The Holmes Family: New Letter

Several emails, texts, and calls have come to me recently with churches looking forward to the upcoming Soul-Winning and Leadership Conference. I need to inform you that we must postpone this year’s conference to 20-23 May 2013. I apologize for the late notice of this change, for I know that many pastors and members have already made plans for the February dates.

We have been praying for our main guest speaker, Dr. Mike Cox (who preached in the 3rd SWLC and is scheduled for this year), because in June of last year his wife was diagnosed with cancer. For the last 8 months, Mrs. Brenda Cox has gone through a surgery and multiple treatments. She had been responding well to all the procedures, and Dr. Cox was hoping that her chemotherapy would be complete by now. Unfortunately, Mrs. Cox still has another treatment remaining, and Dr. Cox’s decision to withdraw from the February dates of the conference was influenced not only by the need for him to care for his wife, but also because of the mounting hospital bills as a result of the medical condition. Bro. Cox is confident that he will join Pastor Ken Shinn and me in May for the new dates of the conference, and is even hopeful that his wife will accompany him. We have also been in touch with Bro. Don Wattenbarger (who preached during the previous SWLC in November 2011), and he is scheduling to be a part of the May 2013 Soul-Winning and Leadership Conference. You will receive a letter from me before April of this year to remind you of the new dates.

Please allow me to use this chance to promote the other conferences and meetings that have been planned by various preachers for the month of February. I pray that you will support these special gatherings by your prayers and ultimately your presence. Attached are the promotional documents for the following:

Faith Baptist Church in Ogbomoso (Pastor Timothy Ojo) is having their 9th Anniversary celebration during each Sunday of February (see their handbill below), and on 5 February 2013, they are holding a Pastors and Church Workers Fellowship.

Missionary Tim Pledger is holding an Independent Baptist Fellowship on February 22 and 23 at Victory Independent Baptist Church in Ibadan (Host: Pastor Moses Kelani) with the theme of “The Regions Beyond You” (see their handbill below).

Also, Evangelist Yinka Fasinro is excited to have his sending church pastor, Dr. Dave Clear, visiting with him in Ogbomoso. Bro. Fasinro is planning a Prayer Breakfast on Saturday, 9 February 2013, at 9 a.m. continuing with a conference through Wednesday, 13 February 2013. Please contact Bro. Yinka for more information by phone: 0708.207.7008

I look forward to hopefully seeing you at the 5th Annual Soul Winning and Leadership Conference with Dr. Mike Cox, Pastor Ken Shinn, and Evangelist Don Wattenbarger on the new dates of 20-23 May 2013!

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 200 on Sundays with 36 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 14 graduates. 15 churches have been started by those who have been trained or ordained by their ministry. Mark and Sabrina have returned to the U.S. for the birth of their daughter (Victoria Noel 12/14/05), their "baby" (Brian Michael 8/20/07), and their youngest (Noah Preston 2/3/12).

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.

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