- Erskine Holt
Erskine Leo Holt (
February 8 ,1915 in Indiana -July 11 ,2003 inZephyrhills, Florida ) was Christian minister, missionary and religious leader who established many independentHouse Church communities throughout theUnited States . He was a one of the founders of thePan-American Mission and later foundedCorvilla , a Christian retreat center inZephyrhills, Florida .Biography
In his twenties, Holt graduated from college with a degree in chemistry and for a while taught that subject at the high school level. During the late depression and early years of
World War II he sang to make his living as a nightclub entertainer.Following a religious experience in 1943, Holt redirected his life towards the ministry, attending
Central Bible Institute , anAssemblies of God Bible school inSpringfield, MO . Following his graduation, he served in the Assemblies of God as a pastor and evangelist, both in the United States and inAfrica . He was also designated the national soloist for the Assemblies of God with a daily radio program.In 1947 the Latter Rain Revival, precursor to the
Latter Rain Movement emerged in the Assemblies of God and Holt associated himself with that movement. When the movement was rejected by the leadership of the Assemblies of God, Holt and a number of other adherents were dismissed or resigned from the Assemblies of God. Holt, along withDonald W. Murphy , former missionary to India and Illinois District Superintendent for the Assemblies, joinedDr. Thomas Wyatt at theWings of Healing Temple inPortland, OR . Holt also spent time atBethesda Temple inDetroit, MI , the spiritual center of the Latter Rain Revival, founded byMyrtle Beall . It was there that Holt met and married Lucille Hamer.He was a significant contributor to the
Jesus Movement of the 1970s. Presenting himself as part of the "establishment" he was also able to connect with thehippie youth culture of that era and organize their informal gatherings into ongoinghouse church congregations. As an older, mature Christian leader, he was able to provide some guidance to otherwise leaderless youth gatherings. Holt encouraged the development of house churches on college campuses. As the Jesus Movement came to its quick end, many of the house churches he formed or nurtured moved into forming established churches, includingCalvary Chapel .After the demise of the Jesus Movement, Holt continued to travel throughout the United States, and on occasion to other nations. He continued to visit "remnant" groups of Christians, such as those in house churches and informal Bible study gatherings that were not connected to any denomination or structure.
Holt was a follower of
Charismatic Christianity and believed in traditionalPentecostal gifts, such asspeaking in tongues . He strongly advocated a teaching known as "five-fold ministry ."
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