Crystal Holmes

Crystal was born the 4th of 6 children in Sacramento, California where she graduated from Luther Burbank Sr. High School
in 1995. In High School she was involved in many extra-curricular activities, including starting the BSU Choir. She attended Sacramento City College where she studied Psychology and Business but have not attained a degree as of yet.

Crystal has always attended church with her family and accepted Christ at a young age. She was baptized at the tender age of 8 under the Rev., Dr. Ephraim Williams at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Sacramento, CA. She later began to attend New Home Missionary Baptist Church where she began her life of service in the church. At New Home, she served as an Usher, Choir member, Assistant Director to the choir, Assistant in the Children's Department, VBS assistant, Sunday School Secretary, BTU secretary, on the drama team and leader over the Youth Group.

She relocated here to Portland, OR. in July 2002 and following the Baptist Covenant began to serve at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church shortly thereafter. She worked as Director over the youth choir for a short time while attending there.
In May 2006, Crystal began to attend New Paradise Worship Center and it was not long after that she picked up in her spirit of serving. She began to sing with the Praise team and worked as Director of the Children's Department from January-June of 2007, She is currently working on the Multi-media team, still serving as part of the praise team/vocal ensemble, and is also serving as a Ministry Assistant as well as director of Degrees of Faith Ministries.

Crystal enjoys her worship experience at New Paradise mainly because of the loving and welcoming atmosphere. When you walk in the doors, you are not treated as a visitor, rather as a member of the family that has been known all of your life, and that is important in a church home. She has said that it is because of New Paradise that she has not returned to California.

Her favorite scripture has always been 1 John 2:15-17

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

"It is my goal to die daily to self so that I can be whatever it is that God would have me to be. As the ministry shifts, I just want to be steadfast and ready to go to the next level in Christ. I have always had the spirit to serve in the music and youth ministries and here at NPWC have been more than happy to fall in place wherever the Lord calls me to serve. I love to serve and am learning more to have a servants heart to fulfill the Gospel of Jesus Christ."