The Holmes Family: January/February '14

21 March 2014

Two days ago, we arrived in Baton Rouge at my in-laws' house to begin our furlough in expectation of our 5th child. God has given us some wonderful opportunities while in the U.S.: I will have the privilege of preaching in four missions conferences during our first seven weeks home. Please pray for safe travels and a successful delivery.

A "house thanksgiving" after a morning service in January started off our year in a unique way. Sabrina, the kids, and I invited our church members, former neighbors, and other friends to celebrate God's provisions toward our house and his guidance through recent trials. This occasion gave us the chance to especially thank our current neighbors who helped tremendously in July during our house fire. That day we fed over 300 people [pictured] with the help of several ladies and singles from our church! The next week we welcomed Evangelist Chris Stansell for his second visit along with a student from West Coast Baptist College. Bro. Stansell treated our whole family with extra suitcases full of gifts, surprises, and items we requested; he also blessed our church by preaching a special ministry day, building program dedication, revival meeting [flyer pictured], and teaching a series at our seminary [attendees pictured].

Our remaining weeks in Nigeria were filled with meetings to strategize several major works that will be ongoing during my family's time in the U.S. We now have a planning committee of twelve church members who are working to get a Christian elementary school started on our church property by September. A national missionary, who has extensive experience in starting A.C.E. schools, is leading the committee. Seven families that have a great burden for having a church inside Abuja (Truth Baptist is in a satellite town of the capital) have been exchanging ideas on the best way to begin. We are endeavoring to plant the church with our friend, Pastor Israel Thompsons, who is already teaching with me in the college and institute. Truth Baptist Church will be in good hands during my furlough with our five deacons, a youth pastor, and a trustee forming a leadership council, and a total of sixteen men scheduled to be "behind the pulpit." This council will be guiding our building project on the new auditorium and also transitioning our assistant pastor back into ministry service as he continues to recuperate from his accident. We need your prayers for the all these activities and also for our auditorium plans to be approved so that we can begin work.

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

January/February '14

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