Foursquare Credentialed Minister Doris Holland, the wife of former Foursquare President John R. Holland and his partner in ministry for more than 50 years, went to be with the Lord today.
Born in Seattle, Wash., on May 1, 1931, Doris attended an independent church while growing up. However, she received Jesus as her Savior in 1947 while visiting the Snoqualmie Foursquare Church in Washington. Three years later, she received the baptism with the Holy Spirit and a heavenly prayer language.
The year being baptized with the Spirit, Doris followed a friend’s recommendation and enrolled in L.I.F.E. Bible College (now called Life Pacific University). Not only did she get her introduction to Foursquare ministry at the college, Doris met her future husband there. During their long marriage, the couple had four children and three grandchildren. John went to be with the Lord in Oct. 2007.
“Debbie and I have known Doris Holland for over 30 years,” recalls former Foursquare President Glenn Burris Jr. “We first met her when her husband, John, was elected as the president of Foursquare. They invited us to join their team as supervisors of the Southeast District.
“Doris was always attentive, honoring, godly and supportive,” Glenn adds. “We have watched her commitment to prioritize family, even when the demands of ministry were great. She has always had our highest respect. Doris Holland was forthright, gentle, focused and engaged. We honor her life and ministry to the Lord, her family, her friends and our movement.”
Doris didn’t graduate from L.I.F.E., having left school after two years to join John in his ministry. However, she received her Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from The Foursquare Church in April 1996.
Doris Holland was forthright, gentle, focused and engaged. We honor her life and ministry to the Lord, her family, her friends and our movement. – former Foursquare President Glenn Burris Jr.
After John’s graduation from L.I.F.E. in 1953, the Hollands pastored Foursquare churches in Idaho, Washington and Oregon for the next 11 years. They then moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, where they pastored the Kingsway Foursquare Church for 10 years. During their time there, John also served as district supervisor of Western Canada for five years.
In 1974, the couple returned to Los Angeles, where John pastored Foursquare’s founding church, Angelus Temple, for two years. He then became supervisor of the Southwest District, a role he continued until his selection as the third President in Foursquare’s history.
During John’s nine years as Foursquare’s president, Doris joined her husband by establishing an office within the denomination’s central office in Los Angeles. She was the first presidential spouse to take that step.
“Doris was always very active and very much involved in the office during John’s presidency,” says Foursquare’s former Vice President of Corporate Affairs Sterling Brackett. “Her platform presence was excellent. She was sharp, articulate and presented well.”
After retiring from the presidential office, John and Doris established a traveling ministry that included appearances in Foursquare churches and several other groups. John maintained his credentials and always presented himself as a retired Foursquare pastor.
Doris traveled with him for nine years, until the symptoms of ALS—more popularly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease—surfaced in John in spring 1996. Though it started with a weakening of the legs at their lower extremities, by July he was dependent on a cane; by that fall he had to use a wheelchair.
Although she stepped away from any leadership role after John’s passing, Doris remained a loyal member of her church in Thousand Palms, Calif., where she was living at the time of her passing.
Memorial information
Open Viewing
Saturday, May 6, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Location: Forest Lawn – Cathedral City, 69855 Ramon Rd., Cathedral City, CA 92234
Celebration of Life service; reception to follow
Saturday, May 6 at 1 p.m.
Location: Desert Chapel, 630 S. Sunrise Way, Palm Springs, CA 92264
Watch the service online.
Internment
Thursday, May 11, 3:00 – 3:30
Location: Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills
Online Guest Book
Post a note or memory of Doris.
