Kingd m Building the
Craig Webb Executive Director/Treasurer
808-946-9581
craig@hpbaptist.net
About the Cover Streets are flooded from severe rains, Friday, March 20, 2026, in Haleiwa, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Mengshin Lin).
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From One Servant Leader to Another
Aloha Hawaii Pacific Baptists and Friends
On Wednesday nights at my home church, we’ve been studying the characteristics of God. The Omnipresence of God reminds me how Almighty God is everywhere. He is in Okinawa, where leaders across Asia gathered to be reminded that the mission belongs to Him. The Omnipresent God is on the North Shore of Oʻahu, where floodwaters receded, revealing a congregation held together by prayer and the generosity of their community and Baptist family. He’s on university campuses, where Baptist Collegiate Ministry mission teams sparked more than 300 gospel conversations, and 15 people said yes to Christ. He’s at beach sunrise services on Kauai, at a Good Friday service sung in three languages in Honolulu, and at a new church plant launching in Metro Manila.
Christ is at work everywhere and always. As Jesus declared, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me,” and then, after sending us out, he promised, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
As we are getting ready for summer, I’m already praying for our annual gathering in November. We’ll be at Olivet Baptist Church, which is celebrating 100 years of ministry, around a theme drawn’ from Ephesians 3:21: “To Christ Be Glory — for Every Generation.” It’s a natural next step from where we’ve been. If we’ve been learning to live under His authority and in His presence, then the fitting response is to give Him glory — loudly, together, across every generation we can reach.
The One who commands the mission supplies the authority to carry it out. And the One who sends you stays with you — always.
By His Authority and In His Presence,
Craig Webb Executive Director-Treasurer Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention
Pacific Connector
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Executive Director, Editor Craig Webb
craig@hpbaptist.net
Associate Editor Dawn Akutagawa dawn@hpbaptist.net
Content Editor Belle Grewatz
Contributing Editor Brandon Pickett
Designer Patti Spencer
Contributing Writers Dawn Akutagawa, Belle Grewatz, Julia Haggard, Robert Miller, Shane Tanigawa, Craig Webb
The Pacific Connector highlights people and churches that work to spread the Good News of Jesus by reaching the Pacific and Asia.
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Contents
2 Building the Kingdom Update from our executive director-treasurer.
4 Being On Mission with God Asia Baptist Network Conference inspires leaders across the Pacific.
6 Flood Relief
Recovery efforts are being made to assist the needs of many who have lost homes and livelihoods due to the flood waters.
8 Report from President Shane Tanigawa
An update from the February 2026 HPBC Executive Board meeting.
9 Something to Celebrate: Sue Nishikawa Offering VBS training and Deaf Camp Hawaii benefit from your generous giving. Oʻahu Baptists hold a successful men’s event.
10 Something to Celebrate: Mississippi Mission Renovation
Skilled men and women volunteered to renovate the Ke’eaumoku House.
11 Something to Celebrate: University Campus Impact
Two universities hosted two mission teams to create a season of service.
12 Churches Celebrate the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Hawaii Pacific Baptists from Bangkok, Thailand, to Puna, Hawaii Island, celebrated Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection in many creative ways.
14 Something to Celebrate: Ministry
From serving shaved ice to hundreds of kids, to the launch of a new church, to care and training for church planters, and making the Kokua Scholarship available, ministry continues for Hawaii Pacific Baptists.
16 To Christ Be Glory For Every Generation
HPBC’s 2026 Annual Meeting is set for November 19-20 at Olivet Baptist Church in Honolulu in conjunction with the church’s 100-year anniversary.
Being on Mission with God: Asia Baptist Network Conference Inspires Leaders Across the Pacific
The 2026 Asia Baptist Network Leadership Conference was held March 3-4, 2026, at Koza Baptist Church in Okinawa, bringing together church leaders from across Asia for two intensive days of worship, teaching, and fellowship.
Under the theme “Being on Mission with God,” the conference drew participants from the network’s 12 Southern Baptist churches spanning Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines.
Pastor Chris Eyre and the Koza Baptist Church family opened their doors and hearts to host the gathering, offering warm hospitality that set the tone for meaningful connections and spiritual growth. Conference attendees were shuttled around by church members who went above and beyond to ensure everyone felt welcome and cared for.
Anchoring Mission in Christ’s Authority
The conference opened with Chris Eyre challenging leaders to remember that good leadership starts with good followership. Drawing from Matthew 28:16-20, Eyre reminded attendees that before the disciples received the Great Commission, they first went where Jesus directed them. “We are all followers of Christ on mission with God,” he emphasized, noting that the mission starts with listening to God and following His direction.
HPBC’s Craig Webb shared a message on the foundation of all mission work — the authority of Christ. This was an opportunity to carry forward the theme he shared at the HPBC Annual Meeting in Kona, applying it specifically to the Asia Baptist Network context. The core truth remains: our being on mission completely and utterly depends on whom we believe has the authority to complete it.
Walking through the “bookends” of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20, the message showed how Jesus frames the command to make
disciples with both a declaration of His authority (“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me”) and a promise of His presence (“I am with you always, to the end of the age”). The challenge for leaders is to resist the tendency to carry ministry burdens in our own strength and instead surrender our work each day to Christ as Master, trusting His authority and presence rather than our own abilities.
A Cosmic Vision for the Church
Dr. Adam Groza, President of Gateway Seminary, expanded the conference’s vision by unpacking what he called “The Cosmic Mission of the Church” from Ephesians 3:7-13. Groza emphasized that the local church isn’t just accomplishing an earthly mission — it’s displaying God’s wisdom before all creation, both on earth and in the heavenly realms.
“Through the church, the manifold wisdom of God is being made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places,” Groza explained. “This is cosmic show-and-tell.” He reminded leaders that their churches matter eternally to God, displaying the finished work of Christ not only to people on earth but also to unseen spiritual forces.
Groza’s message concluded with three practical challenges: be bold in Christ’s victory, take hold of the access to God you have through prayer and communion, and don’t give up even in suffering. “God is on mission, and His eternal purpose is to make Christ known through His church before heaven and earth,” he declared.
Multiple Tracks for Deeper Growth
Beyond the plenary sessions, the conference featured excellent breakout sessions addressing various aspects of ministry and leadership. Diana Ventura, Director of Women’s Ministries for HPBC, and Barbara Webb led one track, while Donn
Broeker and others facilitated discussions on missions and church health.
Special thanks to Cory Cloud and Annette McFarlane of Koza Baptist for their leadership in organizing the conference, and to Pastor Shane Tanigawa of University Avenue Baptist and HPBC president, for volunteering to take photos during the event.
The Asia Baptist Network, affiliated with the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention, continues to grow in its mission to support and strengthen churches across the Pacific Rim. As leaders returned to their ministries, they carried a renewed vision: they are not on mission alone but on mission with the God who has all authority and who promises to be with them always, even to the end of the age.
Flood Relief
…the church and its volunteers were able not only to see the Lord ’s provision but also the grace in His perfect timing.”
A neighbor of sixty years indicated that they have never seen flooding like this.”
by Belle Grewatz
Over the course of just twelve days, every county in Hawaii was affected by back-to-back Kona Low storms. Some locations received more than thirty inches of rain, saturating the ground and leading to flash floods, landslides, and a near-overtopping of the Wahiawā Dam on Oʻahu, which forced a mandatory evacuation. In the days that followed, more than 230 people were rescued, and nearly 5,500 residents who experienced power outages had to evacuate. With countless families affected by this historic flooding, Hawaii Governor Josh Green submitted a formal request for a Major Disaster Declaration to support statewide recovery efforts.
Many ohanas, especially those on Maui and Oʻahu, lost nearly everything, from their homes to their livelihoods, because of the flooding. In the early morning of Friday, March 20th, two feet of water covered First Baptist Church of Haleiwa’s property and filled its buildings. Pastor Mike Procter recalled, “A neighbor of sixty years indicated that they have never seen flooding like this.” He continued, “As the flood waters receded, a damage assessment revealed that the flooring was destroyed, sheetrock would need to be removed, the sound system and several electrical instruments were ‘fried,’ a portion of the wall was pushed out, and furniture and a myriad of paperwork were destroyed.” To further complicate their situation, they were dealing with power outages, as were most of the North Shore. Yet even in the midst of overwhelming circumstances, Pastor Procter shared about the Lord’s provision and perfect timing.
He recalled how the small congregation of First Baptist Church of Haleiwa, averaging about 30 people on a Sunday morning, was met with an outpouring of generosity from Southern Baptist congregations and volunteers across Hawaii. “Assurances of prayer support were being called, texted, and emailed in,” said Pastor Procter. Moreover, donations were sent to the church, and the community provided meals for the volunteers.
On Thursday, March 19th, the day before the flooding, a Spring Break Day camp had ended, and a missions team from Alaska was still at the Church. In the true spirit of Aloha and sharing the love of Jesus, North Shore residents opened their homes to the team. Pastor Procter also recounted that new chairs ordered for the church had been delayed in shipping. If they had arrived on time, they would have been destroyed. In the moments following the flood, the church and its volunteers were able not only to see the Lord’s provision but also the grace in His perfect timing.
The church ohana has since been able to gather for worship on Easter Sunday, after two weeks of not being able to use their auditorium. With great gratitude, they are confident that God has been — and will continue to be — doing a great work in this season of their ministry. Meanwhile, relief efforts continue to support the North Shore community.
From the first days of the floods, Hawaii Pacific Baptist Disaster Relief (DR) directors John and Gay Williams have been on the North Shore with other Hawaii Pacific Baptist DR volunteers and agencies as “Navigators.” They met with flood survivors as they arrived, listened to their needs, and personally guided them to the agencies and services that could support them. They have also led assessments before volunteers enter homes, helping homeowners through mud-out and mold remediation as families work to reclaim their lives.
As soon as possible, John and Gay called in a specialized team of twelve Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers from New Mexico. This team worked alongside John Williams and Michael Fujimoto on the North Shore to perform mud-out and mold remediation. Gay Williams shared, “Our team is not just there to clean up, but to share the love of Jesus. As we help families in moments of great need, we earn the right to share about Jesus.”
The HPBC Disaster Relief team goes beyond meeting material needs to intentionally create space for Gospelcentered conversations, as they continue to serve and share Christ’s love with the community. John Williams noted that there are still between 75 to 100 requests for assistance. The HPBC Disaster Relief team will continue to serve these families and will likely be the last group to leave when others have moved on. As families rebuild, Gospel conversations continue, and the door remains open for the love of Christ to take root in the North Shore community.
Left: Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention’s Disaster Relief Team
Middle: HPBC Disaster Relief volunteers working inside a home
Right: The Community Assistance Center with (center) John Williams, co-director of Hawaii Pacific Baptist Disaster Relief, and (right) Ikaika Higa, pastor of Hamama Community Church.
Executive Board Report from President Shane Tanigawa 2026 February
I’m pleased to report that the HPBC Executive Board met on February 27, 2026, at the HPBC Offices in Honolulu. We had 13 members present and 7 joining remotely via Zoom. Before the meeting was called to order, Executive DirectorTreasurer Dr. Craig Webb introduced Dr. Paul Kelly, the newly appointed director of the Hawaii Pacific School of Theology — a Gateway Seminary campus launching here in Honolulu. This is a historic moment: it’s the first new Gateway campus in 30 years. Dr. Kelly shared his vision to launch classes by Fall 2026, with full accreditation expected by Fall 2027 and potential expansion to other Pacific locations based on student demand. We are praying for 20 students to register for the first cohort. Dr. Kelly plans to move to Hawaii permanently in August. We’re eager to see what God does through this new chapter in theological education for our region.
Our devotional focused on 1 Corinthians 3:5-11, a beautiful reminder that we are all building on the foundation of Jesus Christ, which is exactly what we aim to do together.
Ron Shiira shared updates from Hawaii Baptist Academy, including the school’s inspiring “Rescue” theme, drawn from Colossians 1:13-14. Ron also celebrated a meaningful partnership moment during MAC Week — HBA’s annual Mainland Advisory Committee week — where Dr. Webb had the privilege of sharing devotions and several HPBC staff joined in to support the events throughout the week.
On the financial front, Dr. Webb shared encouraging news. Cooperative Program giving finished 2025 just $5,325 under goal — a strong performance. A planned deficit of $178,000 came in at only $3,000 thanks to increased giving and disciplined spending. Looking ahead, we enter 2026 with real momentum: Pu’u Kahea broke even for the first time in a decade, the Sue Nishikawa Offering hit a record of over $149,000 (video storytelling made a measurable difference!), and our investments continue to perform well.
The board approved nine recommendations from our committees:
The Operations Committee received approval to engage CW Associates for the 2025 financial audit, allocate cash reserves for key capital improvements at HPBC properties
Updates of your executive board’s significant actions are posted quarterly at hpbaptist.net/executive-board.
in 2026, and adopt a 1-5 year strategic maintenance plan.
The Administrative Committee received approval to update bank signers for the Hawaii Baptist Convention, set the 2027 budget expenditure ceiling at $1,110,000 with a matching Cooperative Program goal, and approve a sabbatical request for our Executive Director-Treasurer (June 12-July 26, 2026).
The Programs Committee noted that three scholarship recommendations (26:1, 26:2, and 26:3) had already been approved by electronic vote.
The Communications Committee highlighted continued progress on Salesforce integration for outreach tracking, ongoing bylaw updates at HBA and HBF, and the convention’s commitment to sexual abuse prevention — with Dr. Robert Miller serving as our designated point person.
Looking ahead, the next Executive Board meeting is set for May 15, 2026. We also have exciting events on the horizon: the Spring Pastors Forums; a Pastors Retreat at Pu’u Kahea in early May; a Church Health Conference in September on O‘ahu and American Samoa; and our Annual Meeting in November at Olivet Baptist Church, where they celebrate 100 years of ministry — a milestone worth celebrating together. What a privilege it is to serve alongside you for the gospel throughout Hawaii and the Pacific. God is at work, and we get to be part of it.
Mahalo nui loa, Shane Tanigawa President, HPBC Executive Board
2026
Executive Board Officers (left to right)
Karla Jennings (secretary) Kaunakakai Baptist, Molokai
Pastor Hanale Lindo (second vice president) Kaunakakai Baptist, Molokai
Pastor Larry Hale (first vice president) Eleele Baptist, Eleele, Kauai
Pastor Shane Tanigawa (president) University Avenue Baptist, Honolulu
Craig Webb (executive director-treasurer) Central Baptist, Honolulu
Aloha Hawaii Pacific Baptist Ohana,
Vacation Bible School Training
Training on Oʻahu was held at LIFE Christian Church on Saturday, March 7. About 20 participants from six different churches attended. From brand-new directors to those who have served in VBS for many years, everyone left ready to Illuminate Jesus!
Deaf Camp
Deaf Camp Hawaii was held March 16–20, 2026, for 20 children ages 2–14 who were deaf, hard of hearing, CODA, or siblings of deaf family members. Nineteen volunteers led Bible study, drama, music, crafts, science, and recreation, sharing the gospel with many children who heard about Jesus for the first time. The week built friendships, introduced a new teen group, and highlighted the need for ASL-signing volunteers for the next camp, to be held October 5–9, 2026, at First Baptist Church, Pearl City.
Men’s Camp
The Oʻahu Baptist Network held a Men’s Camp at LIFE Christian Church in Aiea on Saturday, February, 28. Pastor Ikaika Higa and Chaplain Trevor Carpenter led over 80 men from 16 churches.
Renovating the Ke’eaumoku House
By Robert Miller
A team of 15 volunteers from Mississippi traveled to Oʻahu on March 9 to work on our Hawai’i Pacific Baptist Convention Ke’eaumoku house for two weeks. Skilled men and women from various Mississippi Baptist churches made the journey together to renovate and paint the aging Makiki house. The team was
Skilled men and women from various Mississippi Baptist churches made the journey.
composed of professional carpenters, electricians, plumbers, painters, and other volunteers. Although half of the team was over 60, they didn’t let that slow them down from achieving their goal.
Kirk Blaine, who led previous mission teams to Alaska, also led this Oʻahu group. Mike Procter, Interim Pastor of First Baptist Church of Haleiwa, and former Executive Director of the Alaska Baptist Convention, recommended this construction team after seeing their work firsthand in Alaska for many
years. For most of the Mississippi team, this was their first trip to Hawai’i. After two weeks of hard labor, many are eager to return for other projects.
During their two-week stay on Oʻahu, they completed adding a kitchen and a shower to the house, divided a large room, moved a laundry room, replaced rotted steps and siding, and painted exterior walls. They were able to complete the exterior painting when the heavy rains from the Kona low stopped. Between projects, the team found time to sightsee. They enjoyed visiting the North Shore, Pearl Harbor, and Hanauma Bay.
John Williams, HPBC Disaster Relief Director and Operations Manager, led this project and kept operations running smoothly. The Ke’eaumoku house is used for our neighboring island’s executive board members, visiting guest speakers, and our new partnership with Gateway Seminary. With the team’s recent changes, the house can now accommodate two groups, one upstairs and another downstairs, at the same time.
Mississippi Baptist volunteers served a two week mission trip to Oʻahu to renovate the aging Makiki house
Celebrate something to Spring-time BCM Teams
By Julia Haggard
This spring, Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM) had the privilege of hosting two mission teams from across the mainland United States, creating a season of service, outreach, and meaningful spiritual impact across Oʻahu.
The first team arrived from Carson-Newman University in Tennessee, serving from February 28 to March 6. During their stay, the students helped host the first-ever “Sip-N-Shop.” Designed as a free thrift shop for local low-income families, the event offered clothing and essentials, along with complimentary lattes and boba drinks. In addition to the event, members of the Carson-Newman team joined BCM Oʻahu students to serve breakfast at the OBN’s men’s gathering.
Their outreach extended to the campus of the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, where they spent two days engaging students through creative yet intentional methods. These included streetstyle interviews with college athletes, spiritual life surveys that facilitated gospel conversations, and a Super Smash Bros gaming table inviting students to connect in an approachable setting. Beyond
campus ministry, the team also dedicated time to service projects across the island, including Pu’u Kahea Conference Center’s workday and Hamama Community Church.
Shortly after, a second team from Louisiana State University arrived and served from March 6 to 14. The team of 42 students divided into smaller groups to maximize their reach, spending three days across four campuses: the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Leeward Community College, Kapiʻolani Community College, and the University of Hawai’i – West Oʻahu. They spent three full days meeting students and engaging with them, primarily through our spiritual life surveys. The LSU students also served at the Pu’u Kahea Conference Center and Hamama Community Church.
Over the course of two weeks, these mission teams engaged in more than 300 gospel conversations, with 15 individuals making decisions to receive Christ! As the impact of their work continues to unfold, BCM invites the community to join in prayer for these students and for lasting influence from
Churches Celebrate the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus
Hawaii Pacific Baptists from Bangkok, Thailand, to Hilo, Hawaii Island, celebrated the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ in many creative ways. Here are just a few.
by Craig Webb
Four churches celebrated the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in English, Korean, and Japanese during a Good Friday worship service at Olivet Baptist (Pastors Jamie McElrath, Makito Watanabe, and Jeff Mullis). Other churches included Central Baptist (Pastor Dalton Slavens), New Central Community (Pastor Hawnsoo Jang), and Nu’uanu Baptist (Pastors Chris Morales and Johnny Hom). James Cismowski led a choir representing all four churches. Songs, Scriptures, and responsive readings were offered in all three languages.
Kauaʻi House Church Network, led by Pastor Stephen Ventura, hosted an Easter sunrise worship at Brennecke’s Beach near Poipu.
Kino‘ole Baptist Church in Hilo celebrated Easter weekend with a special concert featuring Dr. Keron Jackson of the Dallas Opera and pianist Christi Zuniga of the Omaha Symphony. The Thursday evening concert was a powerful time of worship and testimony, followed by a second performance on Easter Sunday, continuing the celebration. Monty Pierce is their pastor.
Kā’anapali Beach Ministry, led by Pastor Richard Murray, gathered nearly 700 people for Easter worship at the Hyatt Regency Luau Grounds. Despite losing his home in the 2023 Lahaina fires, Pastor Murray has continued to lead the ministry faithfully. He and Betsy are now beginning to rebuild.
Koza Baptist in Okinawa gathered at Araha Beach for worship and baptism on Easter Sunday. Their pastor is Chris Eyre.
Dr. Robert Miller preached at the Filipino Southern Baptist Fellowship of the Pacific, Inc. (FSBFPI) Sonrise Service at 6:30 a.m. at Waipahu Community Church. More than 200 people attended, with participation from Waipahu CC, Hawaii Christian, Mililani Fil-Am, Word of Truth, FBC Wahiawā, and Kalihi BC. The service was followed by a time of food and fellowship.
ʻĀina Haina Baptist Outreach Serves
Shaved Ice to Hundreds of Kids
Earlier this year, ʻĀina Haina requested a Sue Nishikawa ministry grant to purchase a new shavedice machine for their frequent community outreaches. They recently served over 400 kids and parents at the Koko Head Complex during their Easter Outreach. Fola Ioane is their pastor.
IBC Manila Launches New Church, Parker Transitions
A new church was launched on March 28 in the Antipolo area of Metro Manila through the ministry of the International Baptist Church of Manila (IBCM). One Story Fellowship, led by Pastor Cameron Armstrong (Jessica), began as a Bible study among families traveling long distances to attend IBCM and has since grown into a church community.
At the same time, Pastor Parker Windle will be stepping down from his role at IBCM in early May due to ongoing health challenges and family considerations. During his time in Manila, Parker has helped lead important structural and leadership development within the church. Parker will graduate with his Doctor of Ministry degree from Gateway Seminary on May 15 and return to Alabama with his family.
Send Network Luncheon Strengthens Church Planting Across Hawaii
Shane Critser, Send Network’s Coastal West Director, traveled from California to gather church planters, replanters, and supporting pastors from across Hawaiʻi for a meaningful time of fellowship, encouragement, and training. Pastors from Hawaiʻi Island, Kauaʻi, Maui, and Oʻahu attended, a reminder that this growing work is strengthened by Cooperative Program giving and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering.
Kokua Scholarship Applications Open, Due June 1
Applications are now open for the Kokua Scholarship Endowment Fund for the 2026–2027 academic year, offered through the Hawaii Baptist Foundation.
Established in memory of J. Russell and Rhoda Alice Duffer, this scholarship provides financial assistance for the post–high school education of children of full-time ministers in the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention.
Applicants will complete a brief application, and a onepage essay, and submit a letter of recommendation. All materials are due by June 1, 2026.
To request an application or to apply, email Matt at matt@hawaiibaptistfoundation.com.
Bob and June Duffer, who established the Endowment Fund
