Pacific Connector | 2024 issue 6 (Nov Dec)

Annual Meeting 2024

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Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel, not being frightened in any way by your opponents.

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Contending Together

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Philippians 1:27-28 CSB

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connector 2024 l NOV DEC VOL 54 l ISSUE 6

Building the Kingd m From One Servant Leader to Another Contending Together Aloha Hawaii Pacific Baptists,

Craig Webb Executive Director/Treasurer 808-946-9581 craig@hpbaptist.net

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As we gather at Hawaii Baptist Academy for our 82nd Annual Meeting, our theme is "Contending Together," drawn from the words of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 1:27-28: “Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel.”

IMB AllPhoto: three of your convention speakers this year will address this theme! This includes me as well as your HPBC president, Pastor Brian Frable, and our keynote speaker, Gateway Seminary president, Dr. Adam Groza.

The primary application of this passage is to the local church. A call to strive sideby-side (ESV), contending together (CSB), and labor alongside for the faith of the gospel as members of a local body of Christ. For 175 years, Southern Baptists and for 82 years, Hawaii Pacific Baptists, have also chosen to cooperate and contend together to accomplish more than we could on our own. Our SBC Executive Committee president, Jeff Iorg, said it this way in a recent speech: Because of national Cooperative Program and other gifts, we have the largest mission sending agency, largest domestic church planting movement, largest seminary and largest seminary system in the United States—and likely the world. The depth and breadth of these organizations represent the cumulative impact of almost two centuries of cooperation. When it comes to generosity, Southern Baptists are a force for good.

About the Cover Hawaii Pacific Baptists look forward to what God is going to do in the coming year by embracing the theme "Contending Together."

For More Issues Scan this QR code or visit: hpbaptist.net/pacificconnector

We are on mission to share the gospel with every person and express God’s love in every context. We believe the Bible is Truth. While we often argue about how to interpret the Bible, we are uncompromising in our commitment to it as our absolute authority. Amazingly, we do all this collectively—without coercion or mandate—cooperating because we really believe we can do more together than we can on our own.

Hawaii Pacific Baptists, we are a force for good. The HPBC provides a vehicle for churches to contend together for the gospel. We provide the support, encouragement, challenge, resources, connections, and relationships to help churches “contend together.”

In this issue of Pacific Connector, you'll find stories of how our churches are living out this call to contend together. You'll read about innovative evangelism, evangelistic Vacation Bible Schools, new church plants, and the impact of our partnerships with our North American Mission Board.

Thank you for your dedication and faithfulness to live lives worthy of the gospel and stand firm, in one spirit and one accord, as we contend together for the faith of the gospel.

All glory to God,

Craig Webb HPBC executive director-treasurer

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Pacific Connector 2042 Vancouver Dr, Honolulu HI 96822 l 808-946-9581 Executive Director, Editor Craig Webb craig@hpbaptist.net Associate Editor Dawn Akutagawa dawn@hpbaptist.net Content Editor Hannah Denney hannahkdenney@gmail.com Contributing Editor Brandon Pickett Designer Patti Spencer Contributing Writers: Michael Abagon, Hannah Denney, Johnny Hom, Sarah Houser, Andrew Large, Robert Miller, Erik Naylor, and Craig Webb The Pacific Connector highlights people and churches that work to spread the Good News of Jesus by reaching the Pacific and Asia.

Information: Information about the Pacif ic Connector or the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention is available by emailing info@hpbaptist.net, or calling 808-946-9581. You may also write to Pacific Connector, Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention, 2042 Vancouver Drive, Honolulu HI 96822.

Online Access: The Pacific Connector is provided online, free of charge, and available at: hpbaptist.net/pacificconnector.

Designed by Innovative Faith Resources, a non-profit media firm, specializing in helping churches and non-profits with graphic design, video, branding, and f inancial services. Visit innovativefaith.org.

Contents

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Features

Departments

4-5 HPBC Annual Meeting

Building the Kingdom

Contending Together in Christ­— Guest Speaker is Adam Groza, president of Gateway Seminary

10 Lahaina Baptist

2 Update from our executive director-treasurer.

Something to Celebrate

Back in Building

9 Church Anniversary

One year after the fire, Lahaina Baptist resumed meeting in its wooden building.

11-12 Pastors

13 O'ahu Collegiate

Welcome Week

Baptist Collegiate Ministies partnered with Louisiana Tech BCM to reachout to new and returning students at the University of Hawaii, Manoa.

Opportunities 6 Lottie Moon

Christmas Offering Your gifts at work by taking the gospel to unreached people every day.

7 52 Sundays Resources are available for downloading and sharing.

8 Essentials Curriculum A practical guide to help your church establish an abuse prevention and response plan.

FBC Wahiawa celebrates its 90th Anniversary.

Andrew Large retires after 42 years of ministry. Steve Houser moves to the mainland to accept a new call to pastoral ministry. Waiehu Community Church ordains and installs new elders. Nasa Sete, church planter, will moveto Oahu in June 2025 to establish a new church plant.

14-15 Vacation Bible School Many children experienced a good time and learned of God's grace and love through the many Hawaii Pacific VBS's this past summer. Several churches connecting with children were Eleele BC, Connections Church, Valley Isle Fellowship, Kalihi BC, Waipahu Community Christian Church, Koza BC, and Waikoloa BC.

16 Missions Mission work in Fukuoka, Japan was taken on by Nu'uanu Baptist and Central Baptist.

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Ju w st a or on yo nd thy e co u se of th b n ar e y th ing P ein ten e s ou e g : A hi g d ta o o s lip f r in n r a sp c pi ig g din m el itiz an ht to g a of e s en ge fi bs Ch ns 1:2 e th rm en r o 7- d i e t is f 28 n r f in , I w t. T he a C any or t on ill he ve SB n, n e h h w e s e w ,l ay fa pi ar h iv by ith rit, ab eth e y yo of in ou er ou ur the on t y I c r li op g e a ou om fe po osp cc th e ne el or at nt , no d, s. t ~

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Contending Together on

November 7-8 on

Hawaii Baptist Academy Stan Sagert High School Campus 2429 Pali Hwy, Honolulu, HI 96817

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Annual Meeting 2024

Thursday Evening November 7

Friday Afternoon November 8

5:00 pm 6:00 pm 6:05 pm 6:25 pm 6:30 pm 6:35 pm

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6:50 pm 7:00 pm 7:20 pm 7:30 pm 7:50 pm 8:00 pm

2:00 pm 2:05 pm 2:10 pm

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Registration & Refreshments Call to Order and Theme Video Worship Welcome and Announcements Invocation Credentials & Resolutions Committee Report Introduction of New Pastors, Workers, and Guests Recognition of Pacific & Asia Guests HBA 75th Anniversary Celebration Scripture Reading President's Message Closing Worship Adjournment/Benediction/Refreshments

Friday Morning November 8

speakers

7:30 am 8:15 am 8:20 am 8:35 am 8:40 am 9:00 am 9:15 am 9:20 am 9:45 am 10:00 am 10:30 am 10:40 am 10:55 am 11:05 am 11:15 am 11:40 am 12 noon

Registration & Refreshments Call to Order/Announcements Worship Invocation Greetings from SBC Agencies HPBC Church Planting Focus Scripture Reading HPBC Staff Report Communications Committee Report Break & Refreshments Worship Greetings from SBC Agencies Hawaii Baptist Foundation Report Hawaii Baptist Academy Report Executive Director-Treasurer’s Message Adjournment/Benediction Lunch: sponsored by Hawaii Baptist Foundation (Registration Required)

Dr. Adam Groza is president of

Gateway Seminary and professor of philosophy of religion. He and his wife Holly have been married since 2000 and have four children: Cosette, Charlie, Christian, and Cate. He is the co-author with J.P. Moreland of Unraveling Philosophy (B&H Academic) and Faith Wins: Overcoming a Crisis of Belief (New Hope Publishers).

Call to Order Invocation Credentials & Resolutions Committee Report Convention Arrangements Committee & Order of Business Committee Report Executive Board Reports & Recommendations New Business Committee on Committees & Board Nominations Elections of New Officers Introduction of New Officers Adjournment/Benediction

Friday Evening November 8 6:00 pm 6:30 pm 6:35 pm 6:50 pm 6:55 pm 7:05 pm 7:10 pm 7:40 pm 7:50 pm 7:55 pm

Registration Call to Order/Announcements Worship Invocation Acknowledgement of Outgoing Officers Scripture Reading & Theme Video Annual Meeting Message Closing Worship Credentials Committee Report Adjournment/Benediction/Refreshments

Brian Frable is the pastor of Kona Baptist on Hawaii Island and our HPBC president. He served churches in Oklahoma before moving his family to Hawaii. He is a graduate of Lancaster Bible College and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is married to Amanda, a teacher at Makua Lani Christian Academy, and the mother of their six beautiful children.

Craig Webb is our executive director-treasurer. Born and raised in Hawaii, he moved to Tennessee at eleven. He earned his degrees from Samford University (BA), Southern Seminary (MDiv), and New Orleans Seminary (DMin). Craig served churches in Tennessee and Hawaii and worked at Lifeway. Craig is married to Barbara, and they have three grown children and four grandchildren.

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NEW PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR YOUR CHURCH Essentials: Sexual Abuse Prevention and Response Training This new practical guide is designed to assist local churches in walking through five sessions that unpack each essential, helping them establish or evaluate an abuse prevention and response plan.

The curriculum provides easy “Next Steps” to implement each essential. Gather a team of five

church leaders who lead or work with children, students, vulnerable adults, the Pastor, deacons/ elders, etc. Go through the five essentials and complete each essential’s next steps before moving on to the next one. Allow about five months to complete all of the “Next Steps.”

Copies of the curriculum are available for each church at the table in the exhibit hall at the Annual Meeting or by e-mailing Dawn in our office at dawn@hpbaptist.net.

Learn more and access the curriculum and training videos online at tinyurl.com/sbcabuseprevention.

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Anniversary

First Baptist Wahiawa Celebrates Its 90th Anniversary Written by Michael Abagon, pastor

First Baptist Church of Wahiawa is proud to celebrate its 90th Anniversary. Its journey has been one marked by faith, resilience, and community.

Founded in November 1925 by Charles J. McDonald, the church began as a small outreach aimed at spreading the gospel beyond Honolulu. With support from local laymen, Pastor McDonald held the first service at a public playground. There, seeds of a vibrant congregation were planted.

This year's celebration theme was titled, "Beauty for Ashes," which is inspired by Isaiah 61. It reflects the church's triumphs over adversity, including challenges from COVID-19 and the devastating Lahaina fire.

The month-long festivities began with a Community Fun Fair which featured shave ice, VBS songs, Bible distribution, and a message of hope. FBC Wahiawa also hosted a drive-thru food distribution in partnership with Aloha Harvest and Waipahu Community Christian Church, reinforcing its commitment to serving the community.

Highlights included a special Anniversary Banquet during the Anniversary Sunday with Dr. Craig Webb and a powerful message from Dr. Edsel Bone. The celebrations showcased music, testimonies, and even baptisms, emphasizing the church’s enduring legacy.

As FBC Wahiawa looks to the future, it prays for a bountiful harvest for the next 90 years and beyond!

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Lahaina Baptist Back in Building Written by Erik Naylor, LBC pastor

On August 8th, 2023, a catastrophic wildfire tore through Lahaina, destroying 2,200 structures and claiming 102 lives, becoming the deadliest fire in the United States in over a century.

Though most of Lahaina Town was destroyed, a small wooden structure survived the hurricane winds and melting fire. In God’s providence, Lahaina Baptist Church (LBC) was surrounded by smoke and flame but was not destroyed.

On September 1st, 2024, one year after the fire, Lahaina Baptist Church resumed meeting in the wooden building that was not claimed by the Maui wildfires. And perhaps that too is a visual picture of this wounded church beginning to

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recover from the spiritual devastation that did not ultimately crush her.

By God’s grace, I have been given the extraordinary privilege to serve the saints in Lahaina as the new pastor. We have seen 3 baptisms and 13 individuals join the church since the fire and today our congregation numbers 25 believers.

Thank you for your prayers and partnership through both the fire of 2023 and the spiritual battle that almost claimed this church. Thank the Lord that he will never leave us nor forsake us. And he has tangibly shown us this truth through fellow believers and sister churches like you.

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Spotlight On Pastors

Andrew Large Retires after 42 Years of Ministry Written by Andrew Large

This month marks 42 years since Andrew Large began his local church ministry as Interim Youth Pastor at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Ennis, TX. Over the years, God called him to various pastoral roles, including Youth Pastor, Music Minister, College Minister, and Single Adult Ministry, serving in Texas, Alaska, Alabama, Florida, and finally, for the past 29 years, in Hawaii.

In 2023, we featured this ministry with a great video. Watch the video here: vimeo.com/852486812.

One of the joys of his ministry has been seeing disciples make disciples and partnering with church planters. Although he is retiring after 18 years at Waikiki Baptist Church, he emphasizes he will never retire from serving God in ministry.

Steve Houser Accepts New Call to Pastoral Ministry on Mainland Written by Sara Houser

After serving for 14 years at Songtan Central Baptist Church (English ministry) in South Korea, Pastor Steve Houser has accepted a new calling to serve as Senior Pastor of a Southern Baptist Church in Kingsport, Tennessee. Steve and his family will be transitioning stateside in November to begin serving at Bloomingdale Baptist Church and the surrounding community.

The Houser family has loved living overseas and serving alongside the Hawaii Pacific Baptist churches. Pastor Steve is excited about the opportunity to bring his commitment to preaching the Word, missions, and family ministry along with his connections with the HPBC (and Korea!) to continue to serve the Lord in Kingsport, Tennessee.

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Spotlight On Pastors

Waiehu Community Church Ordains and Installs New Elders Written by Robert Miller

On September 29, Waiehu Community Church (WCC) celebrated the ordination of Kenny Komatsu and Joshua Lockhart at the Ula Ula Café property where the church regularly meets.

Pastors and church members from partner churches on O’ahu, Lanai, and Maui came to support and affirm the calling of these two men.

These men join Rocky Komatsu as pastors of WCC. During the evening service Rocky Komatsu moderated and Todd Morikawa, Pastor of Kailua Baptist Church on Oahu, brought the message.

After the service friends and family shared a fellowship meal. Both Kenny and Joshua are married, raised on Maui, and have been active in various ministries.

Church Planter Nasa Sete Plans to Move to O’ahu in 2025 Written by Craig Webb

One of the ways your church’s gifts help Hawaii Pacific Baptist churches is through the Send Network. Send Network, of the North American Mission Board, partners with HPBC to evaluate, train, endorse, deploy, and support church planters.

One new church we hope to see in 2025 is being planted by Nasa Sete, focusing on reaching Polynesians.

Nasa was born on Oahu and raised on Maui. His wife, Caroline, was born and raised in Tonga. They have four children, Roman (8) Otani (5), Lesieli (3) and Ruth (1).

They live in South Bend, Indiana where they serve at Gospel City Church with Pastor Micah Klutinoty.

Nasa shared that “in 2020, God birthed in my wife and me a desire to reach our Polynesian people through the local church.” After exploring the calling, they plan to move to Oahu in June 2025 to establish a new church plant through Gospel City Church.

Please pray for their family as they make moving preparations.

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Collegiate Ministries

Baptist Collegiate Ministries, O’ahu Collegiate Welcome Week Written by Hannah Denney

August 26th marked the start of University of Hawaii, Manoaʻs first week of school. Baptist Collegiate Ministries, Oʻahu (BCM Oʻahu) in partnership with Louisiana Tech BCM started an outreach on campus through tabling, doing surveys, Gospel henna, video games, and other outreach initiatives everyday to reach as many students as possible. They also met with new students/ contacts who wanted to hear more about the Gospel, and put on multiple events that first week of school to reach and welcome new and returning students.

Praise God for how He is working in and through the lives of students on the UH Manoa campus and through the students, student leaders, interns, and BCM Staff who have been called to share their faith and lives with the lost on campus.

Through all of these outreaches BCM saw 130 students show up at the first weekly BBQ, along with an average of 30 students at each of the other events. God has been moving and bringing more and more students to Him this semester with, to this day, over 110 Gospel conversations with UH Manoa students, and over 20 indications from students to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior for the first time.

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Spotlight On VBS

Eleele Baptist Church VBS (June 17-21) Eleele Baptist Church, on the westside of Kauai, held a Vacation Bible School from June 17-June 21, 2024. Kids embarked on an epic adventure by taking the kids on a jungle cruise where they learned how God is King of the ages, immortal, invisible, and the one and only God. The jungle cruise stopped at seven ports of call, each representing one of the 7 C's of History: Creation, Corruption, Catastrophe, Confusion, Christ, Cross, and Consummation. Larry Hale is pastor.

Connections Church (June 24-28)

Valley Isle Fellowship (July 15-19)

Chiildren learned about missions that's happening around the world at Connections Church Vacation Bible School. David Whitehead is pastor.

At Valley Isle Fellowship, we are so thankful for the volunteers who dedicated their week to helping with VBS! The Lord once again showed us that Vacation Bible School is truly of His own doing.

We carried out the Lord’s will by sharing His love through His Word and the Gospel of Christ. Nick Love is pastor.

Kalihi Baptist Joint VBS (July 23-26) Kalihi Baptist (Pastor Alberto Camacho), in partnership with Fellowship Baptist (Pastor Harlan Nakasone), Living Faith Baptist, Hawaii Chinese Baptist (Pastor Andrew Tong), and Lightcast Church of Queens, NY, put on a joint Vacation Bible School this past July 23-26. There were 83 kids who attended the VBS held at Kalihi Baptist, and 13 prayed to receive Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord.

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Spotlight On VBS

WCCC Joint VBS (July 15-19) Waipahu Community Christian Church (Pastor Glenn Basuel) held a joint Vacation Bible School with Hawaii Christian Baptist (Pastor Rudy Gomintong) and Word of Truth Church from July 15-19, 2024.

Koza Baptist VBS (July 29 - Aug 2) The Vacation Bible School at Koza Baptist revolved around celebrating the truth of God and praising God that we are saved by Jesus. Through Koza's VBS, the kids learned that Jesus saves … my Lifeguard walks on water! Annette Macfarlane is director of family life ministries and Chris Eyre is lead pastor.

Waikōloa (June 24-28) Waikōloa Baptist Church's VBS week was held at the beginning of summer, June 24-28, with a 19 member mission team from FBC Tuplo, MS. This great week averaged around 50 kids for the week, with one salvation. The theme was scuba, complete with a whale and suspended scuba diver. Trent Thompson is pastor.

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Missions

Nu'uanu Baptist & Central Baptist Mission Trip to Fukuoka, Japan Written by Johnny Hom

In August 2024, Nu’uanu Baptist and Central Baptist partnered to send a mission team to Fukuoka, Japan.

By hosting a VBS program for Sawara Christ Church, the team was able to share the gospel with many children and parents in the local neighborhood through songs, testimonies, Bible lessons, and activities.

The Hawaii team helped newcomers build connections with the local church through hosting a worship night, a hula lesson, and an English conversation cafe.

In many ways, God sovereignly opened doors to connect with people who desperately needed to hear about Jesus, and He affirmed the great need for continual mission work in the city.

Please pray for Pastor Sasagu Kayama and the members of Sawara Christ Church, and also for the IMB missionaries who are serving in Fukuoka.

Team members: Johnny Hom, Dalton Slavens, Irene Nagahara, Andrew Cabagbag, Tani Salazar, Mia Timmer. Bob Gierhart is pastor of Nu'uanu and Dalton Slavens is pastor of Central.

IMB and the NAMB Celebrate Record Giving When the books closed on the SBC’s 2023-24 fiscal year, the Annie offering totaled $74.7 million, and the Lottie offering totaled $206.8 million — record highs for both.

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