Churches in the Pacific impacting the world

September 2015

Vol. 45, No. 5

in this issue HPBC Annual Meeting See all the details for this year’s meeting. Page 4 Week of Prayer Hawaii churches get involved in state missions. Pages 6-7

‘At the Crossroad’ seafarers’ ministry Give thanks for the vision of a seafarer’s ministry on Oahu. Chris and Judy Evans began the “At The Crossroads” Hawaii Pacific Seafarer’s Church and Ocean Fellowship. They ask churches to adopt boats so as they return, Christians can meet physical needs, provide a fellowship meal, and share the gospel. Rejoice as many have been saved and baptized on the docks. Pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to draw seafarer’s to the “Living Water.” On January 7, 2015, “At the Crossroads” Seafarer’s Church held its first service. Led by Dr. Chris and Judy Evans, “At the Crossroads” Seafarer’s Church brings church to the fishermen and seafarers at Piers 35-38. They seek to the be the seafarer’s family away from home and to get to know crews through day visits,

Hurricane Katrina Looking back at Baptist relief and the work still left to do. Pages 10-11

BAPTIST

See more stories about Hawaii Pacific Missions on Pages 6-7

September Emphasis is the Hawaii Pacific Missions Offering Week of Prayer: Sept. 6-13 Hawaii Goal: $115,000 hospitality, dinner fellowships, practical help gifts, and sharing the Gospel with the crews at their after-dinner Christ-centered Bible studies. They are praying for more “adopters” of boats and crews. This would involve providing a dinner for about 10 to 12 people every three weeks or so,  See SEAFARERS..Page 6

Photo by Clyde Kakiuchi

Epic Life Conference and evangelism training held on Oahu Honolulu, Oahu—The Epic Life Conference was held at the Hawaii Baptist Academy Chapel and Nuuanu Baptist Church August 28 and 29 to invite, encourage and empower an evangelistic lifestyle. Each session opened with worship featuring a local band called “Scarlett Cord.” Speaker for the event was Todd Phillips, the visionary Founder and Executive Director of The Last Well. After a radical conversion experience at age 24, Todd devoted the next 20 years to reaching primarily young adults around the world with the life-transforming message of Jesus Christ as an evangelist and pastor. His ministries reached over 40,000 young adults with the Gospel. He recently

served as Teaching Pastor at Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall, Texas before taking on his current fulltime role with The Last Well in March 2013. During his presentations, he asked the question, “How are we to see the human race?” The answer - The way Jesus sees people. In Matthew 9:36-38, He says, “loving large, developing a heart.” Phillips noted, “He saw them with compassion (v36). Sometimes we see the crowd with condemnation. Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves (ps.139). He knows our failures and sin - he looks on us with compassion. Compassion definition, deep awareness of the suffering of another with great passion to relieve them

Below: At the last session of Epic, leaders shared the awesome expiernces during the hands-on ministries.. Right: Todd Phillips speaks at the Epic Conference.

from suffering.” Phillips urged the participants to see people like a sheep without a shepherd. He says, “In Psalm 23, the Bible tells us what it means to have a shepherd. Jesus offered himself to provide a way for those who are without a shepherd. We are the ones called by God to share the answer. It’s a lot easier to get compassionate with a cause as opposed seeing them the way God sees people. Biblical compassion necessitates action. Simply feeling badly is not a proper response - it is not compassion. Start engaging the harassed and the hopeless.”  See EPIC LIFE...Page 3

Moving? See page 2 (0401)

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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.

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.

SEPTEMBER 2015

Hawaii ministries show glory all around us By Chris Martin

Throughout our beautiful Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention, God is doing amazing things! Although some may not consider these things to be ground-breaking or beyond belief, I know that these show God’s glory all around us. Many of our churches are gathering together to do Kingdom work - some have engaged in traditional methChris Martin ods of ministry such as youth camps or evangelistic events, while others are working in more unconventional ways. Recently, the Oahu Baptist Network presented an evangelistic gathering called Epic Life. This two-day worship and ministry event

drew several churches together to prepare and participate in several exciting ministry opportunities around Honolulu. Chinatown, Waikiki, Honolulu Harbor and University of Hawaii at Manoa were some of the locations, but in Kalihi several decisions were made to follow Christ. Each location impacted the participants differently with a cooperative spirit overshadowing everything. In Saipan, after the devastating typhoons Soudelor and Goni hit in August, churches have been sending resources to help the Kagman Community Church, one of our HPBC churches in Saipan. Pastor Billy Jones has been coordinating the work of his family and church to feed, help and minister to others. God is using this disaster to share His incredible love in many ways. There are many more stories of families coming to Christ, baptisms in great numbers, new communities being engaged with the

Gospel, and churches growing and reaching new heights. But, we also have some who are struggling to determine where God is leading in the midst of health needs, deaths and relocations. Through it all, I keep hearing reports and seeing the evidences of your faithfulness to follow Christ, regardless of the circumstances and He is being glorified in you. I just want to remind you that our Lord is guiding us to be utilized by Him to do greater Kingdom things than ever before. Remain faithful and continue to serve together, stronger, that we may continue to experience God doing His work through us as He has already planned. There is no greater honor for anyone than to be used by the only true Living God. We are the convention! Together! Mahalo and God bless you! Chris Martin is the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention executive director.

Fresh Ideas: Clique, un-clique By Diana Davis

“We’re a friendly church!” It’s a phrase heard regularly in most churches. Often, the more true statement is, “We’re really friendly with one another.” Is it possible that newcomers to your small group or your church perceive your sweet fellowship as cliquish? Answer this question: Do you function more as a social club Diana Davis or an army of God? If your small group/Sunday School class is comfortably stagnant, or your church is plateaued or declining in attendance, perhaps it’s time to un-clique. As the fall semester kicks off, try these simple ideas to un-clique your class: * Stop and refocus. Teach members to pay attention. When a guest arrives, members immediately change their focus from chatting with one another to warmly welcome the guest. * Every member’s a greeter. Train members to see every guest through God’s loving eyes, and connect personally. Learn their name. Listen well and introduce guests to others. Learn their name. Sit nearby guests. Have real conversation with them. Learn their name. Tell them about church events and ministries they might enjoy. Invite a guest to join you for lunch. Get to know them and share your own Jesus story. Don’t forget to learn their name. * Add chairs, and move over. Anticipate guests. Provide plenty of seating so a guest never has to search awkwardly. Members can make guest seating less intimidating when they avoid “saving” seats in worship. Give up your end-of-pew seat rather than forcing newcomers to climb over you. For a Sunday School class, rearrange classroom seating often. Change from rows to a circle, or face a different direction. * Avoid exclusive phrases. “Most of us are related.” “We’ve all been friends for years.” “We all grew up in this church.” Phrases like these inform guests that they’ll never be accepted.

Show love for one another, but never at the expense of excluding others. * Invite. Challenge class members to invite their unchurched acquaintances weekly. Print business-card-style invitations for members to carry with them. Teach members to be alert for guests in worship services and invite them to their class. * Provide frequent entry points. Guests are always welcome, but intentionally plan special days to encourage members to bring newcomers. Use any excuse. A new Bible class or sermon series is set to begin. We’re going out for lunch after church together. Bring your neighbor early next week for coffee and tea. Keep members thinking of the lost people they know. * Connect digitally. Guests feel welcomed when individuals send an email to invite them back next Sunday. Add guests’ names to your class or church email list immediately. “Friend” them on Facebook. * State the goal often. Remind the group that we are organized to reach those who don’t yet know Jesus. Strive for second-time guests and new members. Small groups can set numeric goals for growth. Ask every guest if they’d like to join the class. They don’t have to be a Christian yet to join a Bible class. Church not a closed group. * Un-clique leadership. Involve more people in large and small leadership roles. Many responsibilities are appropriate for newcomers, so offer a place of service as soon as possible. * Plan for explosive growth. When members bring their lost friends, and the church warmly envelops guests with God’s love, growth will happen. Get ready for them. Mentor potential teachers and leaders. Intentionally create new breakout groups, or multiply your class. No one can accuse a growing group of being cliquish! The Great Commission is too vast -- and eternity is far too important -for us to sit in a huddle. Make a commitment today: Un-clique. (BP) Diana Davis is an author, columnist and ministry wife in Pensacola, Fla. She is the author of “Fresh Ideas,” “Deacon Wives” and the newly released “Six Simple Steps -- Finding Contentment and Joy as a Ministry Wife.”

Thank you SO MUCH for your generous donations for our Big Giveaway event! We were able to bless about 250 international students and scholars with household items for their stay in Hawaii. What a privilege is was to share these gifts on behalf of our churches and show internationals that Christians really care about them (Matt 25: 35, 40). Thank you for your generosity in helping us show ‘hospitality to strangers’ (Heb 13:2) and may God bless you richly! -Carlye Lawrence, International Ministries Director.

The Korean Pastors Fellowship met in August at the HPBC Chapel for their monthly meeting and were introduced to the HBPC Staff.

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Epic Life

Continued from page 1

On fostering passion on evangelism, Phillips said, “More than half of American Christians are not witnessing and are unengaged in sharing the gospel to the lost. “Let’s cultivate this important way to experience joy: 1. Pray specifically for those around you. 1 John n 5:14-15. Create a list or start with one name. God has a profound way of changing us as we deal with this list. 2. Continue to read scriptures that reminds us of Gods heart to the lost. Ephesians 2:1,4-5. John 3:36. 3. Attach your passion (acts of service, kindness) to the name of Christ. ‘Confess with your mouth...’ in a whole new dimension. 4. Do it. Nothing can get you out from inactivity but activity. There is joy. The goal is not to change people but to share the love of Christ to people. We are called as a witness, not a judge, or jury.” On Saturday, participants had the opportunity to hear from the leaders of the ministries that were involved in the “hands-on” part of the conference. Then they set out to practice what they heard by actually going out and begin witnessing to those in need. The areas included Chinatown, Kalihi Valley, University of Hawaii’s Manoa campus, International Student Ministries at Manoa, Seafarer’s Ministry at the piers and on the sidewalk in Waikiki. Those who chose the Chinatown ministry gathered at the Hawaii Chinese Baptist Church located near the area. They set out to prayerwalk the streets of Chinatown. Along the way, they met vendors and shoppers. One boy named Timothy took part in sharing Jesus. He noticed a homeless person and gave the person his shoes. Before a group that included several Chuukese youth set out to Kalihi Valley Homes Kam IV Housing, Pastor Harlan Nakasone and Clyde Kakiuchi taught the youth some evangelistic tools they could use to tell others

SEPTEMBER 2015 about Jesus. The youth were eager to try out their new skills. This resulted 13 salvation decisions. Pastor Harlan also noted that they gave out 50 sandwiches and 12 dozen hot dogs. At Pier 37, the group that gathered set up under a tent and provided Gospel music. Others delivered pizzas and toiletries to sailors aboard six boats. Tracts and Bible Study booklets were also given out. At the Manoa campus of the University of Hawaii, participants were able to prayerwalk the campus and engage with the students they met. Next door, the International Ministries Centre sponsored a free lunch for students. The group from the Epic Conference was the smallest in number and the Centre was filled with people. Over 100 people came to the lunch and kept the group busy for almost 3 hours. Andrew Large, pastor of Waikiki Baptist Church, sets up a table once a week in the heart of Waikiki. A simple sign that says, “Need Prayer” attracts people to ask about the sign. On Saturday, the Waikiki team set up the table and waited for people to ask the question. James and Julie Shiroma of The Gathering, had the chance of sitting at the table and witnessing to those who came to the table. Pastor Shiroma said, “It was an awesome experience. We had a chance to share Jesus with tourists, the homeless and workers that passed by.” During the last session on Saturday afternoon, there was an opportunity for the groups to share their experiences. Many said that they learned a lot about themselves and about having a daily walk with Jesus and to see opportunities through His Eyes. As Todd Phillips said, “Do it. Nothing can get you out from inactivity but activity. There is joy. The goal is not to change people but to share the love of Christ to people.” The Epic Conference was sponsored by the Oahu Baptist Network in partnership with the HPBC Evangelism Ministries and OBN church leaders.

Annual Church Profile The Annual Church Profile will be mailed out to each church in September. You also have the option to fill out your ACP online. The ACP year runs from October 1, 2014 through September 30, 2015. If you need help or have questions regarding the ACP please call Lisa at 808-3568325 or email her at lisa@hpbaptist.net.

Above: Julie and James Shiroma witness in Waikiki with their “Need Prayer” sign. Right: Todd Phillips speaks at the Epic Conference on Oahu. Photo by Clyde Kakiuchi. Middle: The Epic Conference participants have an evangelism opportunity at Pier 37 with the Seafarer’s Ministry. Bottom: Harlan Nakasone, pastor of Fellowship Church in Honolulu, provided evangelism training for Kalihi Valley Homes. Photo by Clyde Kakiuchi.

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Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention 73rd Annual Meeting November 5 & 6, 2015 Olivet Baptist Church

Great Awakening 2 Chronicles 7:14 “And My people who are called by My Name humble themselves, pray and seek My Face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.” Thursday Evening, November 5 5:00 Registration Refreshments provided by Hawaii Baptist Academy 6:00 Praise and Worship 6:15 Welcome and Announcements 6:20 Invocation & Welcome 6:25 Theme Interpretation 6:30 Scripture Reading, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Holman Christian Standard 6:35 -Call to Order -Credentials and Resolutions Committee Report -Seating of Messengers -Seating of Messengers from New Churches -Convention Arrangements & Order of Business Committee Report -Introduction of Process for New Business 6:50 Introduction of New Pastors, Workers, Guests 7:05 Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention Staff Report 7:35 Special Music 8:05 President’s Message – Alberto Camacho 8:35 Benediction 8:40 Refreshments Friday Morning, November 6 7:30 Registration 8:30 Praise and Worship 8:45 Invocation

PEOPLE AND CHURCHES 8:50 Greetings from Southern Baptist Agencies: -Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee -Guidestone Financial Resources -LifeWay Christian Resources -International Mission Board -North American Mission Board 9:15 Hawaii Baptist Foundation 9:30 Hawaii Baptist Academy 9:35 Wayland Baptist University 9:40 Executive Board Reports/ Recommendations 9:45 Credentials and Resolutions Committee Recommendations 10:00 Refreshment Break 10:30 Praise & Worship 10:45 Arrangements Committee Recommendations 10:55 Committee on Committees & Board Nominations 11:00 Business 11:20 Special Music 11:25 Executive Director Report & Message – Chris Martin 11:55 Benediction 12:00 Disaster Relief Lunch ($5 per person) 3:00 HPBC Executive Board Orientation & Organization (For new and returning Board members)

A note from the Credentials Committee and HPBC Officers

SEPTEMBER 2015

Friday Evening, November 6 5:00 Registration & Refreshments by Hawaii Baptist Foundation 6:00 Praise and Worship 6:18 Scripture Reading 6:20 Invocation 6:25 Greetings from Philippine Consulate Hawaii - Gina A. Jamoralin, Consul General 6:30 Credentials Committee Report 6:35 Presentation of Outgoing Officers 6:40 Elections/Introduction of New Officers 6:55 Pastors Group Special Music 7:05 Praise and Worship 7:15 Annual Message - Ian B, East Asia Peoples Affinity 7:45 Benediction 8:00 Refreshments After the meeting is complete, stay for Filipiana Night: Fellowship & Singing & Food & Dancing by the Filipino Southern Baptist Fellowship of the Pacific, Inc. (FSBFPI) The FSBFPI affiliated churches are: Hawaii Christian Baptist Church, Lighthouse Fellowship, Maui Philippine Baptist Church, Mililani Fil-Am Baptist Church, Pahala Baptist Church, Word of Truth, and other Filipino mission groups around Hawaii and the Pacific.

Messenger cards

Resolutions for the 2015 Annual Meeting must be presented in writing to the Credentials Committee at the close of the first session, Thursday, November 5 for consideration.

Messengers cards are available from your church. Each church may have up to 10 voting messengers at the annual meeting; a church may increase the number of messengers by one for each 100 members or fractional part thereof up to 20.

Recommendations and other business for the 2015 Annual Meeting must be presented to the president or HPBC officer at the close of the first session, Thursday, November 5, for consideration.

Messengers should bring a messenger card signed by the moderator or church clerk to the Credentials Committee prior to the business sessions.

Welcome, Sanders family!

Matt Sanders was installed as pastor of Waialae Baptist Church in Honolulu on September 6. Pastor Sanders is pictured on the left with his wife, Cheryl and daughters, Keiko, Ariel, and Kiyomi. Pastor Sanders previously served as assistant professor at The College at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also served as development director at the Hawaii Baptist Academy. He holds a doctorate of theology from the University of St. Andrews, Scotland.

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SEPTEMBER 2015

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Charter members of MBC. From left to right (sitting) Kathleen Shimata, Lynda Fulmer, Frances Au, Callman Au, Linda Rush & Bob Rush; (standing) Winston Fulmer, Tom Moss, Ron Okada, Barbara Okada, Steve Efurd, Laura Efurd, Jeanie Gonzlez, Larry Gonzlez, & Ellen Moss.

Mililani Baptist Church celebrates 40th Anniversary Mililani Baptist Church celebrated their 40th Anniversary on July 5, 2015 at the Nehelani Banquet Hall. Steve Efurd, son of their first pastor, was the keynote speaker. Pastors Emerson Wiles and Carl Kinoshita also shared this special time with them. Guests flew in from the mainland and we were able to celebrate with longtime friends of their church “ohana.” This was a wonderful time of celebration where they could praise God for His amazing work. The theme for the event was, “To God be the Glory.” He certainly is worthy of all the praise and honor. MBC has been blessed greatly, and will pray for continued guidance and direction in the coming years. They thank everyone for their help with this event, for your prayers, and for your participation. It truly was a great time of fellowship and worship.

Above: Japanese Hula Praise Team performing to “My Tribute.” Below: Some of the families visiting from the mainland along with Callman & Frances Au. (from left to right) Winston Fulmer, Lynda Fulmer, Mr. & Mrs. Doug Fast, Frances Au, Callman Au, Linda Rush & Bob Rush.

Joyful Handbell Choir performing in memory of Jamie Mires (handbells donated in memory of Jamie by her parents)

Sympathy Jeannie Eliff Jon Eliff, pastor of Makakilo Baptist Church, on the passing of his mother, Jeannie Eliff. Baptist Press wrote “Jeannie Elliff, wife of former IMB President Tom Elliff, died July 20 at her home in Oklahoma City following a long struggle with cancer. ‘The entire IMB family and I praise God for Jeannie Elliff,’ said IMB President David Platt. ‘To use Paul’s words from 2 Corinthians 6:10, we are filled with sorrowful rejoicing at the news of her passing. We grieve with Tom, the Elliff family, and countless friends who have known and loved this woman of prayer and model of faith. For many years, she has served and cared for IMB personnel around the world in selfless and unseen ways, and we will miss her deeply,’ Platt said. ‘Yet we grieve with hope, for the joy of Christ in Jeannie Elliff could not be overcome by cancer, and it has not been overcome by death. We rejoice

that she is with our Lord, and we look forward to the day when we will join her around the throne of our King with every nation, tribe and tongue to give Him the ultimate glory that He is due.’” Elliff is survived by Tom, her husband of 49 years; one sister; three daughters; one son; 25 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. A memorial service was held July 24, at First Southern Baptist Church, Del City, Okla.

Pinewood Derby

Raymond Fleischer Joyce Sulliban, wife of Financial Services director Jerry Sulliban, on the passing of her father, Raymond Fleischer, in Washington August 27.

Glenn Armstrong Joy Armstrong, lead pastor at Kihei Baptist Church on the passing of his father, Pastor Glenn Armstrong. A service was held September 12 at Calvary Baptist Church in Rochester, Minnesota. Glenn Armstrong also served as pastor of Kihei for a few years. The Armstrong family thank you for your prayers and support.

The second annual Pinewood Derby was held August 8 at the HPBC Chapel. Twelve participants from 3 churches competed in the event. Trophies for grades 1-3 and 4-6 were given as well as trophies for Best Paint, and Best Design. Next year’s Derby will take place in February. Photo by Clyde Kakiuchi

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STATE MISSIONS

HAWAII PACIFIC

SEPTEMBER 2015

CARE Crisis Pregnancy Centers Pray for the pregnant women who turn to the Crisis Pregnancy Centers on Kauai, Maui, and the Big Island for counseling. Pray that the counselors share Christ’s love as they help these women make lifechanging decisions for themselves and their children. The CARE Center offers women free pregnancy tests and pregnancy counseling, including alternatives to abortions. Post Abortion Counseling is also offered. They also present Abstinence Education in the schools for students as well as STD Prevention education. In addition, maternity and baby clothes are offered to the mothers along with referrals to agencies or doctors and adoption assistance when needed. Since January of this year, the CARE Center of Kauai has had: 32 calls 21 appointments 8 positive pregnancy tests 22 STD referrals 4 salvations 7 rededications 4 choice to life decisions 1 adoption 0 abortions 460 students educated about abstinence They pray for national repentance to sweep across America and for churches to be aware of the abortion issue and for God’s people to take action against this national sin. They request prayer for their counselors and clients. There is a need for 2 additional counselors at each of their locations. There is a continued need for abstinence education within our schools and for opportunities to follow up with students to effectively share the love of Christ. Another need is for girls experiencing crisis pregnancies to become aware of these centers so that they can choose life for their babies. Many of their clients do not know the Lord, so they pray for their salvation. CARE Center would like to offer related ministries such as parenting classes, prenatal classes, academic tutoring for moms, and post abortion classes. But to do this, more support is needed. Financial giving can be made through the Lihue Baptist Church, with CARE Center written on the memo line. Donations of maternity and baby clothing, as well as diapers and wipes are always appreciated. If you would like to help the CARE Centers, please contact Dr. Michelle Metcalf at Lihue Baptist Church for more information.

Photo by Clyde Kakiuchi

Seafarers

Continued from page 1

befriending seafarers, giving practical help as well as pastoral care, and offering a Christ-centered Bible study with a clear Gospel presentation. Since that first January service and through mid-July of this year, there have been: 109 fishermen seafarers (108 Filipino and 1 Vietnamese) who have prayed to receive Christ 17 Filipino fishermen seafarers have been baptized on the docks 111 Filipino fishermen have rededicated their lives to Christ 5 born-again Filipino fishermen have been commissioned as Christian Spiritual Leaders on their boats 28 fishing boats have been adopted The “At the Crossroads” Seafarer’s Church has 91 born-again fisherman members But, they want to do more. They

Collegiate Ministries in Manoa reach students with weekly outreach Pray for our Baptist Collegiate Ministry’s efforts to bring “the kingdom of God” to students with no spiritual connections and for the BCM students who share Jesus through outreach efforts. Pray as they share the gospel on campus and for BCM events so students will hear the “Truth.” Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM) exists to lead college students to an authentic and growing relationship with Christ that causes them to have a passion for God, a desire to live holy, and a vision to impact their campuses and the world. In short, BCM exists to produce influencers for the glory of God. BCM Oahu offers a weekly Bible study, The Vine, on Tuesdays at 7:00pm at UH Manoa in the Marine Sciences Building. It is a time of worship for this generation

using music, creative expression, Bible teaching, and more. BCM Hilo offers a similar weekly Bible study, Converge, on Thursdays at 6:30 at the BCM building with a light meal before. BCM Hilo also offers a free lunch every Wednesday. BCM Oahu also holds a monthly event called CRASH on the first Friday of every month. It is a place to make new friends and hang with old ones. There is food, coffee, open mic, open canvas and more. There is also an annual BCM getaway for all Hawaii BCM students called The Gathering. It is held each year in February on either the Big Island, Maui or the Wai’anae coast. The BCM vision is to REACH students on campus, CONNECT them to the community of faith, GROW them in their

pray for more adopters of boats, particularly by people who can speak the heart languages of the seafarers (Tagalog, Vietnamese, Indonesian, and Micronesian). They also need help providing practical gifts such as bedding, towels, crew socks, long-sleeved t-shirts, warm sweaters and soft hooded jackets, rubber shoes, back braces, eye glasses, ankle supports, woolen hats, and toiletries. There is a need for Bibles and New Testaments in Tagalog, as well as other languages. The Evans are praying for the Lord to identify and call those who would follow after them when their two year commitment is complete. Forty partners and seven Oahu churches are currently involved with this ministry, but more help is welcomed. You can also follow this ministry on Facebook. It is a closed group but you can contact Dr. Chris Evans to request permission to be part of the group. relationship with Jesus, and UNLEASH them to impact the world for the glory of God. International Student Ministry in Oahu ministers to the many international students attending the University of Hawaii. They offer conversational English classes on Tuesday mornings and Thursday nights. They also provide a free lunch for about 175 international students each week. Oahu Baptist churches prepare the food and the volunteers to serve the students each Thursday. Bible study classes are offered on Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays. What has been the impact of these ministries? Last school year these ministries: Impacted 4,324 collegians in Campus Ministry programs Involved 590 collegians in Campus Ministry programs $39,000 in contributions received for

Two to three times each week, worship services are held at the docks of Piers 35-38 with praise music, Bible study, dinner fellowship and sometimes communion and baptism. Continue to pray for them as they offer Salt and Light ministry (presence and witness), Compassion ministry (practical help), and Great Commission ministry (equipping and sending forth) on the docks of Honolulu Harbor. student missions 52 collegians involved in leadership development 11 conversions of college students 2 conversions of others 7 collegians preparing for churchrelated vocations 112 collegians involved in evangelism 28 small group Bible studies 375 international students involved 147 collegians involved in community ministries/missions 3 collegians serving in summer or semester missions 34 collegians serving on short-term mission trips Please pray for these ministries as the new school year begins and they infiltrate the campuses for Christ. Pray for boldness in the witness and for hearts to be softened to hear the gospel. With only two percent of our college campuses claiming to be evangelical Christians, the field is white for the harvest!

STATE MISSIONS

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SEPTEMBER 2015

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Pray for Hawaii Pacific Baptist Disaster Relief Ministry Pray for our Hawaii Pacific Disaster Relief ministry. Pray for people to be trained and ready to serve when disaster strikes. Pray for DR volunteers as they reach out to survivors after a disaster, and provide help, healing, and hope in Jesus’ name. Pray as HPBC strives to gather equipment necessary to respond in times of crisis. This past year was a busy one for Disaster Relief, especially for the Puna district of the Big Island. In August, Tropical Storm Iselle came ashore in the Puna District and caused widespread devastation. There was no electricity and no water for the people who lived there. HPBC Disaster Relief responded with a feeding unit working from the Paradise Park Baptist Church to feed the chainsaw teams of Team Rubicon and the Southern Baptists. Some small parts of Paradise Park did not lose electricity or water after the storm. Paradise Park Baptist Church was blessed to be one of those of places so they opened their doors to the community immediately after the storm so that people could take a shower. They also hosted the entire Team Rubicon chainsaw team, a group of about 30 current and former military who help in times of disaster. The Southern Baptist chainsaw team from California also deployed in the same area. They were hosted by a church family from Puna Baptist Church

who also still had water and electricity. Even though Puna Baptist Church did not have electricity or water for over three weeks, their pastor and church members provide lots of food and volunteers to help with feeding these hungry chainsaw teams. It was a beautiful picture of the body of Christ being the hands and feet of Jesus in that community. As if that disaster was not enough, by September, lava from Kilauea began approaching closely to the same area. Many businesses and homes were evacuated in preparation of the lava flow reaching Pahoa. Schools were closed and students were relocated at other schools. Fear was palpable in the community. It was all anyone could talk about – when would the lava take its first road or first building. Tensions were growing as there were not enough resources for the community – not enough storage buildings, places to rent, boxes to pack. Seeing the need, our HPBC Disaster Relief team responded again in this community that was still reeling from Tropical Storm Iselle. Darrell McCain, Disaster Relief Coordinator for HPBC, heard the need for comfort for the people; especially the children. Knowing that there were specialty DR teams on the mainland, he called in the Children Crisis Response teams from Alabama and Texas. The Alabama team came first in

October and began attending the weekly information meetings held at the high school cafeteria. Southern Baptist Disaster Relief was the first group invited to have an information table at these meetings. The Alabama and HPBC teams worked together to produce the very first Disaster Relief Lava Flow handouts. These handouts gave parents ideas of how to handle the stress of a lava flow and what they can do to help their children deal with stress. The Alabama Team also held a Saturday morning workshop for parents and children at Puna Baptist Church. The team was also able to begin talks with the local public and charter schools to come into the schools to help the children affected by this event. The Texas team arrived in November and was able to meet with students in a local charter school and made some other contacts in the community. Through all of this, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief offered help, healing, and hope in the name of Jesus. During non disaster times, Disaster Relief training occurs. Generally, each year, DR training takes place on at least three islands, with a plan to reach all islands at least once every three years. However, churches can request training for their congregation just by contacting Darrell McCain in the HPBC office.

Also, this year as a result of offerings given from HPBC churches and mission offerings, a new shower/laundry trailer has been built and is ready to use on the Big Island. We also have a mobile feeding unit and an airlift kitchen on Oahu. The goal is to have a feeding unit on Maui, Big Island and Kauai, as well as a shower/laundry unit on Oahu. Continue to pray for Disaster Relief as this year’s El Nino weather pattern is producing a record number of named storms. One of our sister islands, Saipan, was devastated by Typhoon Soudelor in early August. Now, one month later, many still do not have electricity and running water. Feeding units are still operating and more than 8,000 homeowners have requested rebuilding assistance from FEMA. That number is sure to rise. HPBC Disaster Relief is on the ground in Saipan and will be there for quite some time. Currently, disaster relief volunteers from Guam, Saipan, and Oahu are staffing the feeding kitchen at Kagman Community Church and are in the beginning stages of assessing and rebuild. A DR team from Texas will arrive soon to help with the assessment and rebuild. There is a need for more volunteers, particularly those who can help with rebuilding for the near future. If you are interesting in helping, please contact the HPBC office.

Disaster Relief needed at Saipan, Kagman churches By Darrell McCain

Saipan and Kagman Community Church is in desperate need for volunteers to come and help them in this recovery response after Typhoon Soudelor devastated the Island on August 1. Chaplains: Fixed feeding units at Kagman Community Church and The Salvation Army Fixed feeding site. Debris clean up and repairs on some homes and one of our churches, Saipan Good Baptist Church. Conditions will be primitive—no running water, no electricity, no air conditioning. Drinking water will be available. Lodging will be at Kagman Community Church and possibly at Saipan Good Baptist Church. What to bring: air mattress and manual pump, bedding, toiletries, battery operated personal fan, flashlight, uniform and credentials. Special things for this response—passport, insect repellent or mosquito net, closed toe

shoes, rain coat or poncho, medication. Please look at your “What to take” checklist in your manual and bring items as you need but remember conditions are primitive. You will need to bring cash for personal spending, most stores have no power to run debit cards. I would suggest volunteers be in good health and can tolerate the conditions. Please make sure your insurance is good for Saipan and let me know if you need information on short term missions insurance. Airfare is around $1500.00 to $2000.00 depending on airline and route you choose. You can make your own airfare and keep me informed. Joy Jones from the KCC is our On Site Coordinator. We have no funds to assist air travel. If you are led to respond and do not have the funds, ask your church for help. I am praying that ones who cannot go will give and provide funds for you to go.

Above: This is a photo taken by Joy Jones of a neighbor’s home in Kagman that was destroyed. Below: Feeding the people at Kagman Community Church with limited power and running water.

Darrell McCain is the HPBC Disaster Relief Coordinator. Reach him at the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention at darrell@hpbaptist.net or 808-946-9581, ext. 343. A Biblical Stewardship Luncheon for Oahu Pastors was held on August 20 at the Oahu Country Club. Speakers included Darrell and Teresa McCain, David McQuitty and Gerald Sulliban. The event was sponsored by the Hawaii Baptist Foundation. Retiring president Paul Oyer introduced incoming president Arnold Goto at the luncheon. Photo by Clyde Kakiuchi

Harlan Nakasone started a Bible Study for New Believers on August 30 with many of youth who made a decision to follow Christ at the Epic Conference. Photo by Clyde Kakiuchi

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www.globalhungerrelief.com

SEPTEMBER 2015

PEOPLE AND CHURCHES

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States move to defund Planned Parenthood By Tom Strode

Washington, D.C.—Three states acted swiftly to accomplish what the U.S. Senate could not—defund Planned Parenthood. Alabama, Louisiana and New Hampshire all have eliminated funding for the country’s leading abortion provider after the release of videos providing evidence Planned Parenthood trades in baby body parts. Since mid-July, an investigative group has released five undercover videos that show Planned Parenthood officials discussing the sale of organs from aborted children for research. More videos are expected to emerge in the next few weeks. Thirteen states have initiated investigations into Planned Parenthood, according to The Christian Science Monitor. After investigations in their states, Florida and Indiana officials have reported they found no evidence of violations by the organization regarding fetal tissue. While some states have canceled contracts with Planned Parenthood, supporters of defunding in the U.S. Senate fell short in their attempt Aug. 3. Senators voted 53-46 to bring to the floor a bill to eliminate federal funds for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and its affiliates. While a majority of senators favored consideration of the proposal, the attempt to invoke cloture, as it is known, fell short of the 60 votes needed to begin

debate on the legislation. The state actions—and the renewed federal effort—have come in response to the latest, but most grisly, revelation about the practices of a network of affiliates that performs more than one-fourth of this country’s abortions each year. A widespread social media campaign to publicize the videos and eliminate government funding of PPFA—often using the hashtag #DefundPP—erupted when the first footage was released July 14. Pro-life leaders continue to call for elimination of government money for Planned Parenthood. Russell Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, commended “the moral clarity and conviction of these states that have taken real action to prevent Planned Parenthood from accessing taxpayer funds. It is abundantly clear that what goes on in Planned Parenthood clinics is not reproductive health but a ghoulish form of human piracy. “We mourn the lack of moral leadership that failed to pass legislation in the U.S. Senate, but as these governors and officials have demonstrated, real action and real change is possible,” Moore told Baptist Press. “The ultimate defunding of Planned Parenthood is a human rights issue that is worthy of our endurance.” Casey Mattox, senior counsel of Alliance Defending Freedom, said in a statement, “Not one more penny should go

to Planned Parenthood, a billion-dollar abortion dealer caught on camera negotiating the sale of hearts, lungs, and livers from aborted babies. Our tax dollars instead should fund local public health clinics, which outnumber Planned Parenthood locations more than 10 to 1 and are not tainted by constant scandals and misdeeds. America doesn’t need Planned Parenthood.” Louisiana made public its defunding decision Aug. 3, and New Hampshire and Alabama quickly followed: n Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said his administration canceled its Medicaid agreement with Planned Parenthood. “Planned Parenthood does not represent the values of the people of Louisiana and shows a fundamental disrespect for human life,” said Jindal, a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination. “It has become clear that this is not an organization that is worthy of receiving public assistance from the state.” n The New Hampshire Executive Council voted Aug. 5 to reject contracts for Planned Parenthood in the state. The vote came along party lines, with the council’s three Republican members for defunding. Chris Sununu, a pro-choice Republican on the council, had supported Planned Parenthood funding in the past but urged the state to find other vendors to provide women’s health services, according to the New Hampshire Union Leader. Describing the videos as “horrific and disgusting,”

Parliamentarian McCarty now Baptist By Gerald Harris

Atlanta—If Southern Baptist Convention annual meetings were tallied like college or NBA basketball games, Barry McCarty would be the leader in minutes played. In the course of 29 annual meetings, no one has accumulated more platform time in the SBC’s annual sessions than the well-known chief parliamentarian. The Atlanta native—who became a Southern Baptist on Aug. 16 and is joining the faculty of an SBC seminary—has logged some 540 hours on the platform. But that is only a small part of what the convention parliamentarian actually does. McCarty customarily spends a significant amount of time with the SBC presidents in preparation for the convention business sessions. “Southern Baptists are the McCarty has now strongest voice for New served under 16 SBC presidents, beginning Testament Christianity in our generation. I want to in 1986 with Charles Stanley, pastor of First be part of that voice.” Baptist Church of Barry McCarty Atlanta. His parliamentary expertise has been invaluable in helping convention leaders navigate through some rather stormy business sessions. McCarty also is a preacher, teacher, pastor and educator. He holds a Ph.D. in rhetoric and argumentation from the University of Pittsburgh, has served as president of Cincinnati Christian University and senior pastor of Peachtree Christian Church in Atlanta. McCarty had served the Lord in the Stone-Campbell tradition that sought to restore Christian unity through abolishing creeds and returning to the principles of the early churches described in the New Testament. “In reading Baptist history,” McCarty recounted, “I discovered that the desire to recover New Testament Christianity was also what the Anabaptists were striving to do during the Protestant Reformation.” At the recent SBC annual meeting in Columbus, Ohio, McCarty was asked, “Barry, when are you going to become

a Southern Baptist?” He responded, “Well, it may be sooner than you think.” Began with 2000 BF&M McCarty developed a love for Southern Baptists through the years and a growing appreciation for the Baptist Faith and Message as a confession of sound biblical doctrine. “My confidence in the BF&M 2000 began 15 years ago when I assisted the SBC in its adoption,” said McCarty, a man who holds tenaciously to the infallibility of God’s word. “Paige (Patterson), who was the convention president in 2000, and I had numerous conversations about that confessional document and how it would be presented to the messengers at the Orlando convention. “I immersed myself in the content of the Baptist Faith and Message and grew to love the way it summarized the Christian faith. I especially appreciated its clear statement on salvation by grace through faith, while also affirming believer’s baptism as the biblical testimony of a saving faith in the work of Christ.” McCarty cited three reasons for his decision to become a Southern Baptist. “First,” he noted, “while Southern Baptists are not a creedal people, they are a confessional people. And at this point in history the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 is the best statement of faith I know of. “Second, right now no one is speaking to our culture on the great moral issues with as much clarity or biblical integrity as Southern Baptists,” McCarty said. “Third, at this point in history no one is doing more to penetrate lostness around the world than Southern Baptists.” “Dr. Barry McCarty has been a like-minded believer for 15 years,” said Patterson, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. “One of my greatest joys is to welcome him to Southern Baptist life in a new way.” ‘We want in’ On Aug. 16, McCarty his wife Pat were baptized and welcomed into the membership of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Ga. The McCartys selected Sherwood because of their friendship with pastor Michael Catt, the influence of Sherwood’s Refresh Conferences, and the

Sununu said, “I have serious questions about it, especially at the national level.” n Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley, a Republican, announced in an Aug. 6 letter to Planned Parenthood Southeast his administration was terminating its Medicaid agreement with the affiliate. “The deplorable practices at Planned Parenthood have been exposed to Americans, and I have decided to stop any association with the organization in Alabama,” Bentley said in The Birmingham News. “As a doctor and Alabama’s governor, the issue of human life, from conception to birth and beyond, is extremely important. I respect human life and do not want Alabama to be associated with an organization that does not.” The videos, produced by the Center for Medical Progress, show hidden-camera conversations between PPFA officials and people portraying representatives of a human biologics firm. Planned Parenthood and its allies have charged CMP with fraud and have defended the need for Planned Parenthood’s services to women, especially those with lower incomes. “Extremists who oppose Planned Parenthood’s mission and services are making outrageous and completely false claims,” said Dawn Laguens, PPFA’s executive vice president, in a statement. “These videos are intended to shock and deceive the public.” (BP) Barry McCarty, the Southern Baptist Convention’s parliamentarian for 29 years, is now a Southern Baptist and a faculty member at Southwestern Seminary. (BP File photo)

prayers the church has lifted to God on their behalf. “On Sunday,” McCarty told Georgia Baptists’ Christian Index newsjournal, “we are going to give four offerings to Sherwood Baptist Church. We are going to give our tithe, which will go to the local church, to the Georgia Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention through the Cooperative Program. We will give three gifts over and above our tithe: one to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions, another gift to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions and a gift to Mission Georgia (state missions). “We get it. We understand how our convention works and we want in on all of it.” Pat McCarty also is familiar with Southern Baptist life. When Barry served as a pastor in Dallas, she was employed by GuideStone Financial Resources, the SBC’s financial services arm. And during his pastorate in Atlanta, Pat served as an employee of the NAMB. By month’s end Barry McCarty will have an opportunity to serve as a professor of preaching and rhetoric at Southwestern Seminary. He turned down other ministry opportunities to accept the position at the Fort Worth campus, and it’s easy to sense his delight over the new season of ministry the Lord has provided. “I would like for evangelicals across the nation to know my reasoning for becoming a Southern Baptist,” McCarty said, “and I would say to them, ‘If your church is having a love affair with the culture rather than lovingly speaking truth to the culture, you may need to become a Southern Baptist.’ Southern Baptists are the strongest voice for New Testament Christianity in our generation. I want to be part of that voice.” (BP)

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Hurricane Katrina left mark on Baptist relief By Tobin Perry

Gulfport, Miss.—“We’ve shared the gospel with so many people in this community, I don’t know if there is anyone else we can share with,” Randy Corn thought to himself six months after Hurricane Katrina when he arrived in Gulfport, Miss., one of the many Gulf Coast cities devastated by the historic hurricane 10 years ago. “I don’t know if there’s anyone else who hasn’t heard the gospel,” Corn thought in beginning a week of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief construction projects through his church, Biltmore Baptist in Arden, N.C., which had served in the area multiple times and seen many give their lives to Christ through SBDR ministry. Corn had prayed with the homeowner his team was serving on their first morning in Gulfport and, with his proclivity for evangelism, took a look around the neighborhood and spotted a group of young people talking at the end of a driveway. After striking up a conversation with the group, who expressed gratitude to Southern Baptists for their relief efforts, Corn led one of the young men to faith in Christ—the first of eight people he would lead to faith in less than three hours. Thanks in part to Corn’s experience as an SBDR volunteer following Katrina, he and his wife Ronda became North American Mission Board missionaries and have spent much of the past decade helping train SBDR teams in personal evangelism. Corn, who served on his first SBDR team just days after Katrina’s onslaught, was one of nearly 21,000 volunteers from 41 Baptist state conventions to participate in Baptist relief efforts that began after the hurricane’s Gulf Coast landfall on Aug. 29, 2005, and continued through March 2006. Another 26,000 volunteers would participate in Operation NOAH (New Orleans Area Homes) Rebuild from March 2006 to April 2009. The influx of new volunteers—by far the most who would ever participate in a single SBDR response and rebuild effort—would transform future disaster relief efforts by Southern Baptists. Fritz Wilson, executive director of disaster relief for the North American Mission Board, calls Hurricane Katrina one of a handful of transformational events in the history of SBDR—from its inception in 1967 during Hurricane Beulah to the Southern Baptist response after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Yet no response remotely compares to Hurricane Katrina. Within the first five years after the hurricane, the number of trained volunteers soared by 46 percent—from 51,300 to 95,000 volunteers—with more than 25,000 new volunteers trained in the first few months after the hurricane. “I saw missionaries and disaster relief volunteers come here from all over the country to help those of us in the city, whether it was to gut our homes or our churches or to help to paint or cut grass,” said former SBC President Fred Luter, pastor of New Orleans’ Franklin Avenue Baptist Church for nearly three decades. Mickey Caison, who directed SBDR efforts when Hurricane Katrina hit, noted the additional volunteers vastly

Hurricane Katrina evacuees were spread across the Gulf Coast. Above, SBDR volunteers prepare a meal in Meridian, Miss. In total, SBDR prepared 14.6 million hot meals in the response. (File photos by John Swain/NAMB)

increased SBDR’s capacity and boosted its standing among fellow disaster relief organizations. “We went from an organization that worked with Red Cross and FEMA to an organization worthy of a relationship and a Cooperation between responding relief entities was enhanced in a number of ways after Hurricane Katrina. Above, SBDR volunteers meet with The Salvacommitment from tion Army in Biloxi, Miss. FEMA. It gave us a different kind of Burton noted that SBDR’s Katrina credibility in the eyes of emergency efforts became a model for other managers and government officials.” organizations, even secular ones. As an With reports by national media outlets example, he pointed to a national such as The Wall Street Journal, awareness organization for project management of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief rose professionals that asked him to write a throughout all levels of government. textbook chapter titled, “A Faith-Based “It opened doors that normally we Response to Catastrophic Disaster: An couldn’t even get close to knocking on,” Overview of Southern Baptist Disaster said Jim Burton, director of volunteer Relief Planning and Logistics in Hurricane mobilization at the North American Katrina.” Mission Board at the time. “We got much, SBDR volunteers returned home with a much better at telling our story through new passion for disaster relief—as well as secular media. Then when the for New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. And government got around to doing a report some stayed, making a gospel-sized in 2006 to evaluate what had happened, impact on their new home. they were all over the Southern Baptist James Welch was finishing his studies Disaster Relief response with praise, at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary according to what had been accomplished in Louisville, when Katrina hit the Gulf there.” Coast. The following June, Welch’s family

joined a team from Louisville’s Sojourn Community Church in moving to New Orleans to serve the city and dream about a future church plant. For the first several years, Welch simply served, often through SBDR, putting up sheetrock and painting—and telling people about Jesus when the opportunity came up. Three and a half years after Katrina, Welch and his team began to explore locations for a church plant. Local Southern Baptists connected Welch with Lakeview Baptist Church, a declining church that had been hit hard by Katrina. The connection proved to be a “winwin” opportunity for Welch, his team and the declining church. The new church, Harbor Community Church, which formed from the partnership, has grown to nearly 300 worshippers. Yet the young church’s success has been about more than numbers—it’s also been a growing symbol of a city reborn, a living picture of the gospel. “Before Katrina, evangelicals were largely seen as a group of people who were just coming to New Orleans to convert people or to tell people what they shouldn’t do,” Welch said. “After Katrina, New Orleans people see a more gospelcentered view of an evangelical. Meaning that evangelicals come because they understand their own brokenness and they understand the brokenness that happens within culture and community, and they’re here to present this gospel of reconciliation.” Today, Southern Baptists have 65,000 trained volunteers—including chaplains— and 1,550 mobile units for feeding, chainsaw, mud-out, command, communication, childcare, shower, laundry, water purification, repair/rebuild and power generation. SBDR is one of the three largest mobilizers of trained disaster relief volunteers in the United States, along with the American Red Cross and The Salvation Army. NAMB coordinates Southern Baptist responses to major disasters in partnership with 42 state Baptist conventions, most of which have their own state disaster relief ministries. To donate to SBDR, visit https:// donations.namb.net/dr-donations; call 1-866-407-6262; or mail checks to NAMB, P.O. Box 116543, Atlanta, GA 30368-6543. (BP)

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers clear debris from a home in Pascagoula Miss., flooded by Hurricane Katrina. Destruction and damage from the storm spread 90,000 square miles and destroyed or made uninhabitable 300,000 homes.

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Gulf Coast church persevered in the wake of Katrina By Allan Blume & Seth Brown

Gulfport, Miss.—Shortly after 10 a.m. on a hot Sunday in August 2005, residents of the Mississippi Gulf Coast heard the familiar tone of the National Weather Service’s radio warning. “Devastating damage expected,” the report said. Early the next morning, Aug. 29, Katrina made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane. Katrina wrecked homes, cars, businesses and churches. But for Chuck Register, now executive leader of church planting and missions partnerships for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, it affected more than material possessions. “The storm changed my entire philosophy of ministry,” Register said. Register was in his sixth year as senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Gulfport, Miss., when Katrina struck. FBC held an abbreviated worship service that Sunday morning as a “full evacuation order” went out. Only about 50 people, a fraction of the congregation, attended. Wind gusts of more than 100 miles per hour were only half the danger for Gulfport residents. Properties near the beach, including First Baptist, faced the greater threat of a storm surge. The church’s elevation was 19 feet, yet “we sustained water the equivalent of a 32-foot storm surge,” Register said. The storm devastated four of the church’s seven buildings, and the remaining three structures were unusable. Eighty-five families in the congregation lost everything. Brian Upshaw was First Baptist’s senior associate pastor. His responsibilities were the administration, discipleship and education ministries. Today, he is the disciple-making team leader for Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. After the brief Aug. 28 Sunday service, Upshaw made the church facility “as secure as we could make it.” He packed up the church’s computer server and, along with his family, evacuated to Georgia to stay with his wife’s family. “The next day Chuck called and told me the facility was gone,” Upshaw said. “Chuck saw it on TV. I had not seen it yet, but about 30 minutes later I saw it on the news. A news anchor was standing in front of what was left of our facility.” Upshaw returned to Gulfport with generators and fuel. As daylight broke Thursday, recovery began. With the church directory in hand, the staff began visiting the homes of church members. “Those early days were very hectic and crazy, trying to determine what was going on,” he added. Insurance companies had to be contacted—for his family and for the church. Working without water and electricity, Upshaw faced repairs at every turn. Disaster relief organizations were not able to respond for at least five days. But as the weekend arrived, North Carolina Baptist Men (NCBM) and other relief agencies were figuring out how to get into Gulfport.

Contingency plans First Baptist began to implement a series of contingency plans, Register recounted, “for how we would do church without a facility.” At a retreat the previous April, the church’s staff speculated on the question, “How would we do church if we

didn’t have a facility?” The April retreat was “the hand of God on us,” Upshaw said. “We did what we thought was an intellectual exercise on doing church without a facility. But much of the plan we were able to implement the first five days was a direct result of having those conversations in April. There is no way we could have predicted Katrina, but just the exercise of the staff working through a problem was really beneficial.” The first Sunday after the storm, they joined two other Gulfport churches for worship. First Baptist, Crosspoint Church—a church plant from FBC—and First Presbyterian Church met in Crosspoint’s facility. Gulfport High School allowed First Baptist to use its facilities to worship for the following three years. First Baptist’s ministers met at Register’s house in the early days. “We would divvy up the city in sectors and assign those to a staff member,” he said. “My wife would cook supper for us on the camp stove outside. We would have supper, pray together and the next morning we would take care of those sectors of the city.” “We did our disciple-making through home cell groups throughout the week,” he said. “For the next 18 months our days were consumed with pastoral care … trying to help people put their lives back together in that environment. “The body of Christ worked together better than at any moment in my 55-year history,” Register said. “I had several meetings with North American Mission Board personnel and disaster relief teams to help them understand the need.” “The story of North Carolina Baptist Men is the story of our recovery as a city,” Upshaw added. “Those volunteers who really poured into us and ministered to us,” he emphasized. NCBM were the first feeding unit to arrive. They began what would become a ministry on the Gulf Coast for two and a half years that included more than 40,000 volunteers rebuilding more than 700 homes. Upshaw confessed he learned a lot about ministry fatigue. “The months went on, caring for our own church families’ needs, serving the community, dealing with church administrative issues, trying to find a place to worship, dealing with the nuts and bolts of trying to get an office going, organizing small groups—it’s incredible to think of all that goes into that.” Many of the church’s senior members

were displaced. “They lived in places they thought were safe and secure,” Upshaw said, “but they lost everything.” No one in the church was killed from the storm’s direct onslaught, but some died from related circumstances—many of them can be attributed to the trauma of Katrina, Upshaw added. The church held 26 funerals in the 12 months after Katrina. Upshaw praised Register for keeping a focus on the priorities. “I can’t say enough about Chuck’s leadership,” Upshaw said. The preaching of the Word of God every Sunday, ... keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus in the midst of circumstances, trying to provide as much stability in church life as he could so that people whose lives were falling apart had something that was stable.” Recovery and regrowth Before Hurricane Katrina, worship attendance at First Baptist ranged from 750-800. After the storm, the numbers sank to approximately 400. More than 41,000 residents left the Gulfport-Biloxi area in the period between July 2005 and January 2006, according to a report by the Brookings Institution. Many never returned. “The wave of migration out of Gulfport began with young adults,” Register said, because they were the first ones released from jobs. “Then our senior adults began to leave town,” he said. Needing to rebuild their homes, many seniors decided to relocate near their families in other parts of the state or country. After three years without a permanent facility, the church moved into a 58,000 square-foot building on more than 30 acres of land. To make that transition, the church pooled resources from multiple channels. In what Register describes as providential, the insurance committee of the church had reviewed its policies a year before the storm, adding a million dollars to the flood insurance plan. Register also led the church in a capital campaign to raise money for the new facility. “Our folks really had a sense of stewardship, a sense of commitment to the Father and His Kingdom,” he said. “I was very pleased with the way they responded to the capital stewardship campaign at the same time they were trying to rebuild businesses that had been lost, rebuild homes that had been lost, deal with their own set of life crises. … The Father was honored in that.” Reflecting on the hurricane’s effect on his ministry, Register said, “My history had

been pastoring churches that had grown significantly, had been recognized by the Billy Graham School for their growth … so my ministry had become number-centric.” He had also been a professor of evangelism at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Register described his ministry outlook as, “We had to be larger this Sunday than we were Sunday a year ago.” “What the storm helped me to understand was that for a lot of my ministry I had not been focusing on truly making disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. I was focused on one-half of the Great Commission—the evangelistic side of the coin—but had not focused on the disciplemaking side of the coin.” Discipleship became a priority. “If it’s not life-on-life transformation taking place,” Register said, “we’re missing this thing called disciple-making.” The people in the congregation who were significantly involved in discipleship groups “really rose to the occasion following the storm in ministering to fellow believers and in providing leadership to the body of Christ.” This prompted a significant shift in ministry philosophy for Register. “So many things that I thought were critical in ministry pre-storm,” he said, “seemed to be really insignificant post-storm.” He developed “very little tolerance” for self-serving ministry, now wanting to see outward-focused ministry—among both clergy and congregation—directed toward “impacting our culture with the gospel.” A sense of urgency dominated him. “The storm taught me that whatever you’re going to do for God’s glory and for the Kingdom, you better do it now because you don’t know what tomorrow is going to hold,” Register said. Greatest lesson learned Among the lessons Upshaw learned is that lay leadership is extraordinarily valuable in church ministry. Mobilization begins with “empowering the people at the closest level to the situation,” he said. “Trust people that are closest to the situation to make the call ... those volunteers, the lineman from the power company or those disaster relief volunteers on the site—those are the people that made a difference by making good decisions based on the circumstances they were in.” Although Upshaw already valued the church’s leaders, he said, “I grew in appreciation for the men and women in the church who have an expertise in a certain area—like insurance—and gave that expertise to the church. Because of their wisdom, we had a good inventory of church property,” and First Baptist had the insurance coverage needed to rebuild. The greatest lesson God taught him, however, was “God is faithful. We know that. He proved that to us.” Upshaw shared the words of the popular Matt Redman song “Blessed be Your name” that say, “You give and take away, my heart will choose to say, blessed be Your name.” “Every time I hear that song I think of Katrina, because we were placed in a situation where we had to choose to praise the Lord for who He is and not for our circumstances,” Upshaw said. “God is sovereign even in tragedy, we know He has not abandoned us, and He is still worthy of our worship.” (BP)

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for the future!” From Pastors John Reimer (Koza Baptist Church, Okinawa), Dan Armistead (Seoul International Baptist Church, Korea), Nelson Chapman (Songtan Central Baptist Church, Korea), Dennis Folds (Tokyo Baptist Church, Japan), Terry Lowe (Yokohama International Baptist Church, Japan). The pastors of the Asia Baptist Churches met last year at the HPBC annual meeting to discuss the formation of the Asia Baptist Network.

Asia Baptist Network forms Churches affiliated with the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention in Asia formally came together to form the Asia Baptist Network or ABN. In a letter to the HPBC Executive Board, the following churches have formed this network: Koza Baptist Church, Seoul International Baptist Church, Songtan Central Baptist Church, Tokyo Baptist Church, & Yokohama International Baptist Church. The letter states: “We, the undersigned, having been led by the Holy Spirit, joyfully enter into covenant with one another as a cooperating network of autonomous churches within the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention called the Asia Baptist Network (ABN).” “We celebrate the formation of this association of HPBC churches in Asia and are excited about the plans God has

Church Renewal Journey HPBC Churches can take advantage of the “Church Renewal Journey.” The Church Renewal Journey consists of 5 separate weekends. Each weekend can stand alone enabling the pastor and people to decide what works best for their congregation. Visiting team members will come at their own expense. More information on the 5 different weekends can be found at churchrenewal.net. Also, confidential help for pastors struggling through personal or professional crisis is available with a new partnership between the North American Mission Board and Focus on the Family. The care line is dedicated exclusively to Southern Baptist pastors, chaplains and missionaries by calling 844-PASTOR1. Calls are answered by Focus on the Family’s Family Help Center and remain completely confidential. No information about the calls—including the name of the pastor or the church or the nature of the call—will be provided to NAMB. Contact Clyde Kakiuchi (clyde@hpbaptist.net, 808-356-8331) for more

calendar HPBC-sponsored events in bold OCTOBER 1-31 Cooperative Program Emphasis Month 4 Soul-Winning Commitment Day 11 World Hunger Sunday NOVEMBER 1 Children’s Missions Celebration Day 2 Disaster Relief Appreciation Day

4 General Election Day 4-5 New Workers Orientation, Ala Moana Hotel 5-6 Annual Meeting, Olivet Baptist Church 11 Veterans’ Day 26 Thanksgiving 29-6 Week of Prayer & Mission Study for International Missions & Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

information.

Volunteers available from NC Convention Through the ongoing partnership of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, HPBC churches and organizations can make requests for volunteers from North Carolina. Mark Abernathy, consultant for partnership missions, says, “Greetings to you from North Carolina! God has blessed North Carolina Baptists with an exciting and fruitful partnership with the churches of Hawaii-Pacific Baptist Convention. Several of our churches served throughout the islands this year. We feel so blessed to be a part of what God is doing!” “It would be our pleasure to recruit mission teams to assist you and your congregation in fulfilling your vision for reaching your community for Christ. I have information about requesting volunteer mission teams for next year. I realize this summer is not even over, but our churches begin their planning early. We will be mailing an initial list out in late September and would like to have as many requests in as possible by September 10. Please contact me if I can be of service to you in any way – or - if you have questions about filling out a request form.” “Our churches here have received a tremendous blessing in past years through our Partnership with Baptists of Hawaii and the Pacific. Many of you have received teams from North Carolina in the past. Thank you! Others may have not yet requested a NC team. I encourage

JANUARY 2015 you to to request a volunteer mission team (or teams!) from North Carolina in 2016. Our desire is to work alongside you in reaching your community for Christ. Here are some of the ways our volunteer teams have participated in the past: Vacation Bible Schools, Community Surveys, Block/Park Parties, Kids Clubs, Music/Drama Outreach, Servant Evangelism, Leadership Training, Sports Camps and Clinics, Construction and much more!” The process for requesting a North Carolina volunteer mission team is simple: 1. Pray about the ministry you would have a North Carolina team or teams assist you in. 2. Fill out a NC Volunteer Request Form, including as much detail as possible about the project – housing, meals, material costs (if any). 3. Send the request to me, Mark Abernathy, North Carolina Baptist Men. I will begin publication of your request among our churches and associations. 4. When a church team shows interest, I will put the team leader in direct contact with you to work out all the logistical details “God bless you and your family as you serve Him in Hawaii and the Pacific! We are praying for you! Please feel free to contact me at any time if you have any questions about the Partnership or about the status of a specific request. My contacts are – 1-800-395-5102 x 5607; 919459-5607 –or- mabernathy@ncbaptist. org.” Churches can fill out the forms are available at hpbaptist.net or call Lisa (808-356-8325 or lisa@hpbaptist.net).

DECEMBER 25 Christmas

prayer calendar OCTOBER 1 Eun-Suk Choi - Global Revival, Oahu 1 Bryan Wittekind - Waianae , Oahu 2 Chie Watanabe - Olivet, Oahu 3 Steven Hedlund - Kohala, Big Island 3 Danni Komatsu - Kahului, Maui 4 Jae Kil Lee - Retired, Oahu 4 Brian Smart – CPC, Honolulu 8 Herb Oshiro - Retired, Oahu 8 Dee Gray - Makaha Valley, Oahu 10 Frances Oh - Retired, Oahu 10 Lindsey Gaikowski - Puu Kahea, Oahu 11 Susan Chong - Retired, Oahu 11 Daniel Tomita - Kinoole, Big Island 12 Vicky Kawamae - Cornerstone, Oahu 13 Florence Baggett - Retired, Oahu 13 Mark Teves - Chaplaincy, Oahu 13 Natalie Morikawa - Kailua, Oahu 14 Rick Lazor - OlaNui!, Oahu 15 Kil Chung - Chaplaincy, Oahu 15 Lillie Lauifi - Falemauga, Am. Samoa 16 Paul Kaneshiro - Pukalani, Maui 16 Jeremy Kaneshiro - Valley Isle, Maui 16 Lucy Tafao - Happy Valley, Samoa 19 Jeff Evans - Pali View, Oahu 23 Leon Baker - Retired, Big Island 23 John Denton - Chaplaincy, Oahu 25 Elise Tafao - Happy Valley, Samoa 26 Kyung Sook Kim - Maui 1st Korean, Maui 27 Hyung Hoon Kim - Global Revival, Oahu 28 Jason Hew - Olivet, Oahu 28 Charlene Vaughn - Retired, Oahu

29 29 31 31

Clarice Kaneshiro - Valley Isle, Maui Kesley Poll - Anapouo, Oahu Hatsue Kinoshita - Retired, Oahu Richard McFatridge - HPBC, Oahu

NOVEMBER 1 Vaafuti Filipo - Pago Pago, Am. Samoa 2 Sekap Esah - Sap’UK Hawaii Chuukese, Oahu 3 Debbie Armstrong - Kihei, Maui 3 Samantha Davis - Aloha Community 3 Bong Hyuk Lim - Mililani Korean 7 Aki Reian - Waianae Chuukese 8 Roberta Harada - Retired, Oahu 8 Jung A. Kang - Hilo Korean, Big Island 9 Geno Takaki - Haleiwa, Oahu 11 Jefferson Poll - Anapouo, Oahu 14 Beom Lee - Olive, Oahu 15 Rudy Gomintong - HI Christian, Oahu 15 He Young Kim - Global Revival, Oahu 17 Janice Morita - Olivet, Oahu 18 Jerry Sulliban - HPBC, Oahu 19 Yang Suk Kim - Cornerstone Korean, Oahu 21 Ben Carino - Haleiwa Filipino, Oahu 21 Kim Wittekind - Waianae , Oahu 23 Denver Copeland - Waikoloa, Big Island 24 Joshua Marburger - Pukalani, Maui 24 Rob Puckett - Calvary, Guam 27 Mike Komatsu - Kahului, Maui 28 Steven Gray - FBC Wahiawa, Oahu 28 Tsunenori Uchino - Agape Japanese, Oahu

Ordination Council for Scott Berggren at Pali View Baptist Church on August 28. Pictured L to R are: Glenn Harada, Chris Martin, Steve Irvin (pastor of Pali View), Scott Berggren, Makito Watanabe, Brent Schlittenhart, Bob Gierhart and Michael Abagon. Photo by Clyde Kakiuchi

Life Christian Church celebrated its 6th Anniversary and appointing of 2 new elders on August 23. Pastor of the church is Shaw Okawara. The church recently moved their place of worship at Nuuanu Baptist Church. Photo by Clyde Kakiuchi