Meet our minister…
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
2 Timothy 4:2-4
Douglas Holland
Douglas Holland has been preaching in Erick, Oklahoma, since January 2023. Originally from a small Missouri town, he was baptized in 1972 and has been growing in faith ever since.
“I began preaching in 1985 out of necessity when our preacher fell ill for three weeks. Three men volunteered to cover, and I took the third week. This turned into three months as he continued to be absent, eventually leading to his retirement. I never viewed myself as a preacher; I was just filling in.
In 1986, my dad had me fill in one Sunday in Eagleville, Missouri, where we were deer hunting. I agreed and returned on 5th Sundays, which started a long relationship with the congregation. I also took on 2nd Sundays and other absences of the scheduled preacher, despite living 125 miles away southeast of Eagleville. I got to know the brethren well but couldn't work with the congregation full time.
This small congregation of about 30 needed a full-time preacher to grow. I discussed hiring one and led lessons on church growth, emphasizing member participation.”
Douglas served on the board for a Bible camp, where many campers became friends with his family. Monthly teen Bible studies began in the Holland home, leading several young men to become preachers. One man, after marrying and starting his own home, went to Memphis School of Preaching. After Douglas introduced him to the congregation, he was offered a position, resulting in significant growth for the congregation, which eventually doubled in size and assisted other area congregations.
Douglas sought small congregations and semi-retired in Leedey, Oklahoma, in 2020. After fill-in preaching in western Oklahoma, he found a full-time position in Erick. The Hollands moved to Erick for the role, and the congregation has grown from 8 to 20-30 members weekly.