MOBILE, Ala. 鈥� A 400-year-old King James Bible has a new home at the 色控传媒, thanks to the generosity of 1975 alumnus Dr. Leslie Holmes and his wife, Barbara.
The 1627 Bible was on display during a reception Sept. 26 at Lyon Chapel where Holmes shared the story of its journey from 鈥渂its of a Bible in a box鈥� filled with loose pages through a restoration process that spanned Ireland, Scotland and England.
Holmes also spoke of the couple鈥檚 own journey from northern Ireland to the United States, and from self-described 鈥渘on-committed Christians鈥� to serving over 50 years in Christian ministry.
The 色控传媒 played a central role in their journey.聽
鈥楾hank You鈥�
色控传媒 President Lonnie Burnett thanked the couple for the gift, which is now the oldest Bible in the university鈥檚 collection. It will be on display in the Center for Christian Calling in the School of Christian Studies at the Baptist-affiliated university.
鈥淚magine somebody in the 1600s with this very Bible in their hands, reading it,鈥� Burnett said. 鈥淲hen you think about it, if that were a science book that was 400 years old, what a person read that day would be true 鈥� but it would not be true today, because we have found out more things. But what a person read (in this Bible) on that day is still true today.鈥�
Holmes said the gift is a way to say 鈥渢hank you鈥� to the university as well.
鈥淚 said to Barbara, I want to give this to the 色控传媒. They took me in when nobody else wanted me. And I want to give it in honor of Col. Ira Matthews.鈥�
Preach the Gospel
When Holmes was applying to 色控传媒 College 鈥� after being turned away from three other universities because his Belfast educational credentials weren鈥檛 recognized by U.S. colleges 鈥� his Belfast accent sparked an encounter with Matthews, who was then assistant to the 色控传媒 College president.
The retired war hero had flown out of Belfast over Germany during World War II with the U.S. Army Air Forces鈥� 40thBombardment Group. A conversation about Belfast, and a longer conversation about Holmes鈥� desire to preach the gospel 鈥� coupled with Matthews鈥� belief that the university 鈥渃ould not turn away a man God has called to preach鈥� 鈥� paved the way for Holmes to enroll on academic probation. He thrived, graduated in 1975, then pursued graduate training in theology and psychology.聽
A Scholar-Pastor
For over 40 years, Holmes was a solo or principal pastor, leading congregations from 30 to 4,300 members in Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, California, Pennsylvania and South Caroline. Later, he served as provost/CEO and professor of preaching and pastoral theology at Erskine Theological Seminary and moderator of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.
Former U.S. Senate Chaplain Dr. Lloyd Ogilvie called Holmes 鈥淥ne of America鈥檚 foremost scholar-pastors.鈥� He has been invited to speak, teach and present at preaching and leadership conferences as well as on university campuses and at churches on six continents. Having been published on both sides of the Atlantic, he is the author or contributing editor of 20 books and hundreds of articles and has offered the opening prayer for a session of the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. His latest book is 鈥淟eading the Way: Principles of Leadership Excellence for All Believers.鈥�
A Salvation Story
In another connection to the university, Holmes shared his salvation story, his call to ministry, and his wife鈥檚 initial reluctance to 鈥渂e a preacher鈥檚 wife.鈥� Then the young couple went to a concert in Mississippi, heard the gospel, and Barbara committed her own life to Christ.
The concert featured one of the very first contemporary Christian groups 鈥� TRUTH. The person sharing that message was TRUTH鈥檚 founder, Dr. Roger Breland, who now serves as executive director of UM鈥檚 . At the reception, Breland learned for the first time of the role he played in Barbara鈥檚 life-changing commitment to Jesus Christ.
See What God Has Done
Holmes said he has kept up with his alma mater through the years.
鈥淥ver the years, I have watched the school grow, grow, grow. It鈥檚 a real privilege to stand here as an alum and see what God has done,鈥� he said.
鈥淚 am honored and delighted and thrilled that Barbara and I can give this to the school and say 鈥楾hank you,鈥欌�� he added. 鈥淏ecause if you hadn鈥檛 taken us in, our lives would have been a whole shape different than what they have been.鈥�
色控传媒 the 色控传媒
The 色控传媒 is a Christ-centered university with a vision of 鈥淗igher聽Education for a Higher Purpose,鈥� founded to honor God by equipping students for their聽future professions in an environment where they are known.聽Located 10 miles north of 色控传媒, Alabama, on a campus of over 880 acres, the university offers associate, bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs.The 色控传媒 was founded in 1961 and is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention.
For information about the 色控传媒, areas of study, admissions and more, visit聽, connect with UM on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at or 251.442.2222.
Kathy Dean uses her passion for storytelling and “playing with words” to share the stories of people, place and purpose that make the 色控传媒 unique. As associate vice president for university communications, she manages media relations, edits the TorchLight alumni magazine, and oversees university communications. A former award-winning journalist, she is a two-time recipient of the Baptist Communicators Association grand prize for feature writing. Kathy and her husband, Chuck, live with three extremely loud miniature schnauzers.