Joe Holman
Joe and Denise were high school sweethearts who have been dating since 1980 and married since 1984.
We have 11 children from age 21 to age 1 (as of January 2010).
The oldest two live in the States, but the rest are still sharing the adventure here in Bolivia.
Joe has a Business Degree from the University of Texas in Arlington, and a Master's Degree of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Denise loves chocolate, and is the mom of 11 kids, which is more impressive than any degree!
It is amazing the way that God called us to join Him in world evangelism and missions. It all started one Sunday morning during a sermon Joe was preaching. He issued a challenged to the church, asking them, "What do you expect God to do through you? What could God do if you completely surrendered your life to HIm, with no off limits?" At this point, the Holy Spirit began to shout a whisper. It was the loudest Joe had ever heard the inaudible voice of God. One word over and over....."Missions".
On the way home, Denise asked Joe, "What do you want to do?" She was talking about the rest of the day, hoping for a date. Joe answered the question, not for the rest of the day but rather for the rest of their lives. "Go to the mission field" he said. Denise did not miss a beat. She looked at him and asked if he was serious. Joe paused for a moment and looked inside his heart. "Yes" he said, "I am serious." Without hesitation she replied, "I think that we should."
In that moment, driving forty miles per hour around a small curve on a street named Mountain Road in Purcellville Virginia, they both realized that a divine appointment was happening. It was Joe, Denise and God in the car, and God had spoken.
That moment begin our pursuit to the mission field, starting with a journey of introspection and investigation. We began to fast and pray seeking to understand the will of God and operate in His power. We enlisted our elders, close friends and family to join us in our prayer. We investigated both missionary work and missions around the world as we evaluated our own past areas of fruitfulness, our strengths and our weaknesses.
After eight months of praying, studying Scripture, and listening to God speak through the Holy Spirit, the Word and the church, we confirmed what had happened in the car that faithful day. God had called us to invest, what we think is the rest of our ministry, on the mission field, particurlarly Bolivia.
After six short months of discovering others who shared our vision and passion; people who were willing to commit to financial and prayer support, we moved to the mission field.
Our vision is to help Bolivian church leaders know God better and love Him more!
www.theholmansinbolivia.blogspot.com
Graham and Lori Porter served in Bolivia for 14 years, 10 years building the CIC international community. Now they left back home to the US. The CIC praise God for all the work and love you have given to the church in Christ.