tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82514167079343528912012-01-12T22:26:03.806+01:00Information & Ministry Updates with Pictures & Videos from Missionaries to NigeriaMark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.comBlogger551100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-88817559730233174232011-11-29T22:53:00.001+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.887+01:00

The last two months of the rainy season for us in Abuja were filled with much activity. In the middle of September, I had the rare occasion of going to a preaching engagement with my family [pictured with the village chif], and we took the opportunity to visit the relatives of our late assistant pastor, as his village is only about a two-hour drive from our home, and our meeting was only another

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-68425773105327761612011-10-12T20:38:00.000+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.867+01:00

Our 2nd Annual Student Missions Institute for Training in Evangelism was a great success in August. In this year’s youth camp, 120 teens and young adults were involved, conducting 19 Bible clubs where over 1300 children heard the Gospel! The mornings were busy with teaching, and the evenings were filled with special music and messages from our three American guests [one pictured with his Bible

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-55829612447533982282011-08-17T20:16:00.003+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.855+01:00

May of this year was quite an eventful month as we wrapped up the 4th Semester of our Providence Baptist College & Seminary. On the 2nd Sunday, Truth Baptist Church celebrated its 5th Anniversary by canvassing eight areas to conduct outreach services, in addition to our regular meeting on the church property. Over 630 total people attended the assemblies; this number included the grand opening

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-9629163854346821322011-08-01T04:34:00.011+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.895+01:00

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.

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-47347782937014375092011-03-31T00:11:00.006+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.845+01:00

The New Year has ushered in several changes to our church schedule as we seek to get more of our members involved in our regular services and institute training. The Temple Baptist Institute recently completed its first round of the full three-year curriculum, which means that several of our original students no longer need to attend. To make the ministry training school more accessible to some

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-67908907188959063692011-02-18T16:07:00.006+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.865+01:00

For the third time since last November, I had the privilege of visiting Calabar (a historic Nigerian city in the southeastern part of the country, ministry area of missionary great Mary Slessor) towards the end of 2010. The ordination of a pastor friend was the premise for this particular trip. Eight pastors [pictured below] joined me for the ceremony on Sunday morning, and the church recorded a

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-57291661396321937822011-01-23T14:27:00.003+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.860+01:00

Since February of 2008, except for times when our church is hosting a conference, every month I have responded to an invitation for preaching in one of our 85 independent Baptist churches. Another opportunity to be a blessing was in the middle of October, when I preached the 6th Anniversary of Lighthouse Independent Bible Baptist Church [the pastor's family is pictured with Ms. Pat], one of the

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-9156148430400122112010-09-04T21:50:00.006+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.893+01:00

For 33 years, the Summer Missionary Institute for Training and Evangelism (S.M.I.T.E.) has been used by God to gather teenagers and youth workers from throughout the southeast region of the U.S. and equip them to make a difference in their respective churches. My wife was a part of the youth meeting in both Baton Rouge and Natchez for 12 years, and the first time I actually met Sabrina was at a

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-64686481764830308482010-09-04T21:35:00.013+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.864+01:00

Since arriving back to Nigeria the first week of April, our time has been absolutely full of activity. During the same month, our family relocated to a rental house closer to our church, and in the middle of April, our college family began its 2nd semester of classes. Next, on May 16th, our church family celebrated its 4th Anniversary of existence. Though not a new concept, we introduced

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-70463312455715855752010-06-16T04:19:00.004+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.870+01:00

Our family arrived safely back to Abuja on April 3rd, in time to have a wonderful Easter service at Truth Baptist Church, which was full of people eager to welcome us back to Nigeria. Before we even finished unpacking, I became extremely busy finding, securing, and renting for two years a larger house that is closer to the church and better for our family. We all are very thankful for a

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-7982286091179501552010-05-31T13:13:00.006+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.880+01:00

Our sixth year in Nigeria will begin in June, and, as mentioned in our last letter, I would like to give a summary of our time on the field. Any company in which you invest will usually mail an annual report of how your contributions are faring; they tend to be very detailed, full of numbers, and quite boring. I hope that you will see our details as a depiction of our efforts to be accountable,

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-37422857132225585432010-02-28T08:39:00.004+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.836+01:00

The following is a video that we have been presenting in churches during our furlough. It is a good representation of the first 2-3 years of our ministry. We are currently working on another video as we approach the completion of 5 years in Nigeria.

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-3461987043957717572010-02-28T08:36:00.006+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.829+01:00

Sabrina and I, along with Joseph, Victoria, and Brian arrived safely in New Orleans from Abuja on December 6th; we will be in the U.S. until April 2nd. During our short furlough I will have the privilege of presenting our work in 40 churches, including the opportunities to participate in five missions conferences, teach at three Bible colleges, conduct a missions emphasis day, minister in five

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-12781849722871166122010-02-28T08:22:00.003+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.811+01:00

Truth Baptist Church completed its second missions conference in October by exceeding all expectations as our members continue their giving to support Nigerian ministries outside of our own work. We welcomed a guest evangelist to preach the conference [Evangelist Yinka Fasinro's children pictured singing a special], and each night there was a presentation of a different ministry for which I

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-80329451379438836972009-10-14T06:56:00.004+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.882+01:00

The landmark occurrence from the last two months is something towards which we have been working for almost four years. Our first-ever graduation for Temple Baptist Institute saw nine graduates, representing three churches, receive their diplomas (two-year certificates) in Ministerial Studies. Two of the graduates are now senior pastors of churches here in Abuja, and one is ready to start a new

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-3664968044248011002009-08-20T13:00:00.007+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.832+01:00

During our first full year in Nigeria, we had the fantastic privilege of hosting Sabrina’s father and the older of her two brothers. Now, in our fourth year, my mother-in-law and sister-in-law [pictured with Victoria] were able to visit in June. They stayed for two Sundays, and we had a wonderful time introducing them to all of our faithful members, students, and other friends. With my wife, our

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-7505155093104347282009-06-15T18:30:00.007+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.873+01:00

April turned out to be the month of the bride and groom as I officiated in the seventh and eighth weddings of my short time here in Nigeria. On the 11th, it was my honor to conduct the union of one of our national pastors in Abuja, Pastor Simon Nyam, to his new wife, Rachel. The occasion was made even more special as several other preachers and missionaries attended. One of the ministers stayed

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-37770328698522604852009-03-30T16:38:00.006+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.837+01:00

Our ministry has already focused on 2009 as the time that we will start our Bible college (in August, with God’s help) for the purpose of sending out graduates to begin Bible-believing churches. However, immediate exciting opportunities have been thrust upon us to launch a new church, re-establish another, and assist one of our Temple Bible Institute graduates in the founding of a church. We are

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-72299661023079220142009-02-09T09:30:00.009+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.872+01:00

The last two months of 2008 saw Truth Baptist Church add an aspect that I believe has further completed the purpose of our labor. In the middle of November, we hosted an American evangelist [Bro. Chris Stansell pictured beside a village chapel sign] who preached our first-ever Missions Conference. During the four-day meeting, a different ministry was introduced each night, and we prayed about

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-10918950666800626502008-12-09T07:18:00.006+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.808+01:00

Truth Baptist Church is reaching some milestones as November will mark its 30th month of ministry. The first-ever wedding [pictured left] on our church property was conducted on the second Saturday of September. Nigerian nuptials would be something to which any preacher would look forward because the tradition is to have a full sermon in the midst of the ceremony. It’s actually the fifth wedding

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-54395003359796716212008-10-23T02:05:00.005+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.854+01:00

July brought the completion of our curriculum for Temple Baptist Institute that has been developed over the last couple of years. Within the next two months, we will have a combined graduation and ordination service for the first four graduates of this ministry training school. We now have six teachers at three different locations and are enjoying the blessings of God upon our schools.We

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-15393623132519267712008-10-23T02:00:00.010+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.815+01:00

July 14, 2008After conducting a great revival meeting in March; our church topped that with its first-ever Pastors’ School. Truth Baptist Church hosted a Soul-Winning and Leadership Conference July 7-10 with Evangelist Dr. Mike Wells of International World Wide Evangelism. Another evangelist and two of our supporting church pastors joined him, and we also welcomed more than 40 independent Baptist

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-77275376207480947022008-10-23T01:56:00.006+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.877+01:00

May 12, 2008Yesterday, Truth Baptist Church celebrated its 2nd Anniversary. We broke our previous record of 217 with an attendance of 280 in the morning preaching service! Almost 90 came back in the evening to hear our guest speaker again. Earlier in the month we held a special Sunday School program with refreshments, and in a couple of weeks we will use a few promotions and start a series on

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-86613774343879350792008-10-23T01:48:00.007+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.886+01:00

March 7, 2008Last night was the final service of the first ever week-long gathering among our four independent Baptist churches in Abuja. Truth Baptist Church conducted a Revival Meeting with missionary-evangelist Yinka Fasinro, who has newly arrived from the states to begin his full-time ministry in Nigeria. Our church showed their excitement on the very first night by setting a new record for

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-75063873236071567152008-10-23T01:44:00.014+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.875+01:00

January 7, 2008Today, I brought Sabrina home after she had her appendix removed on Friday at Abuja Clinics near our rental house in the capital city of Nigeria. Sabrina had been experiencing pains since Christmas Eve, and her doctor scheduled her for an appendectomy. The surgery proved successful; her stay in the clinic was normal (I’ll try to put into words one day what “normal” is in a Nigerian

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-78717355144971883992008-10-23T01:41:00.003+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.878+01:00

[My navigator, Joseph, pictured] Our journey to the U.S. proved successful in more ways than the most important, the healthy birth of our third child, Brian Michael, on August 20th [pictured at 2 months]. Another great blessing was the privilege I had of representing our ministry to 39 churches from July through October. I traveled to California twice [pictured with Pastor A.D. Hampton], along

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-57173583864182123452008-10-23T01:37:00.005+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.859+01:00

Though born 2 ½ weeks before his due date, Brian Michael Holmes came into this world as a healthy 7-pound baby at 5:24 p.m. on August 20 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Our third child is carrying the names of both of his grandfathers. The one he's never met was my dad (who died in 1989); his middle name was Michael. Brian is the first name of Sabrina's dad who was in the delivery room when we named

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-23714463694464432882008-10-23T01:32:00.006+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.821+01:00

As Sabrina and I made acknowledgment of our second year in Nigeria, Truth Baptist Church successfully celebrated its first Anniversary Service on May 13 with a record attendance of 217! It’s been the only time that we’ve eclipsed 200 during the morning service. Another part of our special month was the conducting of a public Film Showing on the 25th at the main soccer field in our town. The

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-907307503394495152008-10-23T01:27:00.008+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.890+01:00

April saw the Truth Baptist Church of Nyanya-Abuja reach another milestone at the end of our opening year of existence. For the first time, we averaged over 100 in attendance during a full month (104, to be exact). In the last two months, several of our faithful people have started three soul-winning and visitation groups [group pictured], in addition to our weekly church-wide evangelism on

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-11819080729883525162008-10-23T01:23:00.005+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.810+01:00

The New Year saw us starting a second Bible Institute, this time at Truth Baptist, our church that began last May. We prayed for twenty students and were blessed with that exact number on the opening Tuesday night! The first class is Personal Evangelism, and we have averaged about twenty-five excited pupils. Music and Song Leading is the course I am now teaching on Saturdays at the other Bible

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-15676946380304337972008-10-23T01:18:00.009+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.816+01:00

November allowed us the opportunity to host the first visitor from our sending church in Mississippi. Brother Eddie Holt was my deacon when I was called to preach twelve years ago in my hometown. It was a special privilege to have someone who has known me since the beginning to come and see what the Lord is doing for our family and ministry now in Nigeria.On November 26th, the second Sunday that

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-15314565659216846312008-10-23T01:14:00.005+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.813+01:00

In the middle of September, we had the special privilege of hosting Sean and MariJo Alvis [pictured with 2 chiefs] for their survey trip to Nigeria. It was a delight to show them around the city, introduce them to our ministries, take them on a tour of village works, and be considered a “veteran” by these “rookies”! The day after they arrived, we had a record attendance at Truth Baptist Church.

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-289894618699537992008-10-23T01:08:00.008+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.826+01:00

Going into our fourth month at Truth Baptist Church, God has already given us some miraculous victories. Our attendance has eclipsed 100 during the morning service in four out of the last six Sundays. This trend was initiated by our first baptism service on July 12, where we had our highest turnout of 113 people. We've since conducted another such service in August and have immersed 23 people

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-47860002898817318322008-10-23T00:42:00.007+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.848+01:00

It’s here!!! The container for which we asked donations last May, over which we requested prayer while packing in December, and of which we expected an entrance around March 1st finally arrived at our home on the 11th of June. Miraculously, our shipment was cleared through customs in less than two weeks, and seemingly everything we packed has been accounted for. Needless to say, we have been very

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-31200983698357905662008-10-23T00:37:00.006+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.828+01:00

May 15, 2006Yesterday, the Truth Baptist Church at Nyanya-Abuja, Nigeria conducted its Grand Opening Service. Without electricity, restrooms, P.A. system, or even windows and doors, the attendance was 95, and there were 34 decisions for salvation! Special thanks goes to Pastor Simon Nyam (he's the founder of another independent Baptist church in town) for conducting our children’s church [

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-43915449203080262762008-10-23T00:32:00.007+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.840+01:00

Our 20th prayer letter finds us back on the field of Nigeria. On Sabrina’s birthday (Feb. 23), we were able to return to Africa after a successful two-month doctor checkup for Victoria the week before. Knowing not when we would be in the U.S. again, it was difficult to say “Goodbye” to loved ones this time, but we are encouraged by the prospect of Sabrina’s father being able to visit us sometime

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-80979521195518998332008-10-23T00:28:00.004+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.884+01:00

January 11, 2006The significance of the date on this letter is to let you know that yesterday we sent a twenty-foot sea container with all of our household items to Nigeria. Something for which we had planned during the last eleven months has finally come to pass! A special thanks to my sending church who made sure that I had plenty of manpower for the loading of our belongings and to many of our

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-3505481858258465792008-10-23T00:22:00.007+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.831+01:00

This update is being written by me from the U.S., having just arrived the Friday before Thanksgiving from a two month stay in Nigeria. The primary purpose of this trip was for me to get several things accomplished in preparation for us returning to the field as a family (with two children, Lord willing) after the New Year. The journey certainly was successful as plans have been put in place for

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-25105765527462126242008-10-23T00:16:00.004+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.822+01:00

When Sabrina and I decided in April to travel to Nigeria on a ninety-day tourist visa, we weren’t sure if it would be worth the expense involved. Yet, we went with three goals in mind, and all have been achieved by God’s leading and to our joy. First, we knew we could gain some familiarity and glean much from working alongside Missionary Ron Gensaw [pictured behind his pulpit] at his church in

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-90408152111712421662008-10-23T00:11:00.006+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.889+01:00

Greetings from Nigeria! Sabrina, Joseph, and I are happy to announce that we arrived safely in Abuja on June 5th, and we are already seeing some great things happen. We’re currently working with Missionary Ron Gensaw just outside of the city. The Lord has greatly protected our health and helped us to adjust physically; as for the ministry part, we are seeing people converted almost daily as we go

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-25653614415673179102008-10-22T23:48:00.004+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.824+01:00

May 23, 2005Hello…we must be going! I couldn’t wait to send out this update to let you know that we have our plane tickets in hand; our Nigerian visas are being processed, and, if the Lord allows, we are officially departing for Abuja on June 4! Though not everything has worked out as we’ve wanted it to, Sabrina and I are still very thankful to be headed for the place to which God has called

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-21521312911916806792008-10-22T10:48:00.004+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.818+01:00

March 1, 2005A major reason for still taking a survey trip this late in our deputation last month was to find out firsthand what we needed to ship to the country ourselves. We were very pleasantly surprised that practically everything we could need or want is available there; however, not everything is affordable or even reasonable. With the help and recommendation of our Africa Field Director at

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-44459472024443817102008-10-20T14:57:00.011+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.842+01:00

February 3, 2005It finally happened! After at least six years of God’s leading, more than twenty months of deputation, countless times of telling about a country we’ve never personally seen, and two cancelled survey trips, we at last were able to visit our future mission field! The trip was short because we felt it best to leave our son with our parents, and it was grueling as we endured nine

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-36824307210202794062008-10-20T14:52:00.007+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.834+01:00

These two months of autumn have allowed us to appreciate several opportunities to stay with family members during our meetings. Just in the month of October, we visited relatives in the areas of Gulfport (MS), Baton Rouge (LA), Dallas and Houston (TX), and Birmingham (AL). Our churches were mainly in the Southeast except for one in Illinois, and we presented our ministry in seven different

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-50026771902215910182008-09-17T11:41:00.005+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.850+01:00

During the first half of August, we were privileged to have several meetings close to home. On the fourth, my home pastor asked me to preach the mid-week service. At the end of the service, Bro. Carr had a prayer of dedication with Sabrina and me for our son, Joseph. Also, a special thanks goes to Faith Baptist Church in Gulfport for sending us a substantial amount of money that will be set aside

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-27730542191864296992008-09-17T11:37:00.004+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.825+01:00

Much traveling was done by Sabrina and me during these first two months of summer. June saw us “up north” (that’s any area past Jackson, Mississippi!) for three weeks in Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Kentucky. Then we were able to spend a week with my aunt and uncle in Houston, Texas, before going to Arkansas to close out the month of July.Unfortunately, the survey trip to our field had

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-22576958636510558892008-09-17T11:36:00.005+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.819+01:00

[Sabrina's sister, Ashley, w/ Joseph] These last two months allowed us to spend most of the time in our two home states of Mississippi and Louisiana. Due to a rescheduling, I had the great privilege of attending all day and speaking during the Sunday school hour at our home church on Mother’s Day. It is always a joy to preach for my pastor, one of my heroes. It seems that holidays have been the

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-51188977897189363542008-09-17T11:33:00.003+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.852+01:00

After spending five weeks north of the Mason-Dixon Line, it’s been very nice to get back to some warm weather recently! Sabrina, Joseph, and I were able to go conveniently to several meetings in the North since we were already planning to attend Pastors’ School. During that week at First Baptist Church in Hammond, Indiana, Bro. Ron Gensaw (missionary in Abuja, Nigeria) [pictured holding 1 yr. old

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-42139909327076600382008-09-17T11:31:00.003+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.839+01:00

This holiday season for us was unique in many ways to any other. Our baby boy Joseph turned three weeks old on Christmas day, and, of course, he received more gifts than his mother and father combined! This was the first time that I didn’t have to go back to school or clock in at work after a holiday break, yet Sabrina and I stayed busy with our ministry. I only had to cancel one church meeting

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-6161828008256454412008-09-17T11:11:00.007+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.862+01:00

December 8, 2003We have a new baby boy! Mark Joseph Holmes, Jr. was born on Thursday, December 4, 2003, at 8:55 a.m., weighing in at 7½ pounds and measuring 20 inches in length. He was brought by C-Section and was over two weeks early. Sabrina began showing signs of going into labor on Tuesday morning while we were outside of Lafayette, Louisiana, and we checked into a hospital in Baton Rouge at

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-57068221398438129442008-09-17T11:00:00.011+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.857+01:00

As Sabrina and I experienced the last weeks leading to the fall season, I couldn’t help but think that this was the longest and best summer of my life. I have certainly reveled in the fact that we are actually full-time in the ministry, and we have yet to experience a deputation “horror” story. In actuality, we have definitely been spoiled by churches, pastors, and their members. We continue to

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-44965370298216431682008-08-11T21:35:00.004+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.843+01:00

Our first two months of full time deputation definitely treated us well. In June and July, we had the privilege of presenting our work at twenty-four churches; Sabrina and I sang in all but two of them, and I had the honor of preaching for seventeen of the pastors. God has blessed by allowing us to add more than seventy other churches to our future schedule. While with a particular church in

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-68554123600937369792008-08-11T21:34:00.006+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.869+01:00

I’m not sure that everything from the last two months can be included in one prayer letter. The first item is something I’ve anticipated publicizing since I was in Bible college and especially for the last several months—we’re finally full time! Glory to GOD! Hallelujah! God called me to preach almost nine years ago, and this is the first time that I’ve been without a secular job. I resigned my

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-47505857077434698672008-08-11T21:30:00.008+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.847+01:00

As this letter is written, Sabrina and I are excited to be less than seven weeks away from beginning full-time the process of raising funds for our ministry. At Faith Baptist Church, I continue to teach our young adult Sunday School class, and we recently completed a spring program for our bus ministry during which we increased our attendance for three weeks in a row. I also have the delight of

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8251416707934352891.post-91002792476710747602008-08-11T20:00:00.020+01:002012-01-12T22:26:03.892+01:00

The new year has brought to Sabrina and I many beginnings about which we are quite excited. Our very first meeting for deputation was in Louisiana during the second week of the month. It was an exceedingly joyful and gratifying time that saw us shed some tears as we realized that many of the things for which we’ve worked and prayed and planned are finally coming to pass. Sabrina and I sang

Mark Holmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08133922925705778450noreply@blogger.com0