The Holmes Family: July/August '25

During this summer, it has been exciting for our family or ministry to take part in five S.M.I.T.E. camps in some way. Our previous prayer letter highlighted the Summer Missionary Institute for Training and Evangelism in Louisiana. At the beginning of July, the 2nd Annual S.M.I.T.E. New England [staff and preachers pictured at supper] was conducted with almost all our campers returning from last year and an encouraging number of new students participating this year. Three camps [Abuja graduation pictured below] in four weeks were held in August in Nigeria with the following results: a total of 383 campers from over 50 churches conducted 77 Bible clubs with more than 4000 children enrolled and above 2200 confessing Christ for salvation. My great thanks goes to our S.M.I.T.E. Africa Director, Pastor Adewale Adesina, for leading these institutes once again in my absence.

After the New England camp, I was thrilled to take part again in FBMI’s Missions University in Hammond, Indiana. Having the opportunity to teach and influence a group of missionaries [men in Africa pictured] is one of the favorite blessings that God has given me over the years. The weekend following, I had the honor of driving my mission board founder and his wife, Dr. and Mrs. Mike Cox, to Toronto to preach together in a missions emphasis weekend. This is the most time I have gotten to spend with my “parents” since the last time they visited Nigeria late in 2019. The first nine days of August gave me the longest time that I’ve ever had alone with my three youngest kids; we went to five different churches in Texas and had a mini-vacation in San Antonio, highlighted by a trip to Sea World, paid for by one of our very kind supporting pastors.

Sabrina and I are so thankful that we could have a furlough long enough to both enjoy Brian’s graduations and also get to see him begin his time at Pensacola Christian College during the third week of August. Our third child became the first one that we actually helped move into a dorm room, and Brian is already adjusting well and participating in all that PCC has to offer in his pursuit of a secondary education degree. We are especially grateful for your prayers as our family navigates this new season of life.

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

July/August '25

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