Kingd m Building the
Craig Webb
Executive Director/Treasurer
808-946-9581
craig@hpbaptist.net
From One Servant Leader to Another Walking together in Prayer
Aloha Hawaii Pacific Baptists,
As we approach Easter in April, I'm reminded of Jesus's intimate relationship with the Father – a love so deep that even in Gethsemane, He prayed "Abba, Father" (Mark 14:36). Through His sacrifice on the cross, we too have been adopted as sons and daughters. As Paul writes, "And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba, Father!'" (Galatians 4:6). What an incredible privilege that we can approach our loving Father with both intimacy and reverence.
This year, as we continue "Contending Together," I've been deeply encouraged by how you are embracing a call to partnership and prayer. Many of you are already using our 30-day prayer guide at hpbaptist.net/ prayhawaii to lift up our HPBC churches, pastors, and their wives. Your faithful prayers are strengthening our collective witness across the Pacific and Asia and beyond.
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In my contact with Hawaii Pacific Baptists, I've witnessed firsthand how partnership and prayer are transforming our fellowship. Our congregations are discovering afresh what it means to be, as Paul writes, "standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel" (Philippians 1:27).
In this issue of Pacific Connector, you'll find stories that showcase how our churches are putting partnership and prayer into action. You'll read about innovative ministries, outreach efforts, and the impact of our partnership with SEND Network as we welcome new church-planting families to Hawaii in 2025.
As citizens of heaven living worthy of the gospel, we have the privilege of approaching our Father who sees us, knows our needs before we ask, and invites us into an intimate relationship with Him. Let's continue to pray, partner, and contend for the advance of God's kingdom across our convention.
All glory to God,
Craig Webb Executive Director-Treasurer Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention
About the Cover Hanalei Valley of Kauai, Hawaii (licensed
Pacific Connector
2042 Vancouver Dr. Honolulu, HI 96822 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: Alice Bice, Craig Coppenbarger, Hannah Denney, Irtaas Laal Din, Chris Eyre, Arjay Gruspe, Noe Okawara, Meredith Palicte, Ezekiel K. Tomaselli, Diana Ventura, Craig Webb, and John and Gay Williams
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 Pacific Connector or the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention is available by emailing info@hpbaptist.net, or calling 808946-9581. You may also write to Pacific Connector , Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention, 2042 Vancouver Drive, Honolulu HI 96822.
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The Pacific Connector is provided online, free of charge, and available at: hpbaptist.net/pacificconnector.
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Features
4 Maui Fire Caring Ministry: An Update
MCBA and HPBC partner to reach out to fire survivors to be a beacon of hope.
5 Disaster Relief Training
Churches prepare to respond to their community with their love and generous support.
9 Pastors Forum Recap & Looking Forward
HPBC pastors come together to learn from knowledgeable speakers on ministry relevant topics.
10 Tomaselli Accepts Pastor Position at Waiakea Uka Bible Church
This June, Waiakea Uka Bible Church will be installing a new pastor, Ezekiel K. Tomaselli, who will be coming from Tennessee.
11 Coppenbarger to Start a Military Church Plant
The Coppenbargers bring two decades of military and ministry experience to plant and serve Pearl Harbor communities.
Departments
Building the Kingdom
2 Update from our executive director-treasurer.
6 Annie Armstrong Easter Offering: Step Into the Story
7 Count It All Joy: a Women's Mission Celebration. 52 Sundays
8 Ways Your Church Can Use the 52 Sundays Resources
Something to Celebrate
12-16 Much to celebrate with outreach events, internships, new facility construction, and mission trips.
Maui Fire Caring Ministry
An Update
Toa family who spent seven hours on August 8th, 2023, standing in the ocean waiting to be picked up by fire rescue, passing a seven-month-old baby between themselves and others stranded by the disaster to keep the infant above water, a simple phone call of care and love can have a far greater impact than one can imagine. This is but one story in the ever-unfolding saga of the devastating Lahaina fire, and one that Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention (HPBC) churches have continued to be invested in as they care for survivors and help their journey to recovery.
The Maui County Baptist Association (MCBA) and HPBC have extended the Maui Fire Care Ministry (MFCM) through July 2025, continuing to reach out to over 744 fire survivors. With 12 volunteers from local churches, they have completed 50% of the follow-ups, and the extension allows more time to complete this task.
Since its launch in June 2024, MFCM has made a significant impact in helping Oahu’s Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) deliver truckloads of household essentials. They meet
with survivors in various locations—parking lots, churches, malls, and even Starbucks— offering support wherever needed. These meetings have led to deeper connections, shared stories, and ultimately, the exchange of a Bible and the Gospel.
Donna Beal, one of the leaders of MFCM, shared how God’s Word has been a source of hope in the wake of disaster. Every family receives a Bible, with volunteers guiding them to key passages like Proverbs 3:5-6. Many survivors are moved to tears, showing the emotional and spiritual impact of Scripture.
MFCM has become a beacon of hope, offering peace and faith amidst loss. Their work goes beyond meeting physical needs—it reaches hearts, providing comfort only God can give.
To find out more or to volunteer with the Maui Fire Care Ministry, contact: mauifirecaringministry.mcba@gmail.com
Left, top: Christmas gifts in Lahaina keiki Left, bottom: VOAD delivery
Above: Distributive Education Clubs of America & Kahului Baptist Church (KBC) Deacons
One of the key components of showing Christ’s love in a disaster situation is preparation. Hawaii Pacific Baptist Disaster Relief has been busy preparing to meet the call when disaster strikes. Olivet Baptist Church graciously hosted the first Disaster Relief training of 2025 on January 18th. Over forty volunteers attended the training, which included basic disaster relief, recovery, evangelism, and introduction to chaplaincy. A new component of DR training includes personal readiness and the “Ready Church” model, which encourages
churches to prepare to respond to their community.
Thank you to the HPBC churches for your overwhelming support and vision for loving your neighbors in need.
Hawaii Pacific Disaster Relief is part of the larger Southern Baptist Disaster Relief and SEND Relief network, which brings help, hope, and healing anywhere in the world. These efforts could not be accomplished without your love and support through prayer and generous giving.
23 members of Olivet Baptist participated in the training. Jamie McElrath is senior pastor.
Step Into the STORY
By Diana Ventura
The Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North America Missions is coming up on March 2-9.
This year's offering theme is Step Into the Story: “For they have gone out for the sake of the name … therefore, we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.” 3 John 1:7-8
Every gift to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering—100 percent—goes to train, resource, and send thousands of missionaries involved in church planting and compassion ministries across the United States, Canada, and territories. The Hawaii Pacific Baptist Goal is $125,000 and the national amount is $78,000,000.
Our very own Hawaii Pacific church planters past, present, and future are supported through
your gifts and offerings. It is exciting how our convention is welcoming new church planter families in 2025. We get to play a role to pray and support these families.
Please help by promoting the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering in your church. Downloadable resources are available at anniearmstrong.com/resources
Thank you for your support and generous giving to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. May every one of us "step into the story"! Your prayers and support are all for Kingdom building.
$125,000
National: $78,000,000
Celebration 2025 Count It All Joy
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds." ~ James 1:2
By Diana Ventura
Woman's Missionary Union Missions (WMU)
Every year in Hawaii, we host the Woman's Missionary Union (WMU) missions celebration. It's a special day when we all gather to fellowship and hear stories from the field. This year's WMU Mission Celebration will be on Saturday, April 26, 2025. The theme will be Count It All Joy as we reflect on the true joy that comes from knowing Jesus. The keynote speaker will be Connie Dixon, WMU National President and Denise DeLeon Clymer, New Mexico WMU President among other testimonies from ministry leaders. This special day is a celebration of the many ways the Lord is moving throughout our state, country, and the world. Registration and details will be available in March.
The missions celebration is coordinated and planned by Ten Jocson, Hawaii WMU President, and Diana
Ventura, Women's Ministry Director & Hawaii WMU Executive Director.
About WMU: WMU is our national partner that reminds and encourages us to be intentional and fervent in praying for our missionaries. Praying through a monthly calendar over missionaries on their birthday. To give towards missions through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering and to the Sue Nishikawa Offering for Hawaii Pacific Missions.
Together we can be kingdom minded by supporting each other. Missionary stories from the past and present are evidence of how God is moving throughout the nations and in our own backyard. It allows us to see the gospel moving on the ground internationally, nationally, and locally.
Life Christian Church shares information about a church supported missionary using the 52 Sundays resources
Ways
OYour Church Can Use the 52 Sundays Resources
By Hannah Denney
ne of the trademarks of Southern Baptist life is the mutual support and fellowship between churches that find ways to support each other, and promote the various ministries God is using to further His kingdom.
A resource that helps to bring awareness of these new ministries is 52 Sundays. This initiative highlights missionaries and ministries supported through Cooperative Giving, including HPBC’s own David & Nancy Whitehead and Shaw & Noe Okawara.
Churches have found creative ways to incorporate 52 Sundays into their congregations. Nu’uanu Baptist previously held a “Missions Moment” every 3rd Sunday to share updates and encourage prayer. Olivet and Life Christian both raise mission awareness through preservice slides, and reading the prayer requests provided in the 52 Sundays prayer guide, keeping their congregation informed and engaged.
Bulletin inserts also help spread the message. Nu’uanu Baptist and Olivet includes 52 Sundays stories in their bulletins weekly, sparking interest, increasing prayer, and helping members see the impact of Cooperative Program funds.
Social media further expands 52 Sundays reach. Posting content on platforms like Facebook and Instagram allows members to share, repost, and be reminded to pray throughout the week. It also helps younger generations recognize the Cooperative Program’s mission and their role in it.
No matter how your church chooses to use 52 Sundays, it serves as a vital tool to unite in prayer and action for the Great Commission. We are blessed to be part of a convention that values and advances the Gospel worldwide.
Olivet Baptist Church places 52 Sunday information in its bulletin
Pastors Forum Recap & Looking Forward
By Hannah Denney
The Pastors Forum is a way for HPBC pastors to come together and learn from knowledgeable speakers on topics ranging from church structure and revitalization to navigating contemporary ministry challenges. Each talk is followed by Q&A time aimed at helping churches grow and move forward while dealing with the issues of our time.
Our February forum featured Mark Hallock, who shared valuable insights on church revitalization. As lead pastor of Calvary Church in Colorado and president of the Calvary Family of Churches, Mark outlined four pathways for revitalization and five markers indicating a church's readiness for renewal. His practical wisdom drew from years of experience transforming congregations and neighborhoods.
For the next Pastors Forum, we will be joined by Trevin Wax on the topic of
pastoral authority. Trevin serves as Vice President of Research and Resource Development at the North American Mission Board and a visiting professor at Cedarville University. A founding editor of The Gospel Project , he has authored multiple books including The Thrill of Orthodoxy and The MultiDirectional Leader . The meeting will be hosted on Zoom Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. HST.
Come and experience this amazing resource for pastors provided and organized by the Hawaii Baptist Convention to pour into our churches.
Visit hpbaptist.net/video-resources to view recordings of all the forums.
Tomaselli Accepts Pastor Position at Waiakea Uka Bible Church
By Ezekiel K. Tomaselli
We are excited to serve the Lord back home in Hilo, Hawai’i, and look forward to leading and loving Waiakea Uka Bible Church (WUBC). When we heard of this opportunity and that the church had relocated right at the edge of Pana’ewa Hawaiian Homestead—where I grew up and where we raised our boys—we saw it as an opportunity to seek
the Lord. The Lord clarified that we were to move our lives from Tennessee back to Hilo to join in on what He is doing in the islands through WUBC.
Pray for our family and WUBC as we lock arms to make much of Jesus in our hometown. We plan to arrive back in Hilo on June 1st.
Praise the Lord!
Craig and Maggie Coppenbarger to Start a Military Church Plant: Valor Church
By Craig Coppenbarger
Did you know Oahu is home to over 200,000 Active-Duty service members and their families? Did you know only 10% of military members claim to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ?
Jesus commissioned the first disciples to “Go” and make more disciples. As disciples were made, churches were formed. Today, this church planting pattern continues, and it is with great joy that we share with you about our church planting effort serving the communities around Pearl Harbor.
Craig and Maggie have been called to Hawaii to start Valor Church. They bring two decades of military and ministry experience to their work. They have planted two successful churches and have a strong track record of training and sending out numerous others into ministry. Their background uniquely positions them to understand and address the challenges that military life brings to families.
Maggie, having navigated the complexities of military family life firsthand, has a special ability
to connect with and support military spouses. Craig has spent most of his military career in contingency operations. His service includes combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan, where he developed a deep understanding of the challenges faced by military personnel in high-stress environments.
They have four children, each of whom plays a special role in the daily ministry of the church.
BCM Hilo Spring Welcome Week
By Anita Bice
Although many Hilo
Baptist Campus Ministries (Hilo BCM) members were off-island four days before the spring semester started, 20 met to worship, pray, and plan welcome activities for newcomers.
Hilo BCM gave out flyers on campus for three days. By the end of the first week of school, they had hosted four welcome events, a trip to see the volcano erupting, a large group worship and Bible study, and two beach trips to the other side of the island. The beach adventures allowed time to bond and have gospel conversations.
The next week Hilo BCM announced two new Christianity 101 classes and an Apologetics class. It's a great start to Hilo BCM's Spring Semester!
University Ave Baptist Hosted Big Giveaway for UH Mānoa International Students
By Meredith Palicte
Local churches joined to serve 100 international students at UH’s Big Giveaway on January 11. University Avenue Baptist Church (UABC) transformed its fellowship hall into a “free thrift store” filled with essentials like bedding, cookware, and electronics. Students from countries like Nepal, Japan, and Nigeria eagerly gathered supplies, with one couple
from Nepal excitedly finding everything for their new apartment. Aina Haina Baptist served shave ice, and a pancake breakfast fostered connections.
This event, a partnership between several churches, helped meet students’ physical needs while sharing Christ’s love. The next Big Giveaway is planned for August 23 at UABC.
New BCM O'ahu Intern Program
By Arjay Gruspe
During COVID, many things shut down, including the Baptist student dorm at Manoa. Last Spring, it reopened with a new purpose. Students apply, and those accepted have the privilege of living in the dorm as part of the Baptist Campus Ministries (BCM) O’ahu Internship Program, led by NextGen Director Arjay Gruspe.
In their internships, students develop in three areas of ministry focus: leadership development, theological development, and missional engagement. They get practical ministry experience by serving at the BCM, attending a leadership class, mentoring, and learning through conferences, locally and on the mainland, through partnerships within the Southern Baptist Convention,
such as NAMB, IMB, BCNet, and the HPBC.
Julia, a former intern who graduated from the program and has joined the BCM staff, said, “I entered the program thinking, ‘I got this.’ Little did I know it would literally change my life!” Julia now serves with BCM O’ahu with a focus on the leadership development area of the ministry.
Our vision through this program is to develop a leadership pipeline for students to be trained to serve effectively and missionally for God’s glory, either locally or globally. We are excited to have seen this program grow with the addition of more students this semester.
By Hannah Denney
A service for Churches and the Individual
The Hawaii Baptist Foundation (HBF) assists individuals and churches with charitable giving and investments.
For individuals, HBF provides guidance on planned gifts, estate planning, and trust options, featuring their Free Will service—a complimentary 20-minute online tool to create legal wills (this is available at hawaiibaptistfoundation.com/freewill).
The Hawaii Baptist Foundation, Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention, and Hawaii Baptist Academy sponsor this valuable resource. For HPBC churches, HBF offers investment opportunities through two ethical options: a diversified fixed-income pool and a common stock equity pool, both carefully screened to exclude objectionable industries. HBF's Board oversees these investments to ensure faithful stewardship.
Construction on New Facility at Hawaii Baptist Academy
By Hannah Denney
As Hawaii Baptist Academy (HBA) enters its 75th year, it is working on building a new facility on its elementary campus that is going to “transform the ways our students learn and inspire them to identify how their passions intersect with God’s calling for their life.” To prepare students for the ever-changing future, HBA is updating and building the facility to be modernized for innovation, ideation, collaboration, and research so that all of these things
can happen more efficiently and cohesively.
Featuring an Innovation Station, Collab Lab, and Learning Commons, this new facility will provide a collaborative environment on HBA’s elementary campus. This 7,000-square-foot space will give students a place to experience research, design, and new ways to bring their ideas to fruition. It is a place that HBA hopes will create “curiosity and collaboration, where they engage with their peers to identify problems and collectively seek solutions.”
The current plan for completion is that the amphitheater will be completed in the fall of 2025 and that construction for the covered play court will follow in the summer of 2026.
Learn more at hba.net/transformation.
LIFE Christian Reaches 50 At-Risk Youth
Supported by Sue Nishikawa Offering Gifts
By Noe Okawara
Life Christian, with funding from the Sue Nishikawa Offering for Hawaii Pacific Missions, partnered with Bags of HOPE and other local organizations serving at-risk youth. Together with Hawaii Baptist Academy, which helped collect hygiene items, Life Christian provided 50 youth in foster care with duffle bags, handmade blankets, various hygiene products, and encouraging notes.
Before year's end, they plan to distribute 20 more bags to at-risk youth. Pray that this ministry will create meaningful connections and opportunities to share Jesus with some of the most vulnerable members of their local community. Shaw Okawara is pastor.
Olivet and Nu'uanu
Success
By Irtaas Laal Din
Christmas Concert
On December 15th, the Olivet Baptist Church Choir joined forces with singers from Nu’uanu Baptist Church to present a Christmas Worship Concert titled “The Glorious Story of Christmas”. Accompanied by local instrumentalists from the Honolulu Community, this hour-long musical worship experience encouraged the audience to examine afresh the glory that accompanied every part of the familiar story of our Savior’s birth. The singers learned the music together in just seven rehearsals. Much glory was expressed by the singers and the audience who joined in hearty singing of some familiar carols. Plans are underway to collaborate once again for a Good Friday worship event in April.
Jim Cismowski led the choir and orchestra. Jamie McElrath is pastor of Olivet and Bob Gierhart is pastor of Nu'uanu.
Koza Baptist Mission Trips Winter 2024 and January 2025
By Chris Eyre, pastor
The mission statement of Koza Baptist Church (Okinawa) is “To become followers of Christ on mission with God.” This is based on the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19) and the charge from Jesus (Acts 1:8). From September through January, members of Koza engaged members of the local and global community through many missions opportunities.
This included a Jesus Film Outreach in the Local Okinawan Language at a secluded northern township. Many members and friends of Koza helped with translating, recording, and distributing the film. Koza members also hosted multiple prayer walks through the community preceding a showing of the film accompanied by a BBQ in September, 2024.
Koza Baptist also did multiple trips and engagements with a new partnership in the Yaeyama Island Chain. This new partnership is with a local Baptist Church and is serving to engage an Unengaged/Unreached
People Group, the Yaeyamas. This trip took place from September to December of 2024.
Finally, the church continued partnerships with two separate ministries in India (Rebecca Home for Children in Sulliguri and King of Kings Church Planting Network in Maharastra) by hosting mission trips to these areas to pour into those ministry partnerships. These trips took place in January of this year.
Koza Baptist looks forward to more trips in its future in order to continue working towards its mission statement.
