The Holmes Family: May/June '18

On July 3rd, our family departed Nigeria, bound for Louisiana. We arrived safely, and all of Sabrina’s initial doctors’ appointments have gone well as we are anticipating the birth of our sixth child around the second week of September. During the two weeks before our flight, we had the pleasure of fellowshipping with two missionary families [Fasinro family pictured] as they visited Abuja, and special times were planned with the leadership of both churches [that of Truth BC pictured] in which our family is involved.

In May, all seven of us traveled to Port Harcourt to be a part of Independent Baptist Church’s Ladies’ Spectacular; we were pleased to be joined by Ms. Pat Hamburg, who has worked with our ministry for several years. Though Sabrina experienced some health challenges, she was able to teach with Ms. Pat and Mrs. Maskey and several others, and I had the unique privilege of preaching on Thursday evening to all the delegates. It was my fifteenth occasion in twelve years to minister in this wonderful church!

At the beginning of May, the Providence Baptist College and Seminary completed its most active semester in our nine-year history. The ministers-in-training witnessed a graduation, pastors’ conference, and the first time to have five teachers together. All eighteen students [most pictured with one of our deacons] participated in a multi-day leadership seminar [some participants and teachers pictured], weekly driver training, and a week-long skills-acquisition time that taught them small business skills. Several had unique opportunities for village outreach, and all participated in the following various regular activities: Bible clubs for children, youth meetings, Sunday School classes for singles, Christian film showings both in the school and in the local area, government school ministry, and outreach Bible studies.

There are many ways you can intercede for our ministry over the next few months. Please pray for my family as we travel to report on our work and as we prepare in faith for the new addition. Truth and Grace & Glory will have over twenty different men preaching in my absence, and two pastors’ meetings will be held. Three teachers will continue the work of the seminary, beginning again in August. Finally, I know the McGuffees would be glad for your prayers as they prepare to conduct three youth camps starting at the end of July.

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

May/June '18

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