Hawaii Baptist churches and disaster relief volunteers continue to serve those impacted by the deadly wildfires that devastated a town on the island of Maui. More than 93 people have been confirmed dead.
Craig Webb, assistant executive director of the Hawaii Baptist Pacific Convention (HPBC), continues to urge prayer for all involved in relief efforts. He shared a report on Saturday (Aug. 12) highlighting how churches in the area continue to step up to help those who lost homes and loved ones in the horrific fire.
Kahului Baptist Church in Central Maui, he noted, is distributing supplies and essential items from their facility, while Waiehu Community Church has also assisted through helping distribute supplies to people impacted by the fire in Lahaina. Other churches in the area also continue to meet needs in the area.
Maui County officials have contacted HPBC Disaster Relief co-directors John and Gay Williams to help with housing first responders and other essential workers. They also were helping coordinate efforts to ship a Disaster Relief shower unit from Oahu to Maui.
All of these efforts need prayer, Webb noted. “Would you pray for this effort?”
Ongoing work
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green noted the cost of damages in the area could be close to $6 billion, and the death toll also is expected to rise as rescue workers continue to assess the damage.
“[The death toll] is going to rise. It will certainly be the worst natural disaster Hawaii ever faced, maybe the worst fire America ever faced by the time it’s done,” he told the media over the weekend.
“Our focus now is to reunite people where we can and get them housing and get them healthcare and then turn to rebuilding.”
Ways to help
Webb said a primary way to respond right now is through Hawaii Disaster Relief with the HPBC, designating gifts as “Hawaii Fires.”
For more information, click here. Or, check with your church, association or state Baptist convention to find out how they are contributing to ongoing relief efforts in Hawaii, your state and beyond. To contact your state convention for more information, click here.
