Holmes Bible College

Summer 2025

GRADUATION EDITION

From the Desk of the President

Greetings from Greenville!

We ended the term successfully in May with a great graduation. June has been a month of preparation as we look forward to the new term beginning in early August. Our summertime projects include adding more shelves for books in the library, improving our school counselor’s office and adding a private waiting room, and working on our new website.

We are also traveling to many events this summer to promote the college and recruit students. Several new students are preparing for enrollment in August. Pray for more to join them and help us find the right students for Holmes Bible College. Our friends and alumni are our best recruiters.

The Holmes Ensemble is traveling and has a few services scheduled but we are ready for more. We would love to send some excellent preachers and worshippers to your church. Contact us today to plan a visit from a Holmes team.

In this newsletter you will see some great reports from two graduation ceremonies. In April, I attended the commencement ceremonies for our Mexico campus in Mexicali, Mexico where 35 students graduated. Then our main campus in Greenville held its commencement in May with 5 students graduating. Please read more about these exciting events below.

We are only able to do this ministry by the grace of God and the generosity of His people. We are grateful for your faithful partnership. Your giving provides much needed help for our students so they can receive a great education at a very affordable cost without generating debt. Now is a great time to give as we prepare for a new school year. Thank you!

Grace and Peace,

Rev. Kevin D. Sneed, President

and the HBC family

2025 Holmes Bible College Graduation in Greenville, SC

The 2025 graduation events took place on Friday and Saturday, May 9-10 with honors night on Friday evening and commencement on Saturday morning. Five students graduated with one receiving a Certificate in Bible and Related Studies, one receiving an Associate of Arts Degree in Christian Ministry, and three receiving Bachelor of Science Degrees in Christian Ministry. Our graduating students included:

• Barry D. Hicks from Anderson, SC. He completed a certificate for Bible and related studies.

• Tina M. Carr from Hodges, SC. She completed an Associate of Arts Degree in Christian Ministry

• Leslie Ambrosio from Charleston, SC. She completed a Bachelor of Science Degree in Christian Ministry and is now the Children and Youth Pastor at the Coward Pentecostal Holiness Church in Coward, SC.

• Marshall Steven Powell from Marion, SC. He completed a Bachelor of Science Degree in Christian Ministry and serves as Pastor of the East Marion Pentecostal Holiness Church in Marion, SC

• Ashley Watford from Travelers Rest, SC. She completed a Bachelor of Science Degree in Christian Ministry and has joined the team here at Holmes Bible College (we will report more on this exciting news next month).

Ashley Watford was the class valedictorian and Leslie Ambrosio was the class salutatorian. Ashley and Leslie also achieved “honor graduate” recognition (cum laude).

Ashley Watford received several awards inducing the prestigious N. J. Holmes Award, the highest honor that Holmes Bible College gives to a graduating student. Ashley also received the Lucy Holmes Society Award, the Earl and Nancy Beatty Bible Award, and the Preaching Award.

Leslie Ambrosio won the Theology Award.

Our speaker for honors night was Rev. Dean Morgan, a Holmes instructor and the Director of Clergy Care and Education for the Matthew and Mark Evans Foundation and Center in Scranton, SC. Our graduation speaker was Rev. Paul Evans, a Holmes instructor and director of the North Carolina Conference IPHC School of Ministry in Falcon, NC. All events were marked by powerful prayers of consecration and blessing for our graduating students.

Rev. Dean Morgan

Rev. Paul Evans

Our Marshalls this year were (l-r) Cassie McConnell, Andrea Corea, and Pilar Brown

During the graduation events, we also honor a faculty member of the year and a staff member of the year. This year the faculty of the year award was selected by the students and given to Ken Young (VPAA). The staff members of the year were selected by the faculty and staff. Two were chosen: Carol Bush (Librarian) and Dale Huff (Residence Director and Maintenance Director).

More pictures from the graduation can be found at the bottom of this email.

Holmes Mexico Campus Graduation

The Holmes Bible College Mexico campus in Mexicali has been in operation since 2017. This year they had their third graduation with 35 students completing certificates or bachelor degrees. Many of these students are already serving as pastors, worship leaders, and evangelists throughout Mexico. The graduation was held over Easter weekend and President Sneed joined Regional Director Ron Roy and the local staff for this grand event with nearly 3,000 people in attendance for the commencement ceremony. We are very grateful for Rev. Ron Roy's leadership in training ministers for service in the Kingdom of God. Holmes is happy to partner with this significant work.

A pastor’s conference and revival was held alongside the graduation. We saw some wonderful services with great ministry and full altars three times a day. There is a powerful move of God happening in Mexico and we are grateful for the opportunity to help train pastors and ministry leaders.

New Term Begins in August

The fall semester will open soon. Online classes begin on August 4 and on-campus classes will begin on August 6. Dorms also open on August 4. New students are applying but we still have room for more. If you know someone who wants to be trained for more effective ministry, please connect them with us soon.

As we prepare to welcome new and returning students, we will also be awarding scholarships. These additional scholarships are awarded once a student completes one full semester at Holmes. These scholarships are often vital for our students to carry on their education. If you are interested in giving a scholarship or supporting an existing scholarship fund, please contact us today.

Book the Holmes Ensemble for a Church Service of Special Event

Prayer Requests:

Pray for a successful beginning of the Fall 2025 term in August and for more students to enroll this summer.

Pray for more opportunities to promote our school. We are ready to travel to churches and events for ministry and promotion.

Pray for more funding to support our students. Holmes provides a high-quality education at the lowest cost possible so our students receive excellent training with no student debt.

Pray for some summertime needs to be met including $15,000 for parking lot resurfacing, $2,000 for additional groundskeeping equipment, and new cafeteria chairs at $50 each (24 needed).