b"CHURCH NEWSDr. Holland Passes the TorchBy Sheila Smith While the church still followed the bylaws and hadthe first group back into the theater and claim it. a search committee to find a new pastor, the congre- And sure enough, the night before it opened back up, gation felt comfortable with one of their own. there were some family members from the folks that A fter 35 years in the ministry, Rev. Dr. Robert DHe knows the vision and DNA of the church anddied who wanted to be there. We took them inside, Holland of Living Hope Bible Church is joininghelp the church stay on track. He was ready to stepshowed them around on how it had been remodeled. the rest of those retirees. God can certainly pat himin during this succession pro- I prayed and anointed the door onthebackandsaywelldone,goodandfaithfulcess, Rev. Holland explained. the shooter came through and servant. Living Hope Bible Church wasprayed with the families.Rev.Hollanddecideditwastimetoretireandstarted by Rev. Holland back inRev.Hollandalsodoesn't spend more time taking care of his wife who is a1992.Itwasaplantchurchhesitatetomincewordson multiplestrokesurvivor.Overtheyears,familyfrom King Baptist Church. what goes on in the rest of our members, church members and others have pitchedRev.Hollandservedundernation.in to help out the pastors wife. Pastor A.J Gaye at King BaptistHe shared his opinion about Ihavebeenpastoringfor27years,ministeringwho helped him organize Livingformer president Barak Obama for 35 years, spent 25 years in the Air Force and 12Hope Bible Church. being on the cover of a maga-and a half years as chaplain for the Aurora PoliceDuringthattime,Rev.zine as the first gay president Department, he said and then told his family. YourHolland said, Pastors from thebecauseofhisstrongsupport mama deserves for me to be with her right now. Mycommunity came to see how itfortheLGBT(Lesbian,Gay, first charge is to my heavenly father who is my per- worked because they never sawBi-sexualandTransgender) sonal savior. My second charge is to my wife becauseablackchurchbirthablackcommunity.that is biblical.church. Ivebeenanadvocatefor The pastor, however, is not totally leaving behindHeopenedthedoorsofthegetting folks saved and getting his church without a replacement.church in a shopping center offthemtoknowJesusChrist. Rev. Eldridge Sims, who is executive pastor underSouth Chambers Road back inButspendingmillionsofdol-Rev. Holland and right hand will step in as the new1992 and stayed there for threelarstryingtopushthrough senior pastor at Living Hope Bible Church. years. Dr. Robert Holland laws based on legislative moral-The churchs second locationity because you cant legislate was sharing a space at Auroramorality.HillsChurchthentookupspaceforservicesatWhenitcomestoPresidentDonaldTrump,he Emmanuel Church in the Cherry Creek area. adds, I call it the Romans:13 moment. He is presi-dent of the United States whether I voted for him Finally,Rev.Hollandandhiscongregationwent Rev. Robert D. Hollandover to Faith Church. They purchased five acres ofor not. He has a chance to unify this nation but he land that was part of Faith Churchs extended park- chose instead to divide it. So until we have another opened the doors of theing lot. election or something happens that causes him no longer to be president, therefore, I am called to pray He is proud to have led his church in being an inte- for him and his administration and this country.church in a shopping centergral part of the community.Even becoming active inNow that he has retired, Rev. Holland still plans to helping out and getting housing for evacuees who off South Chambers Roadfled from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, thebe around. His children and grandchildren remain reverend said. in Colorado. He will continue to do his Hope is Alive radio program.back in 1992 and stayedAndin2012,Rev.HollandwasoneofthefirstIts been a blessing to minister through the media responders at the Aurora Century 16 shooting that there for three years. led to the death of 12 people and around 70 peopleto the entire front range. Every time I run into some-were injured. oneandtheyfigureoutwhoIambecauseofmy In fact, at the prayer vigil, he said. If the city canvoice. They tell me how much Hope is Alive helped maintain the building as a theater, then I will leadthem and encouraging me.A Vision of UnityBy Sheila Smith thedirectionhewantstotakethe church.Ireallywanttogobacktowhat T he Rev. Eldridge Sims is ready towe did back home, go back to havingThere is a lack of take on the challenge of followingthoserevivals,heexplainedhaving in the footsteps of his former pastor. grew up in Memphis, Tennessee andunity in Colorado HeisnowtheseniorpastorofChicago.LIving Hope BIble Church in AuroraThere is a lack of unity in Coloradoamong black clergy.after succeeding the founder, Rev. Dr.among black clergy. Everyone is cor-Robert D. Holland who stepped downdialandfriendlytowardoneanoth- Everyone friendly, to enjoy his retirement. er,butIdontfeeltherelationship Rev. Sims had been at Living Hopebetween God-fearing men is where itbut I dont feel the BIbleChurchsinceFebruary2008.should be. So I want to do my part in HebecamePastorHollandsrightbringing that relationship and avail- relationship between hand man and executive pastor. ability.He and his family moved to DenverRev.SimspointstoPeterintheGod-fearing men is after after his job with UPS transferredBible where God says: Do you love me him here. He said after only attendingthen feed my sheep. where it should be.twootherchurchesintheDenverWe (as pastors) feed the sheep but area and then attending Living HopeRev. Eldridge Sims we have to be fed. Who is going to feed Bible, he knew itwas where he wasthepreachersandpastors.Canthe supposed to be. to you and has not said anything topastorhumblehimselftobefedby,Rev.Simsmentionsisaprime InJanuary2010,Rev.Simswasme. But if you feel this is what Godanother pastor. Is he willing to learnexample.approachedbyRev.Hollandaboutput inyour heart, if this is the callingfrom another pastor, Rev. Sims asks. Former U.S Rep. Mike Coffman won beingexecutivepastor.HehadGod has for me, I will do it, he recalls. Again, aswithin most black com- the election as mayor of Aurora after alreadyattendedseminaryschoolinThreemonthslater,Rev.Hollandmunitiesaroundthecountry,thererunning against two black men. California. was ordained as a minister. isalwaysthatlackofpeoplecom-Hesaidherefusedthefirsttimeing together to support one another.Therewasonlya215pointvote Rev. Holland asked him. Now in his new role as senior pas- Colorado is no different. leadthatCoffmanhadoverOmar tor, Rev. Sims has his own vision onContinued on Page 7I said man how is it God is talkingThe recent mayors race in Aurora 2 DECEMBER 2019 BOCNEWS.com"