Rye Hill Baptist News

We received our church newsletter in the mail today. I just have to share Bro. Mike's article with you.


The only word that comes to mind right now is “Amazing”! We had been rocking right along this summer having a great time with our best attendance, offerings, Children’s and Youth Camps, and Vacation Bible School ever! God, in His sovereignty, completely interrupted our world with a situation that nobody saw coming. On Saturday, August 7th, 2010, the age of five, our sweet little Leightyn Nan Holmes, went to be with our Lord. For two days the Holmes and I clung to Romans 8:28 for comfort and strength. What we didn’t know was that God had a plan for the Holmes’ family that would change our church and people’s lives forever. I can honestly say that in the five short years that we had Leightyn, she influenced and affected more lives than most adults will in their life time! What Satan meant for bad, God has used for good. Her life song, her parents, the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit has brought true revival to our church family. Landen and Missy have been unbelievable! Just 18 hours after Leightyn went to Heaven they were in church testifying about the wonderful grace of our Jesus. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. In 52 years of living and 30 years in the ministry, I have never seen such faith and strength demonstrated in a Christian couple’s life. To God be the glory! At Leightyn’s homecoming celebration we saw our building filled to capacity with standing room only and 21 people gave their hearts to Jesus Christ. We have seen 10 more professions of faith these past two weeks and many rededications. Sunday, the glory of the Lord fell; we had a 25 minute invitation with 15 recorded decisions. We also had 184 in Sunday School and 252 in Worship! God is so good (all the time) and our cup runneth over! We will baptize 8 this coming Sunday. Praise be, after Sunday it will make our baptismal waters moving for 7 straight weeks! Hallelujah! There have been 73 memorials given in Leightyn’s memory for a total of $26,723.00. Leightyn’s legacy will live on for years and years to come! Tears of joy, peace that passes all understanding, plus true obedience to the Holy Spirit has been present at every Worship Service. Thank you Landen, Missy and Mylea Holmes for sharing this precious angel with us who greatly inspired us and lived life to it’s fullest. Our prayer is that the Holy Spirit will continue to comfort you in the days ahead, God will use Leightyn’s life song for years to come, and He will also use Landen and Missy to help others that will go through the same challenging situation of life. May God bless you and we promise that Leightyn will live in our hearts forever.