to working with the two new churches that were started during our stint in the U.S.

I’d like to take the majority of this prayer letter to give some details of an opportunity that we have upcoming. In May, I traveled to South Carolina in a moving van to deliver some items that we had purchased and others that were donated towards a container that we are being allowed to share with a veteran missionary who has an orphanage ministry. Included will be 10,000 New Testaments, John & Romans, and Bibles that were donated by the printing ministry of Faith Baptist Church in Tacoma, Washington. There is still some time before the container will be sent, so I would like to list some things that we want to include in the shipment. If you can help with any items, or money towards them, Sabrina and I would greatly appreciate the assistance. Any deliveries can always be made to our sending church, or you can contact me for the address where we are storing items for the container. The following is our “wish list”:

laptops for college graduates

study Bibles for preachers

Christian books for the college library

children’s church materials

solid wood bookshelves

furniture for the college

pulpits

hymn players

printing press with supplies

twin mattress with box spring

ping pong table

children’s wagon

bathroom scale

Melaleuca cleaning products

220V washing machine

kitchen cabinets

tool kits

solar panels

Sabrina, Joseph, Victoria, Brian, Noah, and I greatly appreciate your support and prayers!

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. Over 30 churches have been started by those who have been trained or ordained by their ministry, including the most recent, Grace & Glory Baptist Church in Abuja. 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 and annual youth camp; a full curriculum DVD correspondence college 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

2012

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