The Holmes Family: Seminary

Please allow me with this letter, as the pastor of Truth Baptist Church, to introduce to you to Providence Baptist College and Seminary, founded in August 2009. We would like to make every pastor aware of our training institution where you may send your people who want to serve God in the ministry. God has privileged us to establish such a school where our goal is the planting of independent Baptist churches all through Nigeria.

Providence Baptist College and Seminary (PBC&S) is a ministry of Truth Baptist Church and Fundamental Baptist Ministries International (our mission board). Students at PBC&S, during their scholastic training, will be involved in the ministries of Truth Baptist Church which include the following: church services, soul-winning, Bible institute, choir and music groups, children’s ministries, bus ministry, fellowship groups, school of the prophets, Bible clubs, school programs, and village outreach. Those in the seminary will also benefit from the annual meetings at our church: Soul-Winning & Leadership Conference, Missions Conference, Revival Meeting, and Youth Camp.

As the administrator of Providence, I also want to assure you that my desire is for us to partner together in your church members’ training. We will strive to maintain regular contact and a good relationship with each independent Baptist pastor who entrusts us with their people for the preparation of the ministry. Students will be encouraged to seek counsel and advice from their pastor. Yet, they will also have plenty of opportunities to work in other ministries on an internship basis and also at the completion of their seminary studies.

Our enrollment consists of many students from the already-established Temple Baptist Institute where we have taught up to 80 students in 3 schools, all in Abuja. We are also already receiving applicants from the over 85 independent Baptist churches located throughout Nigeria. Each prospective student will need to fill an application [2 pages included below] and also include a recommendation [included below the application] from the pastor of the independent Baptist church where he is a member. Take a look at our full curriculum and financial information at the end of this page. I look forward to hearing from you.

Financial Planning

Because of the missionary foundation in the philosophy of Providence Baptist College and Seminary, you will notice that tuition and housing costs are being kept to a minimum. The most significant expense each semester will be the individual feeding for every student. Applicants to PBC&S should prepare to provide for themselves or receive outside support for their tuition, housing, and feeding while in school. However, plans are in place for the seminary to provide for several students work opportunities in farming, work scholarship, ministry employment, or small business. The following are requirements for your financial planning:

Cost for All Students

Tuition N5000 (N1000 per course)

Housing Cost N3000 (N750 per month)

Application Fee N500

Feeding Costs Student Responsibility

TOTAL per Semester is N8500 plus Feeding

TOTAL per Year is N17,000 plus Feeding

Providence Baptist College & Seminary

Curriculum

REQUIREMENTS
Total Credits = 128
Total Classes = 32

All Classes = 3 Credits
Exceptions: Practical Ministry = 1 Credit per course
Internships = 16 Credits (equal to 1 full semester)

The following is granted upon completion:
Certificate in Bible (1 Year = 48 Credits)

Diploma in Ministerial Studies (2 Year = 80 Credits)
Degree in Theology (3 Year = 128 Credits)

Certificate (1^st) Year

1^st Semester

Practical Ministry

Baptist Distinctives

Music Theory

New Testament Survey I

Prayer

Bible Doctrines I (Systematic Theology)

2^nd Semester

Practical Ministry

History of the Baptists

Song Leading

New Testament Survey II

Daniel & Revelation (Eschatology)

Bible Doctrines II

*Reguired and Assigned Internship in an Independent Baptist Church during annual break

(16 credits)

Diploma (2^nd) Year

1^st Semester

Practical Ministry

The Church & Charismatics (Ecclesiology)

Teaching on Preaching (Homiletics)

Character & Leadership

Old Testament Survey I

Manners & Customs I

2^nd Semester

Practical Ministry

Personal Evangelism (Soteriology)

Church Education

The Holy Spirit (Pneumatology)

Old Testament Survey II

Manners & Customs II

*Reguired and Assigned Internship in an Independent Baptist Church during annual break

(16 credits)

Degree (3^rd) Year

1^st Semester

Practical Ministry

Bible Versions

English I

Starting a Church & Institute

Biographies of Great Men

Pastoral Counseling

2^nd Semester

Practical Ministry

Starting a School & Teaching Methods

English II

Religions

New Testament Greek & Bible Research

Christ in the Old Testament (Christology)

Practical Ministry will include: Soul-winning, Outreach, Music Groups, Bible Clubs, Ministry Support (i.e. Farming, Occupational Activities), Village Chapels, etc.

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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