Over the past few weeks, we have been visiting the wonderful people that make up our launch team! We decided on a name for our church, Hale Pule O Hanalei. It literally means "House of Prayer, Hanalei". It is that and in my mind also "Hanalei Community Church".
Let's admit it, everything in Spanish or Hawaiian sounds cooler. This name gives honor to our Lord and all the people who came before us. We have a potential site and opening date. We have been amazed and humbled by the support we have received from the community and several churches in Kileaua and Kapa'a. which was not a surprise because they are wonderful. Mahalo 'Ohana!
I have also been asked to revamp the whole police chaplain ministry. That has been going great also. There is a vibrant program on Big Island and Chaplain Renee Godoy has been guiding me. I have two, three-day "Assisting People In Crisis" courses I will take this month. This is one of several trainings. In addition, we are inviting The Billy Graham Law Enforcement Ministry over this Spring to host another three-day course. Everyone is excited about the new ministry that will start here and hopefully go to other island nations.
All is not tea and cookies though. Sadly, upon our return, Waioli Huiia abruptly canceled Gia's gymnastic club lease. It is sad and very disappointing for the 80 families that were enriched by this ministry. During our years there, dozens of parents would picnic and fellowship as their kids learned physical and confidence skills. We made church a fun and caring place for people who would never have walked in the doors. The Keiki and youth ministry grew from those relationships.
Our last month in Hawaii before moving to Mexico, we baptized over a dozen Junior High kids. Sadly, those children have gone their separate ways. We saw one girl on the beach and asked what she had been doing while we were gone. She responded, "Not going to church." At least she was honest. She said she misses our times together with her friends studying God's word. We will revive those ministries, the kids are ready.
For Hanalei Gymnastics, please pray for a new site. We would love to be close to the old site so the same kids can attend.
But God..but God has mighty plans. He is not shaken, the walls were beaten upon but He always builds them again. As Joseph said, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of lives."
Finally, our sister church in Mexico, Olas de Gracia, continues to grow in Spirit and Truth. They continue to be a light to their island through the vibrancy of their faith. What a joy they are.
I found this somewhere, some time ago. I added to it but the basic source is not mine. I love it.
The local church is a gathering and scattering of individual people who claim Christ as their Lord. Christians in a church “scatter” to be salt and light and announce the gospel to their world.
The church also “gathers” in local expression to be established in the ways of Jesus. It is through the highly relational context of a committed group of believers in a local church that Christ forms himself in us. This is His commandment: that we love one another (1 John 3:23). As we devote ourselves to prayerfully bring the Word of God to bear upon each other, we learn to live out the “one-anothers” of Scripture such as forgiving one another, encouraging one another, and praying for one another. The Local Church is at the heart of God’s work.
Let’s tackle the big question first: Why plant another church in the first place?
The simple answer is this: we need more churches. But let’s consider some normal questions about starting a new church. Someone may say, “But we already have churches with empty seats. Those churches used to be fuller, you know. If you start a new church, all you will do is take people away from the churches already struggling.” And someone else might add, “There are plenty of good churches within driving distance of our North Shore. Why don’t you just help them become even better and not try to reinvent the wheel?” These questions might seem like common sense, but consider these points:
First, we need new churches because there are many people to reach. The mission of the church is to make disciples – to help other people follow Jesus. There are many, many people who do not follow Jesus. Existing churches often do reach people…but many more have not been reached. The population has increased, some churches have closed, and not enough new churches formed. Please consider how different churches reach different people – not everybody is attracted to the same church type. Not everybody thinks the same about doctrine, not everybody values the same type of worship, and not everybody agrees on the best way to minister to people. Of course, there are wrong ways to believe and minister…but there are also many ways that are quite fine that reach and help people. The answer is not just to make churches bigger – the answer is to multiply a variety of churches so that more people are reached by a variety of church bodies. It’s not bad to have a variety of churches with different ministry methods – it can be very healthy.
Second, we need new churches because the church is meant to be local. It is true that people will often drive quite far to go to a church they resonate with. Besides being inconvenient, there’s nothing wrong with that. But what about reaching people in the community where you live? Will the people not attending a church drive to another community to be part of a church? Not usually. Their Christian friends and neighbors need to go to them. And being the local church in Hanalei allows us to focus on this community and those farther North, Wainiha, and Ha’ena.
Third, we need new churches because they can revitalize the whole body of Christ. This might sound counter-intuitive. But older churches often become less inclined to reach new people or try new things. But new churches allow new leaders and new ideas to surface without the need to protect tradition and established power cliques. When these new leaders in a new church try new things, hopefully, it can encourage older churches to try something new. Furthermore, it challenges existing churches to critical, self-examination and hopefully, increased effectiveness.
Sadly, some churches do not walk in the truth of the gospel, they have strayed from Biblical truth, and they have truly lost their meaning to exist. New churches have the opportunity to start with no encumbrances and be wholly centered on the truth of the gospel.
Fourth, we need new churches because it challenges us all to be Kingdom-minded. New churches reach new people. And yes, they inevitably draw some people from existing churches. Yet the reverse is also true: new churches reach new people, who then sometimes leave to be part of a more established church that has more programs.
Will we rejoice that new people are reached, or will we bemoan and resent that our particular church lost some people? This is not to say we endorse a “consumer” mentality among Christians—it is merely saying we rejoice when people are reached. Moreover, if there is a common vision for ministering in the community, a new church can encourage networking and fellowship among the churches.
So, through Nā Palena Kea, with prayer and the loving encouragement of Pukas Ministry, Kealia, Calvary Chapel of Kileaua, and our vibrant, amazing, launch team! We are having a birth!
Again we are calling her, Hale Pule O Hanalei, the due date is mid-February.
We have our Facebook page up, webpage is coming for more details. If you want to be on our launch team, just let us know!
We also continue to prayerfully and financially support our sister church, Olas de Gracia, Isla de Cozumel, Mexico. Please look them up on Facebook, and even visit them when you are in their area! We plan on spending several weeks this summer serving there. Contact me if you would like to join us.
We are many hands serving Jesus, one Bride, His Church, and different locations!
Eric and Gia Lucy
Nā Palena Kea
Connect, Serve, Grow
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