Since April of 2023, our ministry has been raising funds and building on a new auditorium for Truth Baptist. On the last Sunday of February, the first-ever morning service was held in our “church on the hill,” and we were honored to have with us, for his first visit since 2011, Pastor Mike Wells of Lone Star Baptist College in Texas. Though that occasion was a milestone, with several visitors and an attendance of 470, the building is not yet ready for the church to move in fully until we can complete the flooring, doors, electrical, PA system, and entrance steps. Please pray with us and consider investing further in a place that we believe will allow our church to grow even more.
At the beginning of February, Missionary Evangelists Jim Belisle and Don Wattenbarger helped me to take part in two Pastors’ Conferences at Ogbomoso and Jos in a span of 8 days. These Soul Winning & Leadership Conferences (SWLC) are 2 of 6 that we conduct annually, having a total representation of 120 churches every year. In every SWLC since our first in 2008, I have made it clear that Dr. Wells was the human instrument that God used to help start and keep them going by regularly providing material and by introducing us to guest preachers (like Bro. Don), who have made multiple visits over the years. Recounting that story again in Bro. Wells’ presence on February 23, we used the occasion to honor him by naming our college hostel building the “Wells Dormitory.”
Other highlights for the first two months of 2025 included another orientation for a new semester of Providence Baptist College & Seminary, where we welcomed 7 new students for a total enrollment of 40. The last weekend in January was a missions-emphasis time for Grace & Glory Baptist, our second church plant and the home of Pathfinder Baptist Foundation, which continues to be an influential example for the cause of the Great Commission among our independent Baptist churches. During the last few days of February, our staff conducted a successful Youth Conference, with several speakers and many important decisions made during the preaching services. Once again, check out www.vimeo.com/missionaryholmes, which has a brief video based on this letter’s events, along with many other updates.
Believing God,
Mark Holmes, written 19 March 2025
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