The Holmes Family: November/December '15

Evangelist Jim Belisle, a Field Service Coordinator for our mission board who has quickly become a dear friend to our family and work, allowed me to take advantage of his experience in ministry and flexibility of schedule to use him in November, his fourth visit to our ministry, to be a blessing to four churches [pictured preaching at a school in Ibadan]. His trip began with a revival meeting at a church in Ibadan that Missionary Mark Sigstad originally started. Our members at Truth Baptist Church were glad to have Bro. Jim here to conduct our 8th Great Commission Meeting on the first Thursday and Friday of the month. On November 8th, Grace & Glory Baptist Church welcomed staff members and deacons from Truth Baptist for an enjoyable combined service, where Evangelist Belisle introduced missions giving to the new church and then became the first speaker to preach a multi-day meeting for GGBC on Monday and Tuesday. He concluded his journey by preaching for Missionary Israel Thompsons, the national pastor who teaches in our seminary. [Bro. Belisle pictured with our seminary students]

In five Saturdays spanning the middle of November through the middle of December, I stayed very busy with two weddings, two ordinations [one pictured], and an institute exam. Around the same time, the ending of a semester at Providence Baptist College & Seminary signaled the beginning of preparations for an end-of-January commencement with almost 20 graduates of the seminary, institute, and correspondence college. Church planting has continued successfully with one new ministry starting the building of an auditorium and one of our graduates conducting a survey trip to a nearby city, making plans for what will be the 32nd new church started with those who have been trained and/or ordained by our ministry.

My family always enjoys the Holidays here for it truly is a break time. Our seminary and institute has several weeks off, and even our church activities become lighter as many families travel from our city to their villages for Christmas. Traffic lessens, electricity is better, and the expectations upon me as pastor and director lighten for a while. This year was extra special as a church member family here paid for Sabrina and me with our five to stay in a hotel for five full nights!

Scheduling for our next furlough is under way; our family plans to be in the U.S., if the Lord will, from mid-August 2016 through mid-January 2017. We are already slated to be in several missions conferences throughout October and November. If you would like for us to report at your church, please contact me; the easiest way is by email or Facebook messenger.

A video in an Abuja hotel from our holiday vacation last year, showing how much our family enjoys receiving packages at Christmas.

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

November/December '15

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