Regent Alumni Tributes - Late Dr. Charles L. Holman (page 5)
Dear Mrs. Holman, Emily, Bruce, Stephen, and Katherine Rose,
I can’t begin to tell you what a blessing it was to study under Dr. Holman. I honestly don’t know anyone who was more loved and respected by those who knew him. I really appreciated the way he constantly challenged me to be careful and prayerful in studying the scriptures. I was amazed at his knowledge of the Bible but equally inspiring was his love for God and His Word. He taught so much, not only through his classes, but also through his humble, godly example.
He also constantly communicated his love for each of you. Because I had attended Sunday school with Emily and Bruce, we would sometimes talk before or after class about your family. He was so appreciative of you all. He would catch me up on the latest funny thing that Stephen had said or done (Stephen was constantly doing things that amused him), and keep me up to date on what was happening with you all. He really cherished each of you.
I’ve often heard the phrase “a scholar and a gentleman” but I don’t know of anyone to whom it applies more than to Dr. Holman. I will miss him greatly, as will so many of his friends, colleagues, and students. He has left the kind of legacy any man would aspire to leave, and I’m thankful to be one of the many people whose lives have been touched by his.
Dr. Holman was such a blessing to my life. He was a:
Mentor - Dr. Holman truly provided guidance for me during my years at Regent. He imparted knowledge and wisdom into my life and he instilled habits of approaching God’s word that have never left me.
Model—Not only did Dr. Holman teach and speak, but he embodied what he believed. It is one thing to hear someone “from a distance,” but it was even more powerful to watch Dr. Holman “up close and personal.” I will personally never forget our time together as I traveled with him to the SPS conference in Toronto, as I shared a room with him, and as he modeled his Christian witness right before my eyes.
Multiplier—Dr. Holman has reproduced himself in me, and in so many other students like me that are now literally all around the world.
Man of God—One of the highlights of each class for me was to listen to Dr. Holman pray—He loved God, he was intimate with God, and there was a unique sense of familiarity that he conveyed as he conversed with God before us. I pray that I, too, might be a man of God like Dr. Holman was.
I had the privilege of visiting Dr. Holman and his wife at the hospital on Tuesday, January 17. I was heartbroken at seeing really only a “hull” of the man I knew—and I had a sense that this was goodbye. That night, during our worship practice, we sang these words—
There are depths of love that I cannot know ‘til I cross the narrow sea
There are heights of peace that I may not reach ‘til I rest in peace with Thee.
Tears were streaming down my face as I played the keyboard . . . I just “knew” that these words described Dr. Holman’s experience, and right then and there I felt confident that these would soon become a reality for Dr. Holman. I rejoice to know that he has found a love and peace that only the rest of us can look forward to.
In 1985, after sixteen years of being in the ministry, I felt God's call to continue my education.Dr. Holman was my faculty advisor and professor at Regent University.His gentleness and kindness encouraged me and motivated me in my transition to academic life.One of my first courses at Regent was "Principles of Bible Study".This course was a challenge.Dr. Holman's demand for excellence and teaching methods changed the way I study the Bible.I have used the principles I learned from him to teach many others ever since I graduated from Regent University.
To this day I greatly enjoy studying the Bible and passing on sound and true principles to many others. Fundamentals of and love for Bible study were instilled in me by Dr. Holman who taught me how to study God's word.What a great gift he gave me and I'm forever indebted to him as well as hundreds of others who have been taught by Dr. Holman through me.
I remember Dr. Holman as a gentle man of tremendous devotion, faithfulness and humility.Though he will be sorely missed and we grieve over his loss from us, he has now become part of the 'great cloud of witnesses' that spur us on to faithfully serve the Lord.Our grief is lightened by the knowledge of who is with now.Thank you, Dr. Holman, for serving the Lord.
Dr. Holman was a gifted scholar, passionate professor and gracious encourager. I had the privilege of knowing him as a loyal church member while serving as the Senior Associate Pastor at First Baptist Norfolk and as an inspiring professor and valued mentor while pursuing my doctoral work at Regent. He always demonstrated a gentle and compassionate spirit and I never heard him verbalize an unkind word. I pray that his legacy of faith and his desire for excellence will prevail in the lives of his students, bible study classes and his family as a shining reminder of how a fully devoted follower of Christ lives each day. Our every remembrance of you will be with fondness and joy. We love you, Dr. Holman.
Dear Mrs. Holman,
May our God of all comfort, comfort you at this time (II Cor 1:3).Your dear husband, my professor, was a true gift from God to those of us who studied under him.We easily could see his love for the Lord and for His word, and for us to learn.I think of many times he could have taken the easy way and let a class period be taken up with trivial discussions, but he always held to the text and to the plans, wanting us to glean all the knowledge God had for us.He was a demanding yet fair professor, one under which students learn the most.I will keep wonderful memories of Dr. Holman among those of my years at Regent.I am a better Bible teacher and student today, and my personal devotions are stronger, due to him.May God grant you comfort and peace now, and bless you, until you see your Charles again - on the other side.
I am so grieved for Rose and at the same time joyful for Dr. Holman.He was such a sweet-spirited man – an “Elder if the flock” in every respect. To be with him was to be in the presence of a life that bore the fragrant evidence of many decades of close relationship and service with the LORD.The “fruit” of that went well beyond “biblical scholarship” – the most important thing I will remember about Charles Holman was the deep “shalom” – the peace, the love, the satisfaction in life, and the completeness in the LORD that he manifested.You could taste it and smell it on this beloved brother.I pray that should the LORD allow me to live such extended days in my life, that I would bear evidence of that same fruit and testimony.Charles would point to the LORD and give Him glory for such complimentary testimony, and so do I… Praise to you Yahweh!
My deepest sympathy to the Holman family. Dr. Holman was my advisor, and I remember his kindness and warm heart. I remember having dinner at his home with some other students. His wife Rose was a wonderful cook and hostess. After dinner Dr. Holman played us some songs on his violin, and he was very good. I saw him about 10 years later, and I could see that he had a deeper strength in the Lord. I have his book, "Till Jesus Comes", based on his PhD dissertation, and it brought forth so much information and insight into how the Jews up to the time of Christ viewed the Messiah. It was very well documented, which is maybe the one thing I remember most about Dr. Holman's teaching, he stressed documenting what we propose to be true. I appreciate his theological insights and, again, his kind heart. His family, friends, the Regent community, and Christian academic circles will miss him, but we know that Jesus has now come to him, and we will see him again when Jesus comes again for us.
