Erskine Holt

Erskine Leo Holt (February 8, 1915 – July 11, 2003) was Christian minister, missionary and religious leader who established many independent House Church communities throughout the United States. He was one of the founders of the Pan-American Mission and later founded Corvilla, a Christian retreat center in Zephyrhills, Florida.

Biography Erskine Holt was born of February 8, 1915, in Muncie, Indiana, to Joseph Leroy Holt and Lily Pearl Lucas. At 15, Holt enrolled in college, the youngest student to attend Ball State College, graduating with a degree in chemistry.

Early religious mission Following a religious experience in 1943, Holt redirected his life towards the ministry, attending Central Bible Institute, an Assemblies of God Bible school in Springfield, Missouri. Following his graduation in 1947, he served in the Assemblies of God as a pastor and evangelist, both in the United States and in Africa. As the Jesus movement came to its quick end, many of the house churches he formed or nurtured moved into forming established churches, including Calvary 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 traditional Pentecostal gifts, such as speaking in tongues. He strongly advocated a teaching known as five-fold ministry.

Personal life Holt was married to Lucille Holt, with whom he had 3 daughters. He died, at the age of 88, on the July 11, 2003 in Zephyrhills.