~Interview with my Dad~

{Pastor Doug Holmes of "Sovereign Grace Church"}

  1.Tell us about yourself. What's your background story and how did you end up in the middle of Iowa?

I'm just a small town pastor serving a small Reformed church. I was born and raised on a farm in Iowa in the 50's. I spent some time in the military in the later 60's. I became a Christian in the early 70's and spent a decade and a half in various colleges and grad schools. I have had many part time and temporary jobs along the way. I was married to your lovely mother in 1990 in Peru and entered the pastorate shortly after. I have served a United Church of Christ in Keokuk, a Christian Reformed Church in Wellsburg and presently, an independent Reformed church in Dows. I have spent the last ten years living with you guys on your Great Great Aunt and Uncle's Farm outside of Coulter.

2. What made you decide to become a husband, dad, and a pastor?

I just followed the natural outworking of my interests and burdens, and through the course of various successes and failures, joys and sorrows, I have ended up where I am. All of it I am confident is the result of God's providential planning, though this is not intended as an excuse for my own sins in the process.

3. Who are your heroes you look you up to in life?

My first hero was my Dad. He was always a bit bigger than life for me and I do not think I have ever matched his combination of intelligence, wisdom, patience and hard work, though they have always provided me with a goal. In my Christian life my most influential figure was Francis Schaeffer whose combination of intellectual thinking, patient conversation and gracious hospitality provided me with a godly example of a Christian man and productive ministry.

4. Tell us about the church you preach at, and the people who attend there.

I have served the people of Sovereign Grace Church for the past 13 years. There have been many people who have come and gone but the one characteristic they all seem to have had in common is an uncommon desire to base their life decisions on a biblical world view and to honor Christ first and foremost in all the transactions and concerns of life. They are a very gracious and giving people and I am indebted to their example.

5. What's your main goal for the church?

My main goal for the church is to be of service to the Holy Spirit as He sanctifies us with the desire of presenting us complete in holiness and godliness at the final day. I desire that they be enabled to think on their own and from a biblical perspective rather than be forever dependent on the leader-ship of any church, ours included. If I am wrong I want a people with the courage and ability to challenge me in my mistakes. I wouldn't say I would enjoy it, but I do want it!

6. When (and how) did you get saved?

I was saved while living in southern California as a wanna-be hippie in the early 70's. It was mainly through the combined and extended testimony of an old high school chum who had moved to San Diego along with the evangelistic teaching of a Wesleyan church in his area that I gradually became convinced of the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and eventually chose to believe by His grace. I was trained in my early discipleship in an informal church which met at a chicken ranch in Cucamonga, CA. My most influential Christian literature in my early days were works of C. S. Lewis and Francis Schaeffer.

7. Being a former California resident and Vietnam veteran, share some of your memorable experiences and what you learn from it.

California is a very nice place to visit but a very expensive place to live. I have many very good friends who live out there still. They have all marked me in their own ways. I love Marie Calander Pie shops, Tommy's Chili Cheese Burgers and hikes in the mountains. The weather always seemed to be either raining or perfect. Didn't need any winter clothes and the cars never rusted (except for mine which had come from Iowa!). California girls ARE nice enough but no better really than those from any other place. As far as Viet Nam, again a very beautiful country with people I would have loved to have gotten know but did not speak their language. The war was unfortunate and after considerable reflection I have determined it to have been an ill-gotten and misguided venture. This in no way should be taken as lessening my opposition to all forms of Communism and other forms of tyranny! I served with some very interesting people and was very close to them. I have not kept up on those relationships and my time there is but a memory.

9. 

   
   9. How would you describe your personality?
   Very varied. I can be a real fun guy to be around and also a real dud. I am too emotionally driven and have a hard time thinking objectively though I apparently do have some ability in that area. I love to ponder the deeper questions of life and do not mind being alone though I enjoy fully the intellectual & spiritual stimulation of warm Christian fellowship, especially in the context of unrefined dining.

10. What's your favorite book of the Bible, and why?
    If I had to choose I would probably choose Romans because it explains the whole course of salvation in a systematic way. But I have profited from all of them and think you need them all to understand any individual book properly

11. What are some pros and cons of your job?

Pros: I'm doing what I enjoy doing the most.

Cons: I mostly suppress the cons.

11. If there is something you can say to future generations, what would it be?
    
    “every man dies, not every man really lives!”

also, this from the Scottish Declaration of Arbroath: “.... it is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honors that we are fighting, but for freedom – for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.”

Of course, the only sure foundation for real freedom is to be a slave of Jesus Christ. Seek to serve Him, enjoy Him and please Him and you will find yourself not only free, but immensely content and able to graciously persevere through whatever life brings your way.

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Thanks Dad! :)