An eventful period in our ministry included the 8th Annual Soul-Winning and Leadership Conference during the last few days of March. We rejoiced in the return of both Dr. Mike Cox of Victory Baptist Missions and Evangelist Don Wattenbarger of Bibles Beyond Boundaries for the fourth year in a row, and we were thrilled to welcome for the first time the pastor of our mission board, Bro. John Wilkerson of First Baptist Church in Hammond. Leading up to Easter Sunday, both of our Abuja churches had special programs that boosted the attendances, including two appreciation days for teachers and Road Safety Corps (our version of the highway patrol). In April, I joined Evangelist Jim Belisle to conduct a revival meeting at Victory Independent Baptist in Ibadan, a church in which I preached during the first month that we were on the field.
Whenever local, state, or federal elections are held, for security reasons no one is allowed on the roads from morning until about 4 p.m., unless the person is walking to his nearby polling station. Such a time arrived on the first Saturday in April, the week after our pastors’ conference. So, on Friday we took advantage of a half-off weekend rate at our favorite hotel, requested a late Saturday checkout, and spent the “limited movement” day enjoying some family time.
As our update is being written in the month of May, this time period is always special for me personally, for within just a few upcoming weeks of each other, I get to celebrate the following milestones: 27 years since the day of my salvation, 22 years for preaching, 14 years being approved to serve as a missionary with FBMI, 11 years on the field, 10 years at Truth Baptist, and one year in Grace and Glory Baptist (the two churches in which our family is involved). My desire is to say that all of this is “to be continued”!
One of the most impressive works started by our graduates is the Salvation Baptist Church of Luvu (pronounced “loo-voo”). This is actually a third-generation church and has become a great example to our current ministry students; though the pastor, Timothy Gideon, was trained in our institute, his sending pastor is one of our earlier graduates. While still a student, Timothy held Bible studies in various homes for several months, until someone in the area allowed those attending to use his land for the starting of a church. The members banded together to raise a temporary structure; in just two years, they have had several Sundays of over 100 in attendance, and Pastor Timothy has started a Bible institute, a Christian day school, and a needed ministry to Muslim Fulani (pronounced “foo-lah-nee”) people. The membership now would like to build a more permanent auditorium, and I would love to assist them by helping them purchase a plot of land for $2,000. Would you prayerfully consider sending an offering to be a blessing to this growing congregation?
Believing God,
Mark Holmes
Written 13 May 2016
