For Jennifer Smith, an Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief volunteer from Jacksonville, Illinois, the two weeks she served in Guam in September were hard, hopeful and a regular part of her missions commitment.
“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.”
Roy Oliver McClain didn’t talk much about his experiences in World War II — but on occasion — he did share a few poignant details of life as an Army chaplain.
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.
International Mission Board trustees approved the appointment of 72 full-time, fully funded missionaries during their Sept. 27-28 meeting near Richmond, Virginia.
