Vigil Held For 22-Year-Old Who Had Hopes Of Becoming A Minister

MIRA LOMA (CBSLA.com) — A vigil was held Friday evening for a 22-year-old man who had hopes of becoming a minister.

Forrest Holmes was riding his bike in Jurupa Valley on his way to pray with laborers outside a Home Depot when he was fatally struck by a hit-and-run driver.

Authorities said Holmes was hit about 2 a.m. Tuesday when he was hit from behind by a vehicle on Limonite Avenue, near Lucretia.

KCAL9's Rachel Kim spoke to Holmes' distraught loved ones. They all talked about his faith and how his beliefs were important to him.

The pain and heartache felt by this crowd were wiped away by praise. His family, friends and the community gathered at his church to celebrate his life -- a a life dedicated to sharing his faith.

"He told me all I want to do, mom, is serve. I just want to serve the Lord," said his mother Patty.

His mother found small comfort in knowing her son didn't see the accident coming.

"As he was going, they hit him from behind. So he didn't see it coming. And that gave me peace," she said.

Holmes' mom also finds comfort in knowing that her son died following his calling. She says Forrest often got up early to help the homeless and spread God's word.  Becoming a minister was a constant goal.

"It was everything, it was all he wanted," she said.

Ruben Solis is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Inland, where Forrest and his family became members three years ago. The pastor told Kim that Holmes'  faith grew over the years. He was baptized in July and even gave his first sermon this past weekend at a retreat.

"We look for men that just love Jesus and are already ordained by God, that already happen to be doing it. And that was Forrest. Even in his death, he's ministering, he's ministering," said Solis.

As authorities continue to search for the driver who took Forrest's life, this community finds forgiveness.

"He's taught me how to forgive, and grace, give grace mom. They don't know what they do. I love you son, I love you son, so much," said Patty.

"The kindest, most warm-hearted person that always wanted to help. He was a brother, a son, an uncle, a friend. He believed his purpose was to teach others in the following of God and he was doing so, so righteously," they wrote on a GoFundMe page set up to help defray his funeral costs.

For more information about the GoFundMe page, click here.