A GENERAL SUMMARY OF THE ERSKINE HOLT MEMORIAL SERVICE

CORVILLA MEETING HOUSE IN ZEPHYRHILLS, FLORIDA

FRIDAY, JULY 18, 2003

ERSKINE HOLT:        BORN - FEBRUARY 8, 1915      DIED - JULY 11, 2003 

     I was highly honored by the Lord to be able to attend the above mentioned service, along with Mike and Brenda Crow, and Mack Nolen, who drove the four of us the thirteen hour trip from Clarksville, TN, to Zephyrhills, FL. What a moving experience this gathering of the saints was, a truly unforgettable experience in the presence of the Lord.  If I relate some of the events wrongly, please forgive me. Quite a number of people spoke, some of them I do not know their names.  Therefore please bear with this imperfect recollection of events.

     The service began with Erskines daughter, Rhonda Holt sharing how Erskine always loved spontaneity and how he always encouraged everyone to be a participator of what God was doing in a meeting.  Therefore this meeting would be conducted in an open platform setting, which meant that anyone could stand up and share his/her heart at this service.

      Then we sang one of Erskines favorite choruses, Ill Never Be The Same Again, Oh No, Never Be The Same Again!  At some point in the service we also sang with great gusto the song, Nothing Is Impossible With God just the way Erskine would have loved to sing it.   Jane Ragan, seated in front of me, sang it with her usual bold vibrato. Still later we exuberantly sang Erskines favorite Spanish-speaking song, Est-oy-a Leg-ray. (Please forgive the spelling.)

Several folks gave their recollections of how Erskine had powerfully impacted their lives.  Arline Rumrell was the first to share about her tremendous admiration for Erskine and his tireless efforts to feed Gods little lambs the Word of God.  Ken Bennett of Lexington, NC, shared how he first met  Erskine Holt and how Erskines example as a passionate follower of Christ radically changed Kens life.  Ken is now an apostle to many house churches.  Jackie McCune Merical shared how Erskine blessed her life with his expounding of the hidden mysteries of Christs Kingdom. How he loved and encouraged the music ministry of her and her husband, the late Ron McCune.

      John and Evelyn Milner and their friend, Zephanie Williamson, all from Dothan, Alabama, shared some humorous experiences they had observed with Erskine.  Evelyn shared about an incident that took place during one of the missionary trips to Latin America, (Peru, I think).  Erskine was asked to come forward to preach after the worship time had ended. This event took place in a tent set up in the courtyard of a missionarys home. The platform for preaching was approximately two three steps higher than the ground floor.  As usual, Erskine ran up onto the platform. Unfortunately, in his rush, he tripped on a step.  To everyones shock, Erskine ducked his head, did a complete body flip, and landed on both feet.  He then proceeded to deliver his message by saying, Will everyone please open their Bibles to read the Word of God.  He taught as if nothing had happened out of the ordinary, and the Latins seemed to say, Is this how they introduce themselves on the church platform in the U.S.A.?

      John Milner shared how at various Convention meetings Erskine, in his later years, would seem to fall asleep, as a guest speaker proceeded to expound upon his message.  When the speaker would finish, Erskine would suddenly awaken, pick up the speakers theme, and carry it further to a good conclusion, to everyones surprise.  John mentioned that Erskine in his last trip to Latin America would often say, Minister Jesus Christ to the people as much as you can.  Conduct as many meetings in homes and businesses as you can, while there is still an openness and a hunger for Him.  Then John added, The Lord is saying to some of you here today to start a Christ-centered meeting in your home! Erskine loved home meetings and encouraged them because, as he often said, That is where the real action is.  

      Leroy Holt, Erskines baby brother, shared about Erskines early, difficult years, growing up in the Great Depression in Muncie, Indiana. There was only one comb for the entire household of two parents and five children, 2 boys and three girls.  Rather than fight for the right to use the comb, Erskine would comb his hair with a kitchen fork.   In the early days of youth there were little or no Christmas presents. Erskine was very smart.  He graduated from high school at the age of fifteen and graduated from college at the age of nineteen. After he got a job and made some money, he bought Leroys first Christmas present that really meant anything to Leroy. It was a scientific crystal set given to Leroy when he was eleven years old. Leroy shared this story in order to reveal how very generous and giving Erskines spirit was. Leroy discussed how Erskine had a very talented musical voice. Erskine and Leroy took voice lessons together.  Leroy related how Erskine told him of a very difficult decision he had to make at one point in his life whether to pursue a very promising singing career or to pursue a preaching career in service to God. Erskine knew that more people would be blessed by the preaching-teaching profession.  So Erskine pursued that course of action.

      As an aside, Erskine sister, Margaret, later told me that during the Depression the parents had bought a piano on the monthly installment plan. Everyone in the family loved the piano because everyone loved to sing.  They all had great singing voices, and they loved to do the harmony. Hours were spent singing around the piano. But the parents were not able to keep up the monthly payments.  The  creditors one day came and rolled the piano out of the house. Margaret said that the family just sat and cried.

      Bob Weinholt of Melbourne, FL, stated, We are all here because of the Spirit of Jesus which operated so beautifully in Erskines life.  The Spirit of Jesus in Erskines life brought to many of us various forms of deliverance, healings in our bodies, greater freedom in the Spirit, inner changes of the heart, new hope, and fresh vision. My wife, Isa, and I and these ladies here with us, Sarah from Puerto Rico, and Elizabeth from Brazil, are all a part of Erskines connection with Latin America.  I met Erskine 30 years ago in the home of Paul Storey in Atlanta. Erskine would come to my home in Miami and minister to a group composed mostly of Latins.  We loved Erskine and honored him as a sold-out servant of the Lord and as a true Apostle of the Faith. Erskine can now say of a truth, Oh, Death, where is thy sting?  Oh, Grave, where is thy victory?  He can now say, along with the Apostle Paul, It is far better to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.  Erskine is now feeling the gentle embrace of the very Son of God, Jesus Christ. But not only Christs embrace, but also the embrace of so many dear friends who have gone on before him, saints like

Phil Ragan (A professor who taught at Harvard and lived for a time at Corvilla)

Jack Weed (An apostle who founded several churches in New England and was Erskines traveling companion during his last traveling years)

Glenn Metcalf (Erskines Pastor- friend from Fitzgerald, GA)

Merle Maupin (Erskines traveling companion for many years who played the piano in the Spirit so beautifully)

Ron McCune ( A powerful worship leader who often ministered on the Conga drums at various Corvilla Conventions)

Prophetess Jewel Courtney

Preacher-Teacher Annette Marsnick and so many others

Bob Weinholt concluded by saying that this was a day of great celebration for Erskines homecoming and a celebration of the wonderful gift of life eternal which can only come through putting one whole trust in the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary.

Sandy Thomas of Southern Pines, NC, stated the following, I met Erskine at a dinner given at the home of Ken Bennett in Lexington, NC. After we ate a wonderful meal prepared by Kens wife, Helen, I remember that Erskine very quietly pushed his plate away, rested his arms on the table, and began to speak about the things of God. Suddenly everyone lese in the room became very quiet so that they could hear the wonderful words which fell like spiritual honey from Erskines mouth. It was unbelievable.  I asked Ken later that night, Do you think that Erskine would come to my home to minister?  Ken replied, I dont know. Why dont you ask him?  I did, and two months later Erskine was preaching the Kingdom of God in my home!  I went on trips to Latin America with Erskine, to Columbia twice, to Peru once, and to Belize twice.  Everywhere we went, it seemed to me that everyone knew Erskine personally and they always highly honored him.

Sandy concluded by sharing a story which Fletcher Miller told him.  Fletcher once went to Erskine seeking some godly counsel.  Fletcher said, I really know that I need a closer, more personal walk with the Lord.  What do I need to do to get this loving, closer relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ? Fletcher then got out a piece of paper and a pen to write down the profound words of the wise old Apostle. Erskine responded in a very matter of fact manner and declared, Pray in the Spirit, Brother! Then he turned and walked away.  That was just like Erskine, to be very direct and to the point.

Dabney Loving of Virginia said, I met Erskine about 30 plus years ago.  At times when I interacted with Erskine,  he would choose to be a big brother, at other times a spiritual father, sometimes  hed be a mentor and a role-model, sometimes hes be a coach, and every now and then hed be a critic.  I deserved his constructive criticism, and I always knew how much he loved me in Jesus. I always appreciated his faithfulness to a ministry that was never easy.  He had to be away from his family so much of the time.  He never wavered for one minute from his labors in Gods service.

Larry Davis of Atlanta read a written tribute to Erskine which Larry had read in Erskines presence at his eightieth birthday celebration. Larry shared about the first time that the "Atlanta Boys" ( which consisted of Larry Davis, Bob Davis, Jack Logan, Gary Simmons, Jim Pirkle, and Mike Schreve) came to the 1972 Corvilla New Year's Convention.  They ended up building a fence on the property under the firm tutelage of Erskine's father in law, Dad Haymer, which still stands today. One night the college boys thought they'd look in on the great Apostle, Erskine Holt and his family, who were living in a trailer on the property at the time.  The group imagined that they might find the Holt family in a deeply spiritual season of prayer and meditation at the family altar.  Instead, to their utter shock, they found Erskine sitting in a recliner in a T-shirt and shorts watching a monster movie on late night T.V.  The group learned that one does not have to act ultra religious all of the time in order to be a truly spiritual person. Later Larry did something that he almost never does. He sang a solo as he accompanied himself on the piano.  He had rewritten the lyrics to an old Gospel song to fit this special occasion.  I In the song, which Larry sang, Erskine was likened to a great Hero of the Faith and a wonderful Defender of the Truths of the Gospel (if I can remember right).  The song was tremendously anointed and very moving.  It was , to me, a major highlight of the service. Many saints in the room were overcome by the Presence of the Lord during the song. Many wept openly, even Mike Schreve and myself.  I felt waves of Divine Love and waves of God's Glory sweep through the room during this time.

Lucille Holt read a letter from Brother Taylor, who lives in San Antonio, TX, with some very loving comforting comments in it. She asked her son in law, Joe DeJesus, to read the scripture that Erskine would quote over and over during the last several days before he passed on.  The scripture was Hebrew 11:6  "Without faith it is impossible to please God, for he that cometh to God MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS, and that He is a REWARDER of those who diligently seek Him."

Other saints such as Carol Houghton of Clearwater, FL, and Gail Pease of Tampa, FL, shared how Erskine Holt had impacted their lives so powerfully. I shared about the first time that I came to Corvilla during the Labor Day Convention of 1975, and how the beautiful worship, the Heavenly singing in the Spirit, the intense teachings on how to walk in the Principles of God's Kingdom, the rich fellowship, and the Glory of it all exalting Jesus Christ literally overwhelmed me. I went into culture shock.  I remember being in the men's side of the dormitory building and hearing the girls from Pinecrest Bible Training Center on the other side of the wall who were staying in the girls' side.  They began praising the Lord and shouting because some girl had just received a miraculous healing or a wonderful deliverance. A leg would be lengthened or a tooth would be filled with gold. I had never been in a place like Corvilla where there was so much of the five-fold ministry gifts operating  in unity in one locality. The energy of God was so electrifying. 

I remember the first time that Erskine prophesied over me with the laying on of hands, and how I received a great impartation of faith.  That word literally changed my whole outlook on life.  It literally changed the whole course of my future, and I wanted to consecrate my life to the Lord on a deeper level than I had ever done before.  I would not be have converted the garage in my home into a chapel and have weekly Christian meetings in my home if it had not been for the great influence of Erskine Holt in my life. I would never have met other great men and women of God (such as Larry Davis, Steve Wilber, Don Murphy, John Hamrick, Stu Kelly, , John Ware, John Kellogg, Mike Schreve, David Turnage, Jewel Courtney, Merle Maupin, Bob Padgett, Brian Burgess, Joseph Nieves, David Stevens, John Lumanick, and others) and had them speak in my hometown if it had not been for the tremendous influence of Erskine Holt. He was a powerful networker in the Body of Christ.

I can still hear Erskine exhorting and prophesying in words such as the following, "Rob not the Body of Christ. Stir up the gifts of God within you. Stir them up mightily. Quench not the Spirit. Grieve not the Spirit. Covet to prophesy the word of the Lord, and forbid not to speak with tongues.  This is a new day. This is a new hour. Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfill it. Be not slothful, but be diligent to make your calling and election sure.  Contend earnestly for the faith.  Freely ye have received, freely give.  And whatever you do, do it heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men." 

At the memorial service I shared a short teaching that Erskine had given me many years before.  God the Father loved the sinners in the world so much that He gave us Jesus Christ to save us from our sins.   Jesus then gives the saved person the wonderful gift of the fullness of the Holy Spirit, who is to be our teacher and our comforter.  The Holy Spirit then gives the Christian wonderful gifts, callings, and anointings of Himself.  Jesus, as the head of the Body of Christ, then gives the gifted believer to the Church to be a blessing and to build the church up to a more mature level.  The Father then gives the more mature "remnant" Church, which consists of many Fathers and Mothers in the Faith ( the perfected saints), to the lost world as a testimony of His Power and Grace and as an example to follow.   Everyone is a giver in this process.

I concluded by singing the song, He Looked Beyond My Faults and Saw My Needs," (lyrics written by Dottie Rambo and sung to the tune of "O Danny Boy").  It was the last song that I ever sang to Erskine when he had come to the Land Meetings in Woodstock, GA, for the last time.

John Milner quoted Proverbs 10:7 (the NIV Version) when he said, "The memory of the righteous shall be a blessing." Erskine's memory shall truly continue to be a blessing for years to come.  Erskine made himself of no reputation that he might faithfully follow his high and holy calling to serve the one in whom his soul found a perfect rest.  As Larry Davis so eloquently put it, "What does Erskine leave behind here on earth? What has he left to show for all of his diligent labors and hard work? Just us, his disciples, his children in the Gospel. We are his legacy.  And it is our grave responsibility to impart to others some of what we have so gratefully received from men of God like Erskine." May we carry on the torch of faith to spread the message that we are called, even as Erskine was, to be radical, passionate lovers of God and of His Christ, the Christ of Unsearchable Riches. Hallelujah, He lives in us, and He is to always be our constant Hope of Glory! Amen, and amen.

With Christ's Love To Guide Us,
Brother Glenn Kennedy
July 28, 2003