University students from Hawaii and Arizona recently traveled to Sub-Saharan Africa to share the gospel. They found that God’s goodness follows them everywhere they go.
“‘What does the future look like?’ … I feel like (this) is the hardest question to answer,” said Rocky Komatsu, pastor of Waiehu Community Church. “Yet, I think if we’re totally honest the answer is, ‘We have no idea.’”
After 41 years of faithful service among Hawaii Pacific Baptists, Sean Lathrop has retired, effective Feb. 1.
While there are many steps to revitalizing a church, Mark Clifton shared four that are especially important: prayer, discipleship, community engagement and preaching Jesus.
“We lost a lot of possessions, but we have the most important things. Each other and our faith,” said Erik Naylor, newly installed pastor of Lahaina Baptist Church.
“How amazing,” noted Craig Webb of the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention, “that one church that happens to be a larger church than any of our churches in Hawaii chose to make this special gift and impact so many churches.”
When Mari Finn awoke on Aug. 8 to heavy winds and no power, she assumed it was like any other storm that would pass.
Windowless, destroyed buildings. Blown-out tires on vehicles swallowed by flames during the recent Hawaii fire. “Everything was burnt to the ground,” a Disaster Relief volunteer said. “Everything was gray.”
“We’re putting about 25 volunteers into Lahaina every day. … More will come from the mainland, that number will increase,” said John Williams, co-directors of Hawaii Baptist Disaster Relief, on Hawaii wildfires.
As displaced residents are expected to begin returning to their homes Monday (Sept. 25) in Lahaina following the deadly Hawaii wildfires, relief efforts continue — and will for a long time, says Hawaii Pacific Baptist Disaster Relief.
