Churches in the Pacific impacting the world
February 2014
Vol. 44, No. 1
Baptist
Martin ‘looking forward’ to God’s plan for Hawaii
in this issue Lost love Thom Rainer, president of LifeWay Christian Resources, writes an open letter to Southern Baptists asking ‘Where is the passion’ to reach the lost? Page 2
Honolulu—The Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention has chosen Christopher Martin, pastor of Lahaina Baptist Church in Maui, as its next executive director. A graduate of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and pastor in Hawaii for eight years, Martin has served in several convention roles and was elected president of the Hawaii convention just weeks before being named executive director. Having resigned as president, he began as executive director Jan. 1. Martin succeeds Veryl Henderson, who will
Easy peasy What are you doing for Children’s Ministry Day? We have some ideas to get you motivated. Page 5
Christopher Martin
“Even though geographically we’re separated ... (Hawaii Baptists) have a deep concern to be connected and to work together to share Christ in our communities and see lives transformed.”
retire in December after more than 40 years in ministry. A native of Louisiana, Martin worked for 10 years in the secular world as a maintenance mechanic and employee trainer before going to seminary and entering full-time ministry. His first pastorate was at Angie Baptist Church in Louisiana, followed by two years at First Baptist Church in Cedar Key, Fla., a small island in the Gulf of Mexico. From there, God used a trip to Hawaii to lead Martin and his wife, Wendy, and their two children to minis See Martin ... Page 5
ANNIE ARMSTRONG EASTER OFFERING
Goal-worthy The Annie Armstrong Easter Offering is upon us. How will you help Hawaii reach its goal of $150,000? Page 7
Obedient to ‘the call’ The Story Lives On Focus on WMU Feb. 10-16
O
Church planter Patrick Coats (right), a NAMB missionary, baptizes Kingdom Covenant Baptist Church member Andrew Fellas, with the assistance of Coats’ uncle, Joe (left). Patrick Coats planted Kingdom Covenant in Homestead, Fla. to reach the mobile community of north Miami. Coats is a Week of Prayer missionary for NAMB and is being featured during the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering promotion. (Ted Wilcox/NAMB)
Church planter embraces legacy he once tried to escape music minister. A degree in music education followed, and though Coats will tell you he is Homestead, Fla.—You could say Patrick Coats primarily a trumpeter, he can play an array of is a product of his spiritual legacy. But it’s a instruments, including drums. legacy he attempted to elude—at “I was immersed in Southern least for a time. Baptist life,” said Coats. “I’ve been “The best A native of Miami, Coats was everything there is to be in encouragement raised by his grandfather, Joe Coats, church from a deacon to a the first African-American pastor to for a church preacher. But I ran from a specific planter is affiliate with the Florida Baptist call as lead pastor.” Convention in 1968. The elder Coats knowing he’s not Coast ran to music and started planted a church in a school build- alone. Through a Christian rap group. Although ing and saw it grow to 4,000 it was a rebellious run, his was a the AAEO, members. mild one. He remained involved churches ... “Hurricane Andrew destroyed in church leadership, but did not the church building, but it did not come alongside want to be a pastor. Coats’ uncle, destroy the church family,” said Joe Coats, started a church, tap... to help in a Coats. “The last major project for ping his nephew to serve as minbig way.” my grandfather was rebuilding the ister of music. After 10 years his Patrick Coats church (facilities).” uncle had a new idea. Coats was never far from his “In 2005 my uncle threw me grandfather, so he was constantly into the pulpit,” said Coats. “That in church. When he was old enough, he began began a three-year journey of preaching, serving alongside his grandfather, first as a See Coats ... Page 7 By Joe Conway
Moving? See page 2 (0128)
nce upon a time, in 1888, a group of women met in a Methodist church and formed what is now Woman’s Missionary Union. Together, they worked on a plan that would ensure the story of salvation would live on in places far and near. And so an organization came to be in Baltimore, Md. When the office moved to Birmingham, Ala., in 1921, the women were asking themselves about the impact of their lives: Does my life please God? Am I enjoying my Christian life? Is there anyone I can forgive? How much time do I spend in prayer? Am I trying to bring my friends to Christ? Is there anything I cannot give up for Christ? How does my life look to those who are not Christians? Is the world being made better or worse by my living in it? The women were praying daily for missionaries in Japan, China, Mexico and Africa. They were also praying for the social issues of the day like poverty and orphans, as well as people groups with no known believers. Today, the world is different because of their efforts. Japan, China, Mexico and Africa have thousands of believers. Orphans have legal rights and advocates. WMU still publish a prayer calendar in “Missions Mosaic,” but women continue to ask themselves, “Is the world being made better or worse by my living in it?” Tell your story this year as you focus on WMU. Here are a few ideas: n Read through your church’s history to learn when WMU was started at your church or in your state. What else was happening in the world that year? How did WMU make a difference? n Focus on the watchword from Acts 4:20. Enlist women, students and children to share stories of ordinary people who See WMU focus ... Page 3
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HAWAII PACIFIC
HAWAII PACIFIC BAPTIST 2042 Vancouver Drive Honolulu, Hawaii 96822 (USPS 237-540)
CHRISTOPHER MARTIN Editor FAITH McFATRIDGE Associate Editor The Hawaii Pacific Baptist is published bi-monthly by the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention. For general information, call (808) 946-9581. Periodicals postage paid at Honolulu, Hawaii, and additional mailing office. To subscribe: Send request to the Hawaii Pacific Baptist at the above address. Subscriptions for nonresident members of the HPBC are $12 annually. To register a change of address: Send the mailing label from page 1, along with your new address, to The Hawaii Pacific Baptist at the above address. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to HAWAII Pacific BAPTIST, 2042 Vancouver Dr., Honolulu, HI 96822-2491 To give news tips: Call the editor at (808) 9469581. To submit a letter: Letters on any subject will be considered for publication if sent to the above address, provided they do not make a personal attack on anyone. Letters are limited to 250 words and may be edited for length. Publishing services provided by Western Recorder Inc., Box 43969, Louisville, KY 40253. Robin Bass, partnership editions director.
Join us on Facebook Be part of the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention via Facebook. Already have an account? Simply type “Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention” in the search box. Then click the “Like” box on the right side of the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention header. It’s that easy. Followers of HPBC will receive all the updates and be current with the events and activities as they are posted. Let’s keep connected. For more information, contact Faith McFatridge at faith@hpbaptist.net.
FEBRUARY 2014
An open letter: Have we lost our first love? By Thom Rainer
I could be writing to a broader audience. Perhaps I should be. And I know many outside our denomination will read this brief letter. I hope those readers will bear GUEST with me as I have a “family COLUMNIST discussion.” Please hear me clearly. I am not writing out of any sense of superiority. Indeed, many of you could put me to shame. But my heart is breaking with what I perceive to be a loss of passion for those who do not know Christ. Many of you have seen the numbers. We are reaching Thom Rainer fewer people for the gospel today than we did decades ago when we were a much smaller group. The first love Where is the passion in most of our churches to reach the lost? Where is the passion among our leaders, both in our churches and in our denomination? Jesus told those at the church at Ephesus that they had sound doctrine, that they hated evil (Revelation 2:17). But He also told them they had lost their
first love. When we truly love Jesus with all of our hearts, we can’t help but tell others about Him. We can’t help but share the good news. I thank God for our contending for the faith. I thank God for our affirmation of the total truthfulness of Scripture. I thank God for orthodoxy. But I pray that it is not becoming a dead orthodoxy—an orthodoxy that has lost its first love. The purpose of the letter The purpose of this letter is not to chastise. I am a messed up sinner who has no right to look at the splinter in the eyes of my brothers and sisters when I need to deal with the plank in my own eye. I need to fall more deeply in love with Jesus. I need to share His love as part of my very being. In His power I must do more and I must do better. No, the purpose of this letter is simply to share a broken heart, and to express a heartfelt desire to change. I must love Jesus more deeply and tell others about Him more often. I must show Christ’s love not only with my words, but with every action and interaction I have. I must be more like Him every day. I have no proposal. I have no new programs for now. I simply have a burden. And as a commitment to God first, but then a commitment to you, I am asking God to lead
A challenge for new small groups By Diana Davis
When a church begins new small groups or Sunday School classes, eternity is impacted. New hands are put to the task. Easy entry points GUEST are established. MemCOLUMNIST bers are more likely to invite lost friends. Peripheral members become involved. And Christians joyfully rediscover the outreach purpose of the church. Imagine what would happen if your church began lots of new classes this year. Need some Diana Davis fresh ideas? n Life changes offer opportunities for new classes. Provide a small group for expectant parents or engaged couples. (They will evolve into new parents and newlyweds classes.) How about a class for recent retirees or college students? If your youngest adult class has aged a bit, add a new class for younger adults. n Your church ministries may provide opportunities for new small groups. Example: a church with weekday childcare could invite those parents for a new class. n Consider establishing a new small group for each decade of adults. Fresh new classes attract newcomers and others who do not currently attend. Provide a list of new members who aren’t active in a small group, as well as recent guests and uninvolved church members.
Advertise the new class in your community. n Look at growing areas in your church. If the youth group is exploding, you might begin new small groups for parents of middle- or high school students. n Look at “holes” in your current attendance. What groups of people are uninvolved? What segments of your community are untouched? What types of new classes would include overlooked people? Example: About a third of adults in your town are unmarried. Are you organized to reach them? n Kick off a targeted new group with a themed study. For example, if there are lots of artists in your town, the class could begin with a short study of biblical art. n Ask church members to submit suggestions. What kind of small groups do church members think your church needs? Perhaps their ideas will lead to small groups leaders might never considered. Also ask for ideas for leaders and names of people that might attend. n Challenge current classes to multiply themselves. The current teacher shares responsibilities and helps train a co-teacher, and then some group members go with that teacher to begin a new class. Will your church make a plan to reach new people by establishing new small groups? Diana Davis is author of “Deacon Wives,” “Fresh Ideas,” and “Fresh Ideas for Women’s Ministry.”
me to love Him more deeply than I ever have. I am asking God to put people in my life where I can show His love, and tell them about my Savior. It must begin with me My life’s desire is to glorify God by loving Him with all my heart. And I have no right to say that unless I am so much in love with Him that I “am unable to stop speaking about what (I) have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). Evangelism must be as natural to me as breathing. Pastors, will you join me in this plea? Will you be an evangelistic example for the churches God has called you to serve? Laypersons, will you pray for evangelistic hearts in your own lives? I must make that prayer a part of my life every day. Have we lost our first love? Is that love reflected in how we share the gospel of Christ every day? May God break me until I am all His, telling others about His Son every day. And may the sharing of the good news of Christ once again become the focus of all our lives in the churches of our denomination. Thom Rainer is president of LifeWay Christian Resources. The open letter was posted Jan. 13 on his blog, ThomRainer.com.
Read the Bible this year GUEST COLUMN By David Roach
There is no wrong place to start reading the Bible. The book of 2 Timothy says that “all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). While the apostle Paul wrote those words specifically about the Old Testament, they apply to the New Testament as well. Regardless of where you begin reading, God guarantees that the words on the page are true, sent from Him and powerful to change your life. Still, different Bible reading plans are better suited for different people. Here are a few methods to consider: n Read through the entire Bible in a year using a reading calendar. You can find many plans online for covering every single verse in one year. n To read at a slower pace, use a one-year plan, but only read half of the assignment each day. This helps some people understand and apply what they read more effectively. n Start in one of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke or John) and read a chapter each day. These books are a great place to learn about following Jesus. n Start at the beginning. Begin with Genesis, the first book of the Bible, and read Scripture in the order it is presented. Go at your own pace. n Have the Bible emailed to you. Through a website such as Bible Gateway, you can have daily Scripture readings sent directly to your inbox. Without having to carry around a copy of the Bible, you can still read through either the New Testament or the entire Bible in a year. n Use a chronological Bible to read Scripture in the order it occurred. Though standard Bibles are roughly chronological, some events happened in a different order than they are ordered in the Bible. For instance, the events in 1 Chronicles happened before the events in 2 Kings even though standard Bibles place 2 Kings first. A chronological Bible helps you understand the timing of Scripture’s storyline. Beyond these, there are many other ways to approach the Bible which you can discover through a quick Internet search. They help you experience the blessings that come from studying the greatest book ever written. May it be a lamp to your feet and a light to your path (Psalm 119:105). (BP) David Roach is a writer in Shelbyville, Ky.
HAWAII PACIFIC
FEBRUARY 2014
WMU offers opportunities for the whole church
W
MU offers organizations and approaches, as well as ministries, that enable every member of the church to learn about missions, become involved in missions, and live a missional lifestyle. WMU also offers many opportunities to fulfill the six areas of missions focus that are at the heart of missions education. Through the organizations and approaches, adults, students, children and preschoolers learn about the work and needs of missionaries. There are opportunities to participate personally in missions projects, as well as develop a missions lifestyle. There is something for everyone. What can WMU do for my church? n WMU creates an environment to hear and understand God’s call and receive nurturing in that call. n WMU creates an awareness and sensitivity toward people of other cultures and languages as people whom God loves. n Churches with WMU are more likely to have a more actively involved laity in all areas of church missions and ministry. n WMU leads people to experience missions personally through ministry and witness. n WMU develops leaders for missions efforts among all age groups. n WMU begins at the birth of a child, teaching her or him about God’s great love for all people. n The activities of those involved in WMU help a church fulfill its mission.
WMU helps a church stay focused on the commission Jesus gave His followers. n WMU creates a window to the world. Each benefit is an outgrowth of WMU’s six areas of missions focus: l Pray for missions. l Engage in mission action and witnessing. l Learn about missions. l Support missions. l Develop spiritually toward a missions lifestyle. l Participate in the work of the church and the denomination. n
Missions for all ages For churches interested in growing and strengthening Christ followers through missions education, WMU offers ongoing missions organizations and approaches for girls, women and coed groups in all age levels. n Preschoolers: Mission Friends for birth through kindergarten, n Girls in Action for girls grades 1-6, n Children in Action for children grades 1-6, n Acteens for girls grades 7-12, n Youth on Mission for youth grades 7-12 n Women on Mission and Sisters Who Care for women aged 35 and older, n Adults on Mission for men and women aged 18 and older. In 2012, the Royal Ambassadors (for boys in grades 1-6) and Challengers (for boys in grades 7-12) organizations were transferred to the WMU to administer from the North American Mission Board.
Churches can order curriculum and resources for each of these organizations. So, as you can see WMU provides a variety of opportunities to involve all church members. Church member involvement The following are examples of onetime events, short-term activities, ongoing projects, and awareness opportunities. n Families on Mission. n Prayer for domestic and international missionaries and unreached people groups. n Bible studies that relate to God’s missions purpose. n Giving of money and time for missions causes. n Annual learning opportunities of contemporary missions North America and international. n Local mission action and witnessing projects. n Volunteer missions projects in the U.S. and abroad. If nothing else, WMU has a history of flexibility. Since 1888, WMU has worked with local churches, associations, state conventions and national entities to provide missions education organizations for all ages in the local church. The term missions is the work of God through His people the church by which the gospel of Jesus is extended in word and deed to all the people in the world. For followers of Christ, missions is an integral part of being a believer. WMU is a channel in a church that can help them find their way.
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WMU focus Continued from page 1
have shared God’s story. Ask church staff if WMU members can share their testimonies in a service. n Consider hosting a prayer vigil. Commit to praying 125 hours to represent each year WMU has been praying for missions, evangelism and social issues. Or pray an hour for each year of WMU’s existence in your church. n Plan a party to celebrate 100 years of missions education for girls. Use this as an opportunity to enlist new members in GA and Acteens. n Arrange special offerings that include the number 125, such a 125 coins for the missions offerings. n Design Project HELP: Human Exploitation projects that include the number 125, such as 125 recycling items, 125 alternatives to bullying or 125 volunteer hours at a local shelter. n Prepare to participate in Children’s Ministry Day on Feb. 15. n Construct a bulletin board with 125 ways to pray for missions and lostness. n Organize a special book club dinner. Use Rosalie Hunt’s “We’ve a Story to Tell: 125 Years of WMU.” As you read through the stories of our past, look for new ways to be involved in telling God’s story. n Use this celebration time as an opportunity to tell others about the purpose and story of the Woman’s Missionary Union.
For more information on Woman’s Missionary Union, go to: www.wmu.org.
The
Gathering 2014
A Time of Worship and Renewal Featured Speaker: Chris Martin, Executive DirectorTreasurer, HPBC February 21-23 Puu Kahea Conference Center, Oahu Worship, message, testimonies, games, friends, food, and slip-n-slide fun Conference starts Friday at 7pm Registration fee includes lodging, meals & materials Submit $65 fee before Jan 22 for early bird! ($85 after) Join Agency D3 Special Agents as they examine eyewitness reports, physical proof, and biblical accounts to uncover and defend the truth about who Jesus really is.
The Gathering Registration Form 2014 Name: _______________ Phone: ( )______________ Email: _______________ Church/Campus Ministry: ____________________________ Emergency Contact: ________________________________
Worship Rally and sessions for Preschool, Children’s crafts, Children’s music, Children’s mission, Children’s Bible Study, Youth, Adult, Directors, and Backyard Bible Club. For more information, Contact Clyde at 356-8331 or email clyde@hpaptist.net
Relationship: _________________ Phone: (
)__________
I will not hold Baptist Collegiate Ministries, Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention, or its staff responsible for accidents or injuries which may occur. I also release my appearance in photographs and/or video tapes while participating in this HPBC sponsored event for the purpose of publicity, staff training, and/or promotion. Signed: __________________________________
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HAWAII PACIFIC
FEBRUARY 2014
Mission gifts from Hawaii Pacific Baptist churches and missions Jan. 1, 2013 to Dec. 31, 2013 KEY: CP—Cooperative Program Church/Mission
CP
LMCO—Lottie Moon Christmas Offering LMCO AAEO SMO
AAEO—Annie Armstrong Easter Offering WH
Asia Pacific Koza.................................................... 2,000.00.................... 73,139.60....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Seoul International...........................12,500.00.......................7,000.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Songtan Central.................................. 1,500.00.......................1,000.00................... 500.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Yokohama International...................... 4,000.00.................... 22,146.54....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Big Island Cornerstone Christian Fell................. 1,315.00..........................230.00....................... 0.00...................770.00.......................0.00 Engage................................................ 1,587.50..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Faith Baptist Mission............................. 771.52..............................0.00................... 140.00.....................25.00.......................0.00 Hamakua................................................ 600.00..........................250.00................... 554.00...................146.00.......................0.00 Hilo Baptist.......................................22,234.00..........................595.00................ 1,320.00................1,460.00.......................0.00 Hilo Korean Christian............................ 600.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Iglesia Bautisa Ebeen-ezer.................. 1,921.35........................2088.00................... 400.00...................250.00.......................0.00 In-Christ Alone House Ch.................. 3,934.15..........................270.00................... 225.00...................100.00.....................70.00 Kaumana Drive.................................20,338.45.......................1,641.00................ 1,097.00...................135.00.....................30.50 Kinoole.............................................15,860.45.......................2,145.00................ 1,714.00................1,837.00...................261.00 Kohala................................................ 9,368.00..........................658.00................ 1,149.00................1,447.00.....................20.00 Kona.................................................12,000.00.......................2,593.28................ 2,123.00................1,774.00.......................0.00 Naalehu Bible Mission*............................ 0.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Ocean View......................................... 4,989.82.......................1,430.00................ 1,080.00...................440.00.......................0.00 Ocean View Filipino*................................. 0.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Ohana Church of Hilo*.......................... 300.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Pahala................................................. 1,597.68..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Paradise Park..................................... 3,527.05..........................320.00................... 115.00.....................77.00...................380.00 Puna................................................... 5,157.84.......................1,412.00....................... 0.00...................700.00.......................0.00 Puuanahulu........................................ 3,427.53............................54.94....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Sonshine Baptist Mission*........................ 0.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.....................25.00 Waiakea Uka Bible............................17,154.63.......................2,571.00................ 2,581.00................2,594.00.......................0.00 Waikoloa...........................................16,231.00..............................0.00................ 1,207.00...................480.45.......................0.00 Waimea, FBC...................................... 3,802.18..........................447.00................... 100.00...................300.00.......................0.00 Garden Isle Eleele................................................16,306.57.......................6,396.00................ 2,732.00................1,700.00................1,720.00 Lihue.................................................18,200.88..........................535.00................ 1,350.00................1,105.00.....................50.00 Waimea.................................................. 900.00..............................0.00..................... 72.75.......................0.00.......................0.00 Guam Calvary............................................... 3,063.70..........................506.00................... 810.00...................271.00...................286.00 Chuukese Christian Fell............................ 0.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Lighthouse*........................................... 500.00..............................0.00..................... 87.00...................100.00.......................0.00 Marianas............................................. 1,100.00.......................1,000.00................... 500.00................1,057.00...................600.00 Saipan Good Baptist Ch........................ 490.00..............................0.00..................... 75.50...................100.00.......................0.00 Tamuning............................................ 2,069.57..........................200.00....................... 0.00...................296.00.......................0.00 Yigo Mission*........................................... 0.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Maui County Kaanapali Beach Ministry................... 2,550.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Kahului.............................................16,482.57.......................2,767.05................... 545.00...................935.00................1,313.00 Kaunakakai.......................................10,359.66..........................960.55................. 1277.09...................883.13.......................0.00 Kihei................................................... 2,400.00.......................2,758.95................... 132.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Lahaina.............................................18,465.18.......................1,057.00................... 264.00...................500.00.......................0.00 Lanai .................................................. 6,042.29..........................499.00................... 671.36...................689.00...................127.00 Maui 1st Korean.................................... 600.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Maui Philippine.................................. 2,366.45..........................150.00................... 118.00.....................10.00.......................0.00 Pukalani............................................28,503.00.......................1,914.00................ 1,463.00................1,048.05...................100.00 Valley Isle Fellowship.......................36,897.40.......................4,407.27................ 1,401.00................2,200.00................1,000.00 Oahu Network Abundant Life Fellowship................... 1,100.00.......................1,000.00................ 1,000.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Agape Japanese..................................... 968.26..........................152.00................... 130.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Agape Mission................................... 1,600.00.......................1,000.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Aina Haina.......................................... 3,399.00.......................1,638.00................... 808.25...................695.00.......................0.00 All Nations Fellowship....................... 1,660.10..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00...................387.05 All People Mission............................. 1,500.00..............................0.00................ 1,780.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Aloha Community.............................. 1,206.56..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Anapouo Chuukese............................... 100.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.....................10.00.......................0.00 Antioch............................................... 4,125.00..............................0.00................... 575.00...................550.00.......................0.00 Bethel Korean........................................ 900.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Central..............................................10,824.53.......................1,755.00................ 1,396.50................1,050.00...................690.00 Chinese*................................................ 600.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Chuukese Waianae.................................. 71.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Cornerstone Fellowship...................50,314.75.......................9,953.00................ 5,653.00................5,024.23.......................0.00 Cornerstone Korean.............................. 469.40..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Dong Tam Baptist*............................. 1,182.90..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Emmanuel Korean.............................. 3,000.00.......................1,000.00................ 1,000.00................2,000.00................1,000.00 Enchanted Lake.................................. 2,442.00..............................0.00................... 670.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Ewa Beach ......................................... 3,549.07..........................359.00................... 145.00.....................22.00.....................97.00 Faith Baptist Church.................................. 0.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Fananua Fellowship................................ 80.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Fellowship.......................................... 3,271.02..............................0.00................... 802.00.......................0.00.......................0.00
Church/Mission
SMO—State Mission Offering CP
WH—World Hunger
LMCO AAEO SMO
WH
Fellowship Sunflower*.............................. 0.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Fellowship Waipahu*................................ 0.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Filipino-International.......................... 2,013.00..........................120.00................... 166.50...................120.00...................120.00 Global Revival Korean........................... 600.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Halawa Heights...................................... 581.21..........................620.00................... 505.00...................300.00.......................0.00 Haleiwa Filipino Mission*......................... 0.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Haleiwa, FBC...................................... 2,759.71............................50.00...................................................40.00...................115.00 Hawaii Bhansok *............................... 1,500.00..........................200.00................... 200.00...................100.00.......................0.00 Hawaii Chinese.................................14,763.08..........................678.00................... 764.00................1,662.00.......................0.00 Hawaii Chinese-English..................... 2,115.14..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Hawaii Christian Baptist Ch................ 4,800.00..........................180.00................... 180.00...................180.00.......................0.00 Hawaii Hope Mission BC...................... 200.00..........................100.00................... 100.00................2,227.00.......................0.00 Hawaii Kai.........................................68,539.57.......................4,212.97................ 4,230.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Hawaii Sinai Korea BC.......................... 300.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Honolulu Russian...................................... 0.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 International Fellowship...................11,224.25.......................2,037.50................ 1,220.00...................580.00.....................70.00 Kailua.................................................. 8,400.00..........................950.00................ 1,375.00...................900.00...................900.00 Kalihi.................................................. 9,037.67.......................2,970.00................ 1,586.85................1,427.00...................275.52 Kapolei...................................................... 0.00..............................0.00................... 493.50.......................0.00.......................0.00 Korean Waikiki.................................... 2,400.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Lao-Thai Ohana*....................................... 0.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Makaha Valley Chapel........................ 1,442.70..............................0.00....................... 1.00.......................0.00.....................10.00 Makakilo............................................. 2,402.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Mililani...........................................126,298.75.................... 15,664.50.............. 11,194.10................7,477.00...................325.00 Mililani Fil-Am...................................... 600.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Mililani Korean.......................................... 0.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Mountain View................................... 1,200.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Mt. Kaala............................................ 2,847.90..............................0.00................... 415.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Nanakuli, FBC....................................... 500.00..........................205.00....................... 0.00...................100.00.......................0.00 New Community Korean.................... 4,550.00.......................1,000.00................... 500.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 New Covenant.................................... 2,650.00.......................1,500.00................ 1,500.00................1,500.00.......................0.00 New Life Christian (Filipino)..................... 0.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00...................123.00 North Windward.................................... 900.00............................30.00..................... 81.00...................213.00.......................0.00 Nuuanu.............................................82,858.98.......................8,628.00................ 5,355.40................4,866.00................2,396.00 Ohana Korean ........................................... 0.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 OlaNui!.................................................. 300.00.................... 18,542.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Olive Baptist Church.............................. 186.00............................32.00....................... 0.00.....................35.00.....................35.00 Olivet..............................................105,464.94..........................400.00.............. 11,152.93................8,626.25................5,572.73 Olivet-Ilikai Mission*................................ 0.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Olivet-Japanese*..............................12,477.36..................................................... 1,252.00................1,400.00...................715.00 Pali View...........................................17,246.26.......................3,764.00................ 3,579.00................2,471.38...................600.00 Pali View Japanese................................ 581.90..............................0.00..................... 20.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Palisades..........................................30,081.89.......................2,447.00................ 1,785.00................1,995.50...................709.73 Pawa’a Community............................. 9,384.15..........................725.00................... 465.00...................268.00...................712.39 Pearl City, FBC.................................56,868.26..............................0.00................ 6,782.00................2,905.00.......................0.00 Pearl Harbor Korean........................... 2,100.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Pearl Harbor, FSBC............................ 7,748.78..............................0.00................ 1,000.00...................500.00...................683.00 Sa’Puk Chuukese Church................... 2,633.69..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 The Gathering..................................... 3,074.00.......................4,615.00................ 4,615.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 University Ave...................................54,035.62.......................8,075.40................... 794.10................1,279.10................1,053.40 Village Park........................................... 250.00..........................120.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Wahiawa, FBC..................................36,816.53.......................4,207.32................ 1,648.00................3,100.00................2,806.02 Waialae.............................................32,967.23..................................................... 3,209.00................2,472.62...................802.00 Waianae................................................. 800.00.......................5,178.04................ 1,300.00...................945.17.......................0.00 Waianae Chuukese*................................ 80.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Waikiki..............................................21,742.80.......................2,875.10................ 4,126.10................3,471.49.....................75.00 Waimanalo, FBC................................. 4,860.02..........................875.14................... 745.00..............................................1,425.00 Waipahu Community.......................... 2,234.00..........................225.00................... 225.00...................225.00...................225.00 Waipio Community............................ 6,560.17..........................702.88................... 290.00...................389.00...................205.00 West Oahu Community...................... 2,521.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00...................122.00 South Pacific Chinese FBC...................................... 1,000.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00...................200.00...................200.00 Emmanuel............................................. 300.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Fagalii, W. Samoa.................................. 220.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Falemauga................................................. 0.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Faleniu Baptist Mission......................... 200.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Happy Valley....................................... 2,685.00..........................150.00................... 250.00...................250.00...................185.00 Pago Pago, First Baptist........................ 300.00..........................153.66................... 200.00...................617.12.............................. Samoa Korean.................................... 1,200.00..........................260.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00...................191.00 Seafarer’s Christian Fellows.................... 50.00..........................200.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Tafuna........................................................ 0.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Guam, FBC................................................ 0.00..............................0.00................... 200.00...................182.00...................357.00 Other Hawaii Baptist Foundation......................... 0.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00................1,118.17.......................0.00 Kapaa.................................................. 3,744.51..........................840.00................... 500.00...................450.00...................510.00 Miscellaneous......................................... 20.00..............................0.00....................... 0.00.......................0.00.......................0.00 Oahu Christian Fellowship.................... 100.00..............................0.00.................................................275.00.......................0.00 TOTAL........................................1,202,697.08................ 253,532.69...........113,768.93............87,648.66.............29,650.34
HAWAII PACIFIC
FEBRUARY 2014
Children’s Ministry Day 2014
(Photo by Jeremy Doorten) Honolulu—What are your plans for Feb. 15? You could sit in front of the TV and entertain yourself all day. You could complain about the cold and watch for snow flurries. You could max out your credit card at the mall. Or you could join thousands of children in making a hands-on difference for Christ in their own communities. Some choices are easy. Mark your calendars now for the 7th annual Children’s Ministry Day. This year’s theme is “GenerationReach.” How can the girls and boys in your church lend a hand to others outside their own generation? Start brainstorming now! Lead your church to plan a hands-on Children’s Ministry Day project that involves children in direct ministry to unchurched community members. Use these ideas to get you started:
Minister to a single parent. Throw a baby shower for a crisis pregnancy center. n Provide college students with care packages. n Spend time with a preschooler who doesn’t have family close by. n Serve a meal to a senior adult. n Wash a teenager’s car before they head off to work. Keep the Children’s Ministry Day 2014 theme verse in mind as you prepare to serve: “Lord, I will sing about your great love forever. For all time to come, I will tell how faithful you are. I will tell everyone that your love stands firm forever. I will tell them that you are always faithful, even in heaven itself” (Psalm 89:1-2 NIrV). If you have comments or questions, please email children@wmu.org. We look forward to helping your children do hands-on ministry! n n
generation REACH CHILDRen’s MInIstRY DaY 2014
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR
February 15, 2014? Recovering from the Super Bowl? Digging out from a snowstorm? Planning for a spring break vacation with the family? All of those things could be possibilities for you and your children. But what about planning to do something that will have eternal significance for your children, your family, your church, and your community?
5
Martin
but get excited to know that the churches you have an opportunity to work with day in and day out are actuContinued from page 1 ally excited about each other and the ter in the state beginning in 2005. kingdom work that’s in front of them. While at Lahaina Baptist Church, “We realize there are a lot of chalMartin served as a volunteer police chap- lenges, but they don’t seem to be discourlain and a Southern Baptist Disaster aging. They seem to be building a creRelief volunteer. ativity to move forward and to work betHe also was chairman of a task force ter together, and those are very exciting for vision and direction for the Hawaii opportunities,” Martin said. convention and served as second vice In November, Hawaii became the 15th president and then first vice president. state to legalize gay marriage when the Martin has represented Hawaii on the governor signed into law a bill passed by Southern Baptist Convention’s Committhe state legislature. While the governtee on Committees and the Committee ment pushed gay marriage, Martin said on Nominations. he saw tremendous support for biblical “I’ve had a wonderful opportunity to marriage among Christians in Hawaii. work with so many of our churches and “It actually has brought a stronger have a great relationship with bond among our churches— our staff at the convention not just Southern Baptist “(Hawaii office,” Martin said. “I look forchurches but the body of Baptists) have ward to what God’s going to do Christ as a whole on the a deep concern islands,” Martin said of the through our convention and through Hawaii’s involvement to be connected fight against same-sex with the (SBC) as a whole. I’m marriage. and to work excited, and I appreciate the “I think this will be a solid together to opportunity.” foundation to move forward One of the unique ministry share Christ ... in the days ahead, for a lot of and see lives challenges for the Hawaii our churches to understand Pacific Baptist Convention is the transformed.” the dynamics that even vast geographical region it though we may be in a world encompasses, making air travel Christopher Martin that will constantly chalessential, time-consuming and lenge the ways of God, we can expensive. still be God’s people and still Travel time between Hawaii’s islands show incredible love and encourageis 30-40 minutes by air, Martin said, and ment,” Martin said. several hours between the convention “We saw a lot of love extended. We offices in Honolulu and the islands of heard leaders sharing openly that we American Samoa, Guam and Okinawa, should be blessing instead of blasting. I Japan, where some of the convention’s think that thought has really encourchurches are located. aged a lot,” Martin said. “Our churches Though the Hawaii convention is in Hawaii realize that there will be chalimplementing new kinds of technology lenges ahead, but at the same time we’re to help pastors and churches connect engaged in moving through whatever from their various locations, Martin said the challenges are in God’s way and we face-to-face ministry is a vital part of will do our best to maintain that knowtheir culture. ing that our witness to the world is very Henderson, who was the first pastor of clear through our actions that represent Lahaina Baptist Church and has been a Him.” mentor to Martin, became proficient at Martin was heartened by the number balancing the challenging travel duties of churches that took a stand for biblical while leading the convention, Martin marriage in Hawaii. said. “Some may look at it as discouraging “Even though geographically we’re or we were defeated, but we never look at separated and the differences even on it that way,” he said. “We just knew we some of our islands church-to-church are were going to stand not against anybody challenging, we have a deep concern to but for God, and we’ll maintain that be connected and to work together to position always with love and share Christ in our communities and see compassion. lives transformed,” Martin said of Hawaii “Even though the laws are going to Baptists. bring some challenges to our churches “There is a strong sense of ohana—the in the days ahead, I think we’re ready to Hawaiian term for family—here. We stand and handle things in a way that is really love each other, care about each honorable and pleasing to God and will other and want to invest in each other’s speak great testimony to the world ministries,” Martin said. “You can’t help around us,” Martin said. (BP)
Mark your calendar now for the seventh annual Children’s Ministry DayTM. This year’s theme is GenerationReach. Boys and girls across North America will be reaching out to all generations with the love of Jesus! Start brainstorming now: Lead your church to plan a Children’s Ministry Day project that will encourage your children to participate in hands-on ministry in your church, community, association, or across the state!
“LORD, I will sing about your great love forever. For all time to come, I will tell how faithful you are. I will tell everyone that your love stands firm forever. I will tell them that you are always faithful, even in heaven itself.” (Psalm 89:1–2 NIrV)
Christopher Martin (left) has been selected as the new executive director of the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention. Martin is pictured with Denver Copeland, who is serving as HPBC president.
6
HAWAII PACIFIC
FEBRUARY 2014
HAWAII PACIFIC
FEBRUARY 2014
Promoting AAEO Week of Prayer By Faith McFatridge
There are many ways your church can promote the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. Below are several ideas to get you started. More information and ideas can be found at anniearmstrong.com. 1) Make a map of the U.S. (don’t forget to include Hawaii) and highlight a state whenever an amount is reached. If your goal is $1,000, for every $200 raised, fill in or add a state to your map. In this age of digital media, create a PowerPoint with the map and highlight the states as you reach your goal. 2) Invite a missionary to come and speak at your church or show videos of the featured missionaries provided by the North American Mission Board. 3) Create a PowerPoint or video marking your church goal with a thermometer. Show as the offering is collected. 4) Create a visual cues that signify progression toward the goal. For example, display a lei with each flower representing an amount. 5) Challenge Sunday School departments collect the offering in their classrooms and see who raises the most funds. 6) Involve children by providing them with containers in which to place their offerings. Let them decorate the boxes while they learn about the missionaries. 7) Use the Week of Prayer guide and email your members the daily prayer requests. Whatever you do to promote the Annie Armstrong Offering for North American Missions, know that all the
offering goes toward helping people spread the good news of Jesus Christ all across this country.
In Hawaii, your NAMB missionaries are: Ken and Shirley Brooks (Oahu Baptist Network), David and Nancy Whitehead (Big Island Baptist Association), Jared and Carlye Lawrence (Oahu Baptist Network, International Ministries), Meredith Brunson (OBN/International Ministries), Tram Nguyen (OBN/International Ministries), Sungho and Monica Kang (HPBC), Faith and Richard McFatridge (HPBC), Michael and Tina Abagon (HPBC), Sean and Teresa Latrhop (HPBC), Darrell and Teresa McCain (MSC/HPBC), Jim and Nancy Worth (MSC/OBN), Arjay and Tara Gruspe (MSC/HPBC), and Darla Richardson (MSC/Waianae Ministries). For more information, contact Faith McFatridge at (808) 356-8326, email at faith@hpbaptist.net.
Hawaii AAEO Goal $150,000
Continued from page 1
attending seminary and the realization that I had to embrace the call of a pastor to be obedient to my Lord.” Perhaps still testing the waters lightly, Coats moved his family to Homestead and intended to start slow with his first church plant. He planned a small Bible study. “We began with a group of 14 at the first Bible study preview,” said Coats. “They all asked a question I wasn’t prepared to answer. ‘What are you going to do now?’” Coats did the only thing he could think of and began looking for meeting space. In December 2009, he located a movie theater that allowed him to rent space for the Bible study. The Bible study launch was set for New Year’s Eve. “Forty people showed up for the Bible study,” said Coats. “The next week more came and everyone wanted to have a worship service. That year we baptized 30 people. In 2011 we baptized 33. I backed into church planting.” All the while Coats remained involved in Southern Baptist life. He is one of six missionaries featured this year by the North American Mission Board (NAMB) as part of its 2014 Annie Armstrong Easter Offering® promotion. Miami, where Coats serves, is one of 32 Send North America cities NAMB is bringing special emphasis and resources to in its effort to help Southern Baptists start 15,000 new churches in 10 years. Half of NAMB’s financial support comes from the Annie offering.
Who is ... ANNIE WALKER ARMSTRONG ? “The future lies all before us. Shall it only be a slight advance upon what we usually do? Ought it not to be a bound, a leap forward, to altitudes of endeavor and success undreamed of before?” —Annie Armstrong A passionate advocate for missionaries and their work, Annie Armstrong is one of Southern Baptists’ heroes. She championed missions involvement, and she gave personally and sacrificially of her time and talents to see the gospel go forward throughout the world. As founder of Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU), Annie’s firm conviction that more could be and should be done toward Southern Baptist missions endeavors has created a rich legacy of people who have been awakened and have responded to the call of the gospel and the missions mandate to take it throughout the world. Were she alive today, she would be encouraging fervent prayer, generous giving and passionate engagement to share the good news of Jesus Christ.
AnnieArmstrong.com aaeo@namb.net 800-749-7479, option 3
Coats
NAMB missionary Patrick Coats (second from left) leads a prayer following a beach baptism service with members of Kingdom Covenant Baptist Church, the church he planted in Homestead, Fla. (Ted Wilcox/NAMB)
Kingdom Covenant Baptist Church was the result of Coats’ accidental planting. He says the church is kingdom focused, connecting people with the Gospel. “God is up to something. You don’t have to over think it. Just do it,” said Coats. With connections through working on the Florida Baptist Convention’s church planting team and through the North American Mission Board’s church planting network, Coats continues to sharpen his planting skills. Kingdom Covenant is establishing city groups to create a culture of discipleship, and it is working in practical ways. “Last year we met a woman raised as a
7
Jehovah’s Witness,” said Coats. “She came to the services as a seeker. She sought me out after a service for clarification about what she heard. She eventually gave her life to Christ and is now a Bible study leader. She had the knowledge; she just needed to meet the author. “If you go to a city, you go as a missionary. The church grows out of your missional living. It’s not about making the right moves or reading the right books. It’s disciple making and obedience.” Coats points to the example of his son’s football team as evidence of effective missional living. His son, Patrick II, plays quarterback for South Miami Senior High School. As
an involved parent, Coats got to know the team’s head coach. At a team meal for the families the coach asked Coats to give a blessing. “From that I was able to share the gospel and three players have given their lives to Christ and been baptized since,” said Coats. “That’s how church happens, in living. It’s Acts 2:42.” Living in church also led to an important introduction for Coats. He met his future wife in youth group. “Archalena and I met in youth group in my grandfather’s church,” said Coats. “She was big into WMU. She was an Acteen queen regent. She would not even give me the time of day when we met. Eventually she allowed me to be her escort.” In addition to son Patrick, the couple also has two daughters, Joy and Faith. Being named an Annie Armstrong Week of Prayer Missionary was humbling to Coats. He has long known of the significance of the offering for North American Missions. “The Annie Armstrong offering is super important,” said Coats. “We’ve benefited from training, resources and partnering churches who’ve come down and labored with us in the field. The best encouragement for a church planter is knowing he’s not alone. Through the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, other SBC churches are made aware of church planting and they come alongside the plant to help in a big way.” (BP) To learn more about Patrick Coats and the ministry of Kingdom Covenant Baptist Church, including a video, visit www.anniearmstrong.com. To find your place in God’s mission, begin with www.namb.net/mobilize-me.
8
HAWAII PACIFIC
FEBRUARY 2014
‘God’s plan’
leads Texas family to mountains of Peru By Emily Pearson
Peru—Brian and Jennifer Pennington knew God was calling them to be missionaries—and that was pretty much the extent of their plan. So when the couple from Fort Worth, Texas, and their two young sons arrived at International Mission Board’s candidate conference for new missionaries, they didn’t have much to go on. “We were in Richmond, and everyone there already had their assignment before they got there,” Brian recalled. “We were the only ones there who didn’t know where we were going. Everybody’s researching their people groups, and we’re still trying to figure out, ‘OK, God, where do you want us to work?’” Brian first felt called to full-time missions in Peru while on a short-term missions trip in the Peruvian jungle, so he felt sure he would be heading back there. “Our starting point was Peru,” he said. “All I had ever been to was the jungle. But when we found out more about the position, it just wasn’t a good fit for our family. So we looked at the positions that were left.” The only other position available in Peru was a church-planting position in the Andes Mountains. “We weren’t thinking mountains,” Brian said. “But God showed us Isaiah 52:7, which says, ‘How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news.’” With a long-term plan in place, the Penningtons moved to San Jose, Costa
IMB missionary Brian Pennington (left) and his son talk with village residents in Chavin de Huantar, Peru, where the family has lived for the past three and a half years. (Rebecca Springer/IMB)
Rica, for a year of language training. But the curveballs didn’t stop. “We thought we were going to Huaraz, a city of 50,000,” Brian said. “And we’re from a city.... We thought, ‘Well, we can do 50,000 people. That’s still city-ish.’” Just one week before moving from Costa Rica to Peru, the Penningtons were surprised again. Their future supervisor, who had originally written the job request, lived in Huaraz. But the Penningtons would actually be working three hours outside the city in a rural town of less than 3,000. They also were told they would be changing supervisors. Although nothing seemed to be going according to plan, the Penningtons still
Ancient cities & adventure A day in the life of MKs
IMB missionary Brian Pennington (right) spends time with his sons, Trevor (left) and Jordan (center), at a favorite lake in the Andes Mountains along the road to Chavin de Huantar, Peru. (Rebecca Springer/IMB) By Elaine Gaston
Chavin De Huantar, Peru—The Peruvian town that Jordan, 14, and Trevor, 11, moved to in 2009 with their missionary parents, Brian and Jennifer Pennington, is the site of the Chavín culture, which roughly dates the age of David and Goliath. The temple ruins at Chavín de Huántar, within walking distance where the Penningtons have lived, draws international tourists who make day trips to the site by taking a bus over the mountains from the capital of the Ancash region. Jordan and Trevor, however, wander through the archaeological site’s tunnels with familiarity, using their iPod flashlights to explore all the nooks and crannies. “We’ve already seen it like 20 times,” Jordan said. It’s the standard “tour” his family does when visitors or missions teams pass through town.
felt confident in their call. Not knowing what to expect, they switched gears and moved to the tiny mountain town of Chavin de Huantar. They were ready to be Christ’s heart, hands and voice to the people of the Peruvian Andes. Two weeks after arriving in Chavin, they met Patricia de Loarte, a Chavin native who had been living in the Peruvian capital of Lima. Patricia, a Baptist believer, had recently moved back to Chavin and had been looking for a church. “It was an answer to prayer for us because here was someone that God had placed in our path who said, ‘Come to my house. I want to start a Bible study
Does the proximity of so much history make history their favorite subject? Not necessarily. The boys, both homeschooled, agree science is their favorite subject. Jordan said grammar is his least favorite subject. After school, the boys often head outside to play pickup basketball games with their dad and neighborhood boys in a nearby schoolyard. Basketball is a fun way for their family to connect with boys in their town. Another activity that tops Jordan and Trevor’s list is skateboarding. They can’t skateboard well in their town’s rough streets, but they occasionally take their boards to a local park. When their family makes a trip to Peru’s capital, Lima, they like to tote their skateboards along with them to ride in the city’s skateboard park that overlooks the Pacific Ocean. They often meet other boys while they’re skateboarding there as well. There are obvious differences between living in the mountains of Peru and their hometown of Fort Worth, Texas. “No Mexican food” in Peru is one of them, the boys said. The fast-paced lifestyle in the United States is another. “It’s more chill over where we live than in the States, where it’s all superfast and stressful,” Jordan said. However, the boys love both places. And they enjoy getting to see extended family when they visit Texas. Jordan said sometimes children he meets when he visits the U.S. imagine his life in Peru a lot differently than it really is. “A lot of people think Peru is like deep jungle,” Jordan said, “so when you tell them you were watching TV, they say, ‘Whoa, you have TVs there?’” One constant of the missionary life is change. Late last year, the Penningtons learned that they would be taking over a different assignment. That change meant they’d need to move from their mountain town to Lima. Life in a megacity like Lima will be different. The boys said they will miss the basketball games with neighborhood boys and hiking in the mountains, but it will mean more skateboarding. (IMB)
group,’” said Jennifer. With Patricia’s help, the Penningtons began a small Bible study where Peruvian believers study Scripture and learn to share the gospel with others. As the group grew, Brian began teaching oral Bible storying as a way of sharing the gospel with those who could not read. Many Peruvians living in rural areas outside Chavin only speak Quechua—a difficult, indigenous language. Teaching bilingual believers in Chavin to tell Bible stories helps spread the gospel to other Peruvian villages where Quechua would be a major obstacle for most North American missionaries. Patricia, a passionate evangelist and promoter of Bible storying, has also invited members of her former church in Lima to make missions trips to villages around Chavin. She encourages them to use storying as a primary method of evangelism. “My prayer request is to reach the whole community,” she said. “I offer this community to the Lord, so that we can see souls come to the Lord and know the Word, and meet with us.” “I think she realizes storying is a way she can tell others (about Jesus),” Jennifer said. “She sees this can be beneficial to so many people.” Despite the initial challenges and uncertainties, the couple believes moving to Chavin and meeting Patricia was part of God’s larger plan for reaching the lost in the Peruvian mountains. “In the end, we definitely could see that it was God’s plan all along,” Jennifer said of their ministry in Chavin. “Maybe we wouldn’t have picked that job request if we had known it was a city of only 3,000 people. But that was the way that God got us there.” “Nothing actually turned out like it was supposed to be,” Brian said, “but we’ve always taken comfort in the fact that God knew the whole time how it was going to be. It wasn’t a surprise to Him, and we learned to trust Him.” Recently, God surprised the Penningtons once again. The family have acceped a new missions assignment to help with training, logistical support and strategy in an effort to plant churches in more than 100 communities across Peru. (IMB)
HAWAII PACIFIC
FEBRUARY 2014
9
Commonly used bad ‘facts’ re bad istians a
Chr
tippers.
There are more cats in the U.S. than evangelicals. Young people are abandon ing the churc
h.
Nashville, Tenn.—Sometimes a preacher or conference speaker gets things wrong. Maybe not in theology, but in facts. Like this one, which came halfway through one preacher’s sermon on marriage recently: There’s no difference between people sitting in these pews and everyone else when it comes to divorce, the preacher told the congregation. It made a great sermon illustration. Only it’s not true, said Bradley Wright, a sociologist at the University of Connecticut and author of “Christians Are HateFilled Hypocrites ... and Other Lies You’ve Been Told.”
Wright, who has been writing about faith and divorce rates since 2006, looked at statistics from the General Social Survey, a national random survey of Americans taken since the 1970s. Half of the “Nones”—people who claim no religious identity—were divorced. Only 42 percent of self-identified Christians—and members of other faiths—were divorced. Catholics (35 percent) were least likely to divorce, followed by mainline Protestants (41 percent) and evangelicals (46 percent), Wright reported. Believers who show up to church every week were even less likely to divorce. Wright found that only about a third of evangelicals (34 percent) and mainline Protestants (32 percent) and a quarter of Catholics (23 percent) who go to church are divorced. Still, the myth that churchgoers divorce at the same rate as everyone else persists. Wright thinks people pay more
Are Christians really bad tippers? Marriage isn’t the only subject where perceptions about Christians don’t match the statistics. It’s also the case with tips believers leave servers at restaurants. Earlier this year, Alois Bell of the World Deliverance Ministries Church in Granite City, Ill, and a group of friends went to Applebees. Their server, Chelsea Welch, added an automatic tip to the bills in keeping with company policy. Bell was not pleased. “I give God 10 percent,” she wrote on the bill. “Why do you get 18?” Welch posted the check on Facebook and it went viral. She eventually was fired, while Bell apologized (indicating she’d left a cash tip) after her note made headlines. Turns out Welch isn’t the only server to have a bad run-in with church folks. Karen Swallow Prior, an English professor at Liberty University, worked her way through college as a waitress. Christians were notorious for being bad tippers, she wrote in a piece for Christianity Today’s website. “Knowing there would be little, if any, tip left at the end of their meal, the servers saw the Christians’ robust attempts at ‘friendliness’ instead as pushy and arrogant,” Prior said. But a study from Michael Lynn of Cornell University and Benjamin Katz of HCD Research, showed that, overall, Christians are pretty good tippers. Their online survey of 1,068 Americans found that the average Christian tipped 17 percent for good service. Only 13 percent of Christians left a smaller tip for good service. There are a lot Christians out there— and since people tend to remember bad news, a few bad tippers give all the other Christians a bad name.
The sky is falling phenomenon Statistics about the future of the church also give pastors and other church leaders a hard time. Like this one: “94 percent of Christian young people leave the church never to return,” which was used to promote a major Christian conference several years ago. It’s partly true—many young people do tend to drop out of church. A 2009 LifeWay Research study of 1,000 young Protestants found that seven of 10 stopped attending church for a time after high school. A few more details: The students surveyed had all attended church for at least a year in high school. Most dropped out because of a life change—such as going to college—and just over a third had come back to church by age 30. The idea of anyone dropping out of church is a concern, but there’s no sign that the vast majority of young people are forsaking the church. Left-handed people, Texans & cats Another bad statistics was used by a megachurch pastor to promote a Christian conference: “There are more lefthanded people, more Texans, and more pet cats than evangelicals in America.” Actually, one-third of the claim is true. There are more cats (and dogs) than evangelicals in the U.S. But not Texans or southpaws. While there are about 95 million cats in the U.S., according to the Humane Society, there are between 50 million (Religious Congregations & Membership Study, 2010) and 75 million evangelicals (Pew Research). That’s more than the estimated number of southpaws—between 30 and 45 million Americans—and Texans (26.6 million, according to the U.S. Census). Bad statistics persist because they work—at least in the short term: They can help sell books and tickets to conferences, make good sermon illustrations and get people in church fired up. The problem, said Ed Stetzer, president of LifeWay Research, is that bad statistics don’t You might solve real ck problems. need to che It’s difficult to your facts. solve a problem when you don’t understand it, Stetzer said. Too many bad statistics can also undermine a leader’s credibility. Get too many facts wrong, and it’s harder for people to trust. Setting the record straight Stetzer said Christians should view all statistics with healthy skepticism. That’s especially true if a statistic is found in an advertisement. Ads, Stetzer
said, are used to sell things. They’re not particularly concerned with getting the facts right. Also, be wary of any statistic that can’t be verified. “Ask, how do you know that?” Stezter said. “If you can’t think of a way to verify a statistic, it’s probably not true.” Stetzer also said to beware of stats that don’t match reality, noting, “It’s OK to apply your own censor, to say this doesn’t make sense.” It’s important to realize all research is imperfect and context matters. Researchers don’t have unlimited resources. They can’t interview or poll everyone. Instead, they interview a representative sample of people, asking a few questions. So go to the source. Find out who did the research, how many people they interviewed and what specific questions were asked, before assuming the research is valid. For example, a poll from professional researchers using a large sample will likely be more reliable than an informal poll taken by a professor of the students in class. Finally, look at more than one study. “To understand the whole picture, responsible researchers look at various studies, their methodologies, and their results,” Stetzer wrote in a 2010 story about bad statistics for Christianity Today. “We reach bad conclusions when we latch onto one finding of one study, drag it out of context, and proclaim it from the rooftops without knowing whether our interpretation is justified.” Facts are our friends, as Stetzer often says. Just make sure the facts are true. (BP)
Illustrations by Rafael Marchesini
By Bob Smietana
attention to bad news than to good news. Mark Regnerus, a sociologist at the University of Texas in Austin, said a “confirmation bias” might be at work. In other words, people like statistics that reinforce their beliefs. If people are fearful that marriages are in trouble, he said, they’ll tend to believe statistics that confirm those fears, even if those statistics aren’t exactly right. Regnerus said using bad statistics about marriage can be appealing because bad news can motivate people to action. But it can also undermine the credibility of a pastor’s message. “Bad news can be galvanizing. But we trust our pastors to tell us the truth,” Regnerus said.
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HAWAII PACIFIC
FEBRUARY 2014
Singing faith By Ken Camp
Last summer’s controversy over removal of the contemporary hymn “In Christ Alone” from a new Presbyterian hymnal because of doctrinal differences illustrates the importance of church music not only to celebrate, but also to inculcate a faith tradition, said a Baptist music professor. “I rejoice in the controversy,” Terry York, professor of Christian ministry and church music at Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary, said of the dustup over a line in the song that says “as Jesus died the wrath of God was satisfied” that divided the hymnal committee over theology. York, who has published more than 40 hymns and served as project coordinator for the 1991 edition of “The Baptist Hymnal,” said the debate is evidence of increased interest in theology in worship songs. “We’ve gone through a time when if it rhymed and said ‘Jesus,’ that was enough,” York said. “We’re finally back to giving attention to what we are saying,” York said. Todd Wilson, pastor of worship and music at First Baptist Church in Abilene, Texas, also welcomes the serious examination of hymn texts. “What we sing shapes our theology, and a careful reading of the text of any worship song is necessary for inclusion in the publication of a denominational hymnal or a weekly service of worship,” he said. Wilson said church music should always
Hymns both praise and teach
reflect the congregation’s theology, but it also serves a teaching function and that places a heavy responsibility on worship leaders to examine songs they select. York said well-rounded worship demands consideration of both biblical truth and the full range of human experience. “I don’t know if there are any biblical concepts that are not ‘singable,’ but there are some that we don’t like to sing,” York said. “We don’t like laments. We don’t want to sing slow and sad in a minor key.” York said the tendency to focus only on celebration, so guests will see the church as “a happy place” and the people of God as perpetually joyful, is a concept foreign to the psalms in the Bible. “Shortcuts to evangelism and church growth have stolen 11 o’clock on Sunday morning,” York said. “It’s fun to sing praise and testimony of how God is at work in our lives. We also need to sing laments, or the cork will pop somewhere.” John Jackson, minister of music at First Baptist Church in Farmington, Mo., said compared to “the incessant debate over what style of music should and should not be sung in the church,” the theology expressed in worship songs has received too little attention.
Why the great texts endure By Ken Camp
Musical tastes and worship styles come and go, but some hymns of the church endure for centuries. Worship leaders say hymns that cross denominational lines and span generations are those that people can embrace as a shared experience, both corporately and as individuals. Shared identity “Essentially, they are hymns that give us a sense of a shared identity that is sustainable across many eras and cultures,” said John Jackson, minister of music at First Baptist Church of Farmington, Mo. “Many times they are passed down from generation to generation within families, churches and denominations through various means as a result of this shared identity.” Biblically accurate Bob Brooks, dean of the graduate school of ministry at Dallas Baptist University, said enduring songs of worship “are biblically accurate, theologically sound, musically well-written and ‘singable’ by the people of God.” Many people view “Amazing Grace” as the quintessential enduring hymn. Brooks noted it appeared in “Olney Hymns” in 1779, but it wasn’t paired
with the New Britain tune—with which it is known now—until 1844. Even today, classic hymn text set to newer tunes is well received, Brooks said. Wedding word and music Terry York, professor of Christian ministry and church music at Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary, said what matters most is a good marriage of melody and lyrics. “In a good marriage, the tune does not fight the text, but underscores and maybe enhances it,” said York, who has written more than 40 published hymns. “New musical settings must match the mood and the meter of the text—one is not enough.” While the timeless character of some hymns never should be discounted, worship leaders should also recognize the importance of songs that speak meaningfully to a particular time and place, York added. “It’s OK that some songs don’t endure,” he said. “Some are long-lasting, and there are some that are for the moment, and that’s all right.” “Songs of worship that endure are both timely and timeless,” York said. “Their timeliness never goes away, and they become timeless. Some are timely, period. There are none that are timeless without first being timely.” (ABP)
“Churches, pastors and church musicians owe it to themselves, their congregations and the lost communities they seek to reach to offer songs that contain sound doctrine and use those songs in contexts that reflect and complement the truth of the gospel,” Jackson said. Bob Brooks, dean of the graduate school of ministry and director of the master of arts in worship leadership program at Dallas Baptist University, said each congregation “has its own musical vocabulary” to inform of its approach to worship. Cowboy churches, for example, may use classic hymns or gospel songs presented in a countrywestern style, Brooks said, while young congregations may have contemporary Christian music. “We should celebrate the great diversity of the people of God,” Brooks said. “It doesn’t have to be the same for everyone.” Wilson said worship leaders need to take responsibility for studying the lyrics of hymns before selecting them for congregational singing. “Sometimes, we have found that word choice in a text might leave the truth open for interpretation that is distant from the original meaning,” he said. “The context out of which the text appears will often shape word choice that could lead to misrepresentation of the original intent.” “I have often researched the writing of various songs of worship and have found a greater depth of meaning, out of that context, that has heightened the rich truth found in the lyrics,” Wilson said. (ABP)
Top 25 HYMNS 1. How Great Thou Art 2. Great Is Thy Faithfulness 3. Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine 4. All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name 5. Holy, Holy, Holy 6. Jesus Paid It All 7. Christ the Lord Is Risen Today 8. Crown Him with Many Crowns 9. It Is Well with My Soul 10. To God Be the Glory 11. The Solid Rock 12. Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing 13. I Stand Amazed in the Presence 14. Victory in Jesus 15. Nothing but the Blood 16. Amazing Grace! How Sweet the Sound 17. Praise to the Lord, the Almighty 18. At the Cross 19. Revive Us Again 20. Be Thou My Vision 21. Because He Lives 22. Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee 23. A Mighty Fortress Is Our God 24. O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing 25. America, the Beautiful This list was created by LifeWay after combining the sales from a traditional arrangement and a contemporary arrangement of each hymn from 2008-2012.
HAWAII PACIFIC
FEBRUARY 2014
11
b e r ry y a M
m o r f s n o s s e l Life
AT LEFT: Actors Andy
Griffith and Ron Howard of The Andy Griffith Show are shown in a 1961 publicity photograph. RIGHT: In one episode, Andy returns from a trip to find that Barney has managed to put all of Mayberry’s citizens behind bars in the town jail. (CBS)
By Rick Houston
Ridgecrest, N.C.—They came by car and church vans, by themselves and in groups, and they were headed to a place where all the world’s problems could be solved in 25 minutes. One man drove the 700 miles or so from Pascagoula, Miss., alone. A mother and daughter, both recently widowed, were there. Another woman was just a month removed from the death of her husband. In the past, an attendee has celebrated the end of her chemo treatments by heading to the conference. All these years later, a fictional North Carolina town and its beloved inhabitants still have that kind of allure.
‘Live a better life’ More than 500 people from 18 different states attended the sold-out “Life Lessons from Mayberry: It’s All There in Black & White” conference at LifeWay Christian Resources’ Ridgecrest Conference Center. The event showcases Bible studies that are structured around episodes of the classic 1960s sitcom “The Andy Griffith Show.” Attendance has doubled in the three years it has been held at Ridgecrest. “God has provided this means for us because the show has such practical lessons,” said Debbie Whisenant, the event’s creator and producer. “It’s not a lot of deep theology, but it’s how to treat your fellow man. It’s how to treat people right. I think what most people need is just inspiration to live a better life based on biblical principles.” This year’s conference featured Karen Knotts, daughter of Don Knotts who played Barney, the show’s bumbling but well-meaning deputy and perhaps its most beloved character; LeRoy McNees, who appeared on two first-season episodes; and tribute artist Allen Newsome. Breakout sessions covered some of the most popular episodes in the show’s eight-year run, including “Man in a Hurry,” “A Feud is a Feud,” “Rafe Hollister Sings,” “Barney Fife, Realtor,” “The Haunted House,” “Bailey’s Bad Boy,” “Opie’s Newspaper,” “Aunt Bee’s Medicine Man” and “A Date for Gomer.”
None of the episodes have an overtly Christian message, but each has themes that are directly connected to Scripture—restlessness, pride, gossip, strife, deception, arrogance and vanity. “I do know that Andy Griffith was quoted as saying that he insisted on there being a moral in every episode, something that we could learn from it,” Whisenant said. “I just really feel like God must have had His hands on some of those writers and their scripts, even though some or maybe all of them weren’t Christians.” Fann a trend starter The show-flavored Bible studies didn’t start with Life Lessons from
ABOVE: Actors Andy Griffith, as Sheriff
Andy Taylor, and Sterling Holloway (right), making a guest appearance as Burt Miller, are seen in the 1962 episode “The Merchant of Mayberry” on The Andy Griffith Show. Holloway played a new Mayberry merchant who has trouble getting his business off the ground. AT RIGHT: Don Knotts, as Barney Fife, and Jim Nabors, as Gomer Pyle, are seen in this 1964 publicity photo. (CBS).
Mayberry. Joey Fann, author of “The Way Back to Mayberry: Lessons From a Simpler Time” (B&H Books 2001), is widely credited with starting the trend in Huntsville, Ala., in the late 1990s. Since then, hundreds of churches have dug into the Bible, looking to Andy, Barney, Opie, Aunt Bee and the rest of the Mayberry gang for inspiration. That’s actually how Life Lessons from Mayberry got its start. Whisenant, who works as an advertising writer and project manager for LifeWay, has taught semester-long studies at her Nashvillearea church for more than a decade. She mentioned the idea to one of her managers. One thing led to another, and the Life
Lessons from Mayberry conference was born. In the fall of 2011, 240 people attended. Last year, 260 showed up. This time around, the Sept. 24-26 conference exploded in popularity through a few ads here and there, word of mouth and Whisenant’s efforts on social media. “I don’t attribute it to anything other than God just saying, ‘Go for it,’” Whisenant said. The show has definitely become a part of Whisenant’s life. She has a picture of herself taken at around age 13 with George Lindsey, the actor who portrayed the lovable Goober Pyle on both The Andy Griffith Show and its spinoff “Mayberry RFD.” A Mayberry trivia contest was a part of her bridal shower. She and husband John also have an adult son named Andy. Filmed and originally aired during the turbulence of the 1960s, the wholesome simplicity of the show resonates with viewers in reruns and on DVD more than 50 years after its debut. “It just takes you away from the culture that we live in now for a few minutes,” Whisenant concluded. “The characters are so lovable. They have their own foibles. They’re not perfect. Barney and Gomer are so childlike. It’s like the comfort food of television for me. It’s just such a comforting place to go.” Dates for next year’s event are Sept. 21-24. Register at lifeway.com/ mayberry. (BP)
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HAWAII PACIFIC
AROUND THESE ISLANDS
Welcome to Olivet Baptist Church
Hannah Tomita (center) began serving as minister of youth and worship coordinator at Olivet Baptist Church on Jan. 1. She is a recent graduate of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary and is the daughter of Daniel Tomita, pastor of Kinoole Baptist Church, and his wife, Karen. Tomita is photographed with Olivet Minister of Education and Outreach Jason Hew (left) and pastor Tim Morita.
Korean Baptists and world missions
OnMission Celebration of World Korean Baptists will be held April 21 - 24 at the Queen Kapiolani Hotel for missionaries, pastors, seminary students and lay leaders who want to partner for world missions. This celebration is for the unity of Korean Baptists, a restoration of Korean missionaries and will review of the current
hpbc calendar HPBC sponsored events in bold FEBRUARY 1-28 “True Love Waits” Emphasis Month 7-8 WMU Annual Meeting, Pagoda Hotel 9 Racial Reconciliation Sunday 10-16 Focus on WMU 15 Chaplains & Church Planters Family Picnic 15 Children’s Ministry Day 17 President’s Day 21-23 The Gathering, Puu Kahea 23 Connect, Oahu MARCH 1 Disaster Relief Training, Oahu 2-8 Youth Week 2-9 Week of Prayer & Mission Sunday Annie Armstrong 16 Substance Abuse Prevention Sunday 16 Church Planting Emphasis Sunday 20-22 Children’s Missions Adv. Camp, Puu Kahea 26 Prince Kuhio Day APRIL 5 Disaster Relief Training, Maui 5 VBS Training, Oahu 6 SBC Seminaries Sunday 10-12 Wives in Ministry Retreat 11-12 HBEEA Leadership Conference 12 Disaster Relief Training, Big Island 13 Cooperative Program Sunday 13-18 Baptist Doctrine Sunday 18 Good Friday 20 Life Commitment Sunday 26 Disaster Relief Training, Kauai 28-30 Church Planting Training
OnMission status and future strategy, the search and mobilization of the next generation missionary, as well as the revival and revitalization of the local Korean Baptist churches in Honolulu. Cost is $200 for Hawaii residents. To register, contact Jong Ho Aum, the executive officer of the Korean SBC of North America, at cksbcaum@hotmail.com.
Worship leader needed Cornerstone Fellowship Mililani is looking for a new team member to serve in the position of worship pastor at the church. Cornerstone has grown to more than 200 regular members and attendees each week and currently holds three
services—two of which are contemporary. The church expects continued rapid growth and is looking for someone to help take them to the next level. Cornerstone is looking for a passionate, motivated worship leader to work with their worship team. If you are re a natural born leader with music experience and would love to be a part of a dynamic, innovative team that is shaping the future and impacting lives in a growing church in the middle of Oahu, then this position might be for you. Contact Vicky Kawamae by email at: vkawamae.cfmm@ hawaiiantel.net for more details. For more information about the church, visit cornerstonemililani.com.
prayer calendar February 1 Helen Taura - Retired, Oahu 2 Betty Russell - Retired, Okinawa 3 David Whitehead - Assoc., Big Island 7 Jerrell Tate - Abundant Life, Oahu 8 Sunny Chung - Chaplaincy, Oahu 10 Vailua Simi - Fagalii, Samoa 12 Jay Armstrong - Kihei, Maui 12 Amy Kaneshiro - Valley Isle, Maui 14 Todd Morikawa - Kailua, Oahu 14 Danielle Reagan - Waipahu, Oahu 14 Emiko Takaki - FBC Haleiwa, Oahu 15 Vhee Bosi - Lighthouse, Guam 15 Tim Morita - Olivet, Oahu 16 Jon Elliff - Makakilo, Oahu 16 Chris Metcalf - Lihue, Kauai 17 Somporn Kool - Laotian, Oahu 21 Joo Huyn Son Lee - Olive, Oahu 23 David Park - New Community, Oahu 23 Masue Uejo - Retired, Big Island 24 Joanne Moses - Chaplaincy, Oahu 27 Yun Seok Jeong - Global Revival, Oahu 27 Andrew Tong - Hawaii Chinese, Oahu 27 Diana Ventura - Waikiki, Oahu March 1 Cristy Hasha - University Avenue, Oahu 2 Song Ja Choi - Hawaii Bhansok, Oahu 3 Sue Wagner - Hawaii Bhansok, Oahu
3 Stephanie Williams - Ch Planting, Oahu 5 Joan Matsukawa - Retired, Oahu 5 Casey Oh - Retired, Oahu 7 Arjay Gruspe - Pawa’a Community, Oahu 9 Deanna Aoki - Retired, Oahu 10 Meredith Brunson - Intl Min., Oahu 10 Katherine Sanbei - Retired, Big Island 11 John Reimer, Koza BC - Okinawa, Japan 12 Kisha Cabatingan - Valley Isle, Maui 12 Janice Richey - Waikoloa, Big Island 13 Tram Nguyen - Intl Min., Oahu 14 Al Chong - Retired, Oahu 14 Gay Sprankle - Waimanalo, Oahu 14 Alan Tamashiro - Puna, Big Island 17 Betty Petherbridge - Retired, Oahu 19 Emily Hew - Olivet, Oahu 19 Jared Lawrence - Intl Fellowship, Oahu 20 Dick Bento - HBA, Oahu 21 Ralph Honjo - Retired, Oahu 21 Yoo Ho Kim - Guam FBC, Guam 23 Tupe Sovea - Pago Pago, Am. Samoa 24 Song Sakai - Waiakea Uka, Big Island 26 De Ann Gray - FBC Wahiawa, Oahu 27 Lydia Gomintong - Hawaii Chr, Oahu 28 Shane Sowers - Central, Oahu 29 Cindy Gaskins - University Ave., Oahu
FEBRUARY 2014
Thanks for 35 years at Mililani
Ellen Moss retired as the secretary of Mililani Baptist Church after serving 35 years. She was honored in December with a koa box and a monetary gift from the church by pastor Alan Krober. Moss served under five pastors: W. “Dub” Efurd, Eugene Phillips, Emerson Wiles, Derrick Norris and Alan Krober.
Senior pastor needed
Lana’i Baptist Church is once again requesting applications for its senior pastor position. Two prerequisites for the position are: (1) Applicant attended seminary, and (2) Applicant has at least five years of experience as a senior pastor. Also, the church is searching for an interim pastor while they search for a full-time, permanent pastor.
Applicants may contact the church via email at abby. alonzo@gmail.com, or by calling (808) 563-0691.
Gillchrest called by Kapaa Baptist Church
Kapaa Baptist Church, on Kauai, has called the Bob Gillchrest to serve as transitional pastor. Gillchrest’s previous Hawaii pastorates include Kaunakakai Baptist and Kalihi Baptist. His first Sunday was Jan. 5.