Hugh's News & Commentary

Holmes Bible College, Greenville, South Carolina

“A Bible college that trains preachers, pastors, missionaries and chaplains.”

Why would a 70-year-old top executive of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church go to a small Bible college upon his retirement as the presiding Bishop?

I am sure that is a question that only Bishop James D. Leggett can answer. If you asked him that question, I am sure he would say “Holmes Bible College is in my DNA.” James Leggett came to the Holmes Academy to complete his high school education as a teenager, and then meet all the requirements for his college degree.

His parents did not have the money to send him to college, but Holmes Bible College provided a full scholarship for him, as well as many other students. In addition to his scholarship he had a work assignment to fulfill. Countless thousands of Holmes students would not have received a Bible college education had it not been for Holmes. From the inception of the school the philosophy has been that they will never turn a student away for lack of funds. They have somehow, by faith, trusted God to supply the needs to operate the school for more than 100 years.

One of the Scriptural names for God is Jehovah-Jireh, the God Who sees and provides. This unfailing promise recorded in the Bible has been an anchor of faith and hope for God to supply all the needs of the college. That stance has provided an incredible journey of faith both for past presidents, administrators, faculty and staff, as well as students. The Apostle Paul tells us that in Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (KJV).

A visit to the old campus on Briggs Avenue and Buncombe is a reminder to all who ever attended the college of its rich heritage of Biblical and theological truth that guided them and other youth in their pursuit of God’s will for their lives. Although the campus is old, run down, and no longer suitable for occupancy, the glory of a past era still lives in the hearts and minds of men and women who have gone from those sacred halls of learning to bless the world with the whole counsel of God. It is indeed a testament of God’s love for a world that still needs Jesus.

However, God in His providence has raised up the oldest Pentecostal Bible school in the world from the ashes of impending death, and has given new life and a bright hope for the future of this great institution.

The new small campus on Old Buncombe Road, adjacent to Furman University--one of the most beautiful campuses in the nation, is strikingly impressive with a brand new administration and classroom facility. A second building, the Brooks / King Mission Duplex, which will house itinerating missionaries as well as students, is almost completed and ready for occupancy.

The Board of Trustees has voted to proceed with construction of a two-story dormitory. They have some funds to begin construction. An alumnus has given the college $100,000 on the dorm, and ten or fifteen others have given or pledged $5,000. Plans are to go ahead with two levels and at least complete the first level.

President James Leggett says they need at least $150,000.00 to build the dorm and complete the first floor. It will take approximately another $150,000.00 to complete the second story. He and the board of trustees are believing the Lord to supply the funds to complete the building, for this will give the college room to have all of the resident students on campus.

The story of Holmes Bible College needs to be told over and over again. Abe Hardesty, City People writer of The Greenville News interviewed Dr. James D. Leggett and wrote a front page story in the City People section of this newspaper on Wednesday, March 3, 2010. Because of copyright policies the managing editor of the newspaper was unable to give me authority/permission to reprint the story for you. However, you may go online and read it for yourself. Abe Hardesty did an exceptional job in interviewing Dr. Leggett, and writing the story of Holmes. That website is: greenvilleonline.com/citypeople.

An outsider, i. e, a reporter from a local newspaper, may tend to be more objective in his interview and capture the story as only he might get it. He certainly found out in a hurry that one of the major missions of a college president is to raise money. Abe Hardesty records the story that Dr. Leggett told him in making one of his first calls to an alumna with regard to needing funds for a new building that would be a duplex—one side to house an itinerant missionary couple, and the other side for lady students.

Here is how Abe Hardesty records the story: “The next morning, the woman called and asked where she should send the check for $100,000.”  Leggett was so shocked he did not immediately answer, prompting the donor to ask, ‘Are you still there?’”

Leggett told the reporter that it took him sometime to recover.

Probably one of the most interesting things this reporter discovered about Dr. James Leggett was this, and I quote from the newspaper article:

“He has faith that the funding will arrive, in part because,” Leggett says, “the Lord has always provided for my needs, even though I never asked anybody for money.”

President Leggett went on to tell the reporter from The Greenville News that he felt God saying to him by this unusual gift of $100,000. ”I am going to bless the school.”  That awareness of God’s presence and blessings upon the school is a continual affirmation that he is in the center of God’s will for his life as the president of the college. More importantly, God has not abandoned the school.

Bishop Leggett told Mr. Abe Hardesty, that “One of his top priorities is to increase the school’s student body.”

He went on to tell the reporter that his desire is to teach in the college and interact with the students. “Each Tuesday and Thursday, Leggett steps away from the administrative work and teaches two classes.”

Because of Bishop Leggett’s gift for expository preaching it is apparent to all that many “preacher boys” will be attracted to the college.

Last April 2009, I wrote the following editorial in Hugh’s News in support of the decision of the Board of Trustees at Holmes Bible College to call Bishop James D. Leggett to be the sixth president of the college:

“God often calls men in unique and unusual ways to fulfill a promise He has made to the people of God. When God calls a man to fulfill a mission and direct a ministry He also prepares him for the task.

“Moses had within his inmost being a propensity for justice. God prepared him to deliver Israel from Egyptian bondage and slavery, for the giving of the Law, and preparing them to enter into the promised land.

“Samuel was prepared to guide God’s people from a government-by-judges to a government-by-kings. However, Samuel’s greatest and most important work and lasting ministry was the establishing of the school of the prophets. These prophets became the spokesmen for God to kings and the moral conscience of the nation of Israel. For some 500 years these prophets who were trained in the school of the prophets went out to be great leaders, historians, orators, poets, and reformers of both the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel.

“God allowed Samuel to anoint the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David. However, his greatest and long lasting achievement was his influence over the school of the prophets.

“Could it be that the man who has been chosen to be the president of Holmes Bible College will find this new challenge the greatest achievement and most fulfilling ministry of his life? We know he has proved to be a strong Christian leader, a Bible scholar, an excellent writer, a great preacher, a compassionate and loving pastor, an exceptional administrator, a conference superintendent, a general official over Evangelism USA and the Extension Loan Fund, and the presiding Bishop of the IPHC. Notwithstanding all of that, he is a known and respected leader in the Church World, not only among Pentecostals and Charismatics, but Evangelicals as well.

“Hugh’s News goes on record in supporting the new president of Holmes Bible College in Greenville, SC. James Leggett has been and continues to be my friend since I first met him when he was a high school student in the Holmes Academy. And now, the Lord in His providence is allowing me to serve him and the college as a member of the Board of Trustees for Holmes Bible College.

“Now is the time for all of us to rally around our new president of Holmes Bible College with our prayers and financial support, and by promoting the college to everyone we meet. It is my sincere belief that the future for Holmes is brighter today than at any other time in recent history. Could it be that God is positioning Holmes Bible College to rise up again to surpass the achievements of the past? I believe it can happen.”

President Leggett would like to see no less than 100 students for the fall semester, and gain partners who will stand with him and the college on a monthly basis to meet the needs of the operating costs. In addition, to all of that, I am sure he will have many other financial needs that may not have been revealed.

Evidence is mounting that Holmes Bible College is alive. You can sense it on the campus, in the halls and classrooms. The best of Holmes past is being revived and a vision for“Greater works than these” is before her. For those who might have given up on Holmes--we would invite you to“Come and See” the Lord at work, moving mountains and transforming young lives for kingdom service. It is reunion time for the Holmes family and friends! Come Home! All are welcome and will be warmly received and blessed.

Give President James D. Leggett a telephone call at (864) 246-3566, or send him a letter at Holmes Bible College at P. O. Box 14188, Greenville, SC 29610-4188.

Contributions may be made by means of a check, credit card, or cash withdrawal. Make out all checks to Holmes Bible College. Please contact Mrs. Wanda Bucklew at business@holmes.edu.

If you know of anyone who would like to receive theVoice of Holmes, please send their information to president@holmes.edu, holmesbc@holmes.edu, or business@holmes.edu. You may also call (864) 246-3566.

God will direct you to give what He wants you to trust Him for in your giving to Holmes Bible College. Let us lift up the hands of this great leader, Dr. James D. Leggett. I am sure that all of us want Holmes Bible College to rise to new heights and achieve all that God wants for this Pentecostal Bible college in the 21st Century.