Meet our Ministry Development interns for this year in the beautiful Hawaii Islands! 🌺 Coming all the way from the state of Colorado, Alexander Rodriguez was an intern at the Kurtistown Samoan English SDA church on the Big Island. Unfortunately, he is leaving at the end of this year to continue his theology studies at Union College in Nebraska, but we have loved his presence here so far. “I’ve had the privilege and honor to serve and grow with the people of the Kurtistown Samoan English Church,” says Alexander, “It’s an amazing experience to see and feel their love for God and for the others around them. It is something I will always carry with me.” We have loved and appreciated all the time we have had with Alexander so far. Please be praying for him as he continues his journey in ministry!

On the Sabbath of December 16, 2023 members of the Wahiawa SDA Church celebrated the coming Christmas season by gathering together for an afternoon of community outreach. After church and potluck, the fellowship hall was cleaned up and made ready for gift wrapping. Elders, Deacons, and members prayed together before spending the afternoon wrapping gifts and cooking food for one of the church’s ministries called “Embracing the Community.” ​“Embracing the Community is a community service ministry of the Wahiawa SDA church where we follow God’s instruction to go into the world and spread the gospel,” shares Blanche Chong, the coordinator for this ministry, “Once a month, we reach out to our community by making and delivering 60 meals for our neighbors and the homeless.” Church members come together to cook and prepare the 60 packaged meals that they then bring to the community and homeless in the surrounding area. While delivering the food, they also pray with people and spend time talking with them. Last weekend, they also handed out gift bags along with the food in order to bring some Christmas joy. These gift bags included a blanket, pancho, wipes, toothbrush, toothpaste, religious study books, and a bible verse bracelet. “We praise God that we are able to spread His love by ministering to those who need help,” says Blanche. ​As the holidays continue, so does the need for ministry. We are thankful for churches like Wahiawa SDA who come together to meet this need while also spreading Christmas cheer. Remember to reach out to someone this week as we near the end of this holiday season. Mele Kalikimaka!

On December 1, I had the opportunity to make it back onto the Lahaina Church property for the first time since the fire. While I knew the sanctuary was still standing, we had lost two other buildings: the parsonage and the fellowship hall. The county had given us protective gear to wear while on the property, which would help keep us safe while sifting through the rubble. I wasn’t very hopeful I would find anything worth saving but decided to look anyways. Approaching the fellowship hall, the only thing I saw still standing were a few burned-out appliances. Starting at one end, I slowly walked through the ash, scanning for objects. It wasn’t until I made it to the back corner that I noticed something out of place. There was a burned-out electrical panel laying on the ash that had a few white objects on top of it. To my surprise, it was a small nativity figurine set. Obviously, this had not fallen into place just by chance. One of the first responders found it in the ash and saw it had enough value to take the time to dust it off and set it up. To me, this was a very significant moment. While everything around was filled with chaos and destruction, Jesus was still present. He was amongst the ash and the rubble. He could have chosen to save us remotely, but he chose to come down into our mess and be present! He said, I see you; I see what you are going through, and I choose to be with you because you are valuable to Me! Matthew 1:21, 23 says, “”And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.“” No matter what we go through in this world, my hope is that we will remember we have a Savior whose name is Jesus. He has saved us from our sins, and He is with us! May you feel His presence this Christmas and know you are loved! Not only by Him but also by your Conference Ohana. Mele Kalikimaka, Erik

Meet one of our Intern Ministry Leaders, in the Ministry Leader Development program for the year here in the beautiful Hawaii Islands! 🌺 Patrick King is the intern at Kailua SDA church on the Windward side of Oahu. He has taken this year away from pursuing his degree in Theology at Southern Adventist University to get experience working and preaching in a church. “I love when I see people start to understand and receive the Gospel. It’s so cool,” shares Patrick, “Being able to share what God has shared with me. It’s always such a blessing.” Make sure to welcome Patrick and say hi if you see him!

And He will be Called…

Meet one of our Intern Ministry Leaders, in the Ministry Leader Development program for the year here in the beautiful Hawaii Islands! Lana Merginio is a Religious Education major from Southern Adventist University. She flew all the way from her home in Arizona. Lana is serving in the Waipahu SDA church. She has a passion for working with young people and is often found helping out at our highschool at Hawaiian Mission Academy as well. “I used to be scared to speak because I felt ill-equipped to share God’s word. The beautiful thing I’ve learned now is that God not only calls; He enables. When I follow His call, He will give me the tools I need. Preaching is now one of my favorite things because it doesn’t just allow me to do God’s work, but it also means I’m allowing Him to work through me.” ~Lana Make sure to welcome Lana and say hi if you see her!

On December 9th, the congregation of the Honolulu Central SDA Church came together for a ribbon cutting ceremony and blessing of the newly renovated sanctuary. After 6 months of restoration and refurbishment, the sanctuary of the church was ready for worship just in time for the church to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Former pastors of the Honolulu Central Church came back to celebrate the occasion and were recognized for their service to the church over the years. During the service President Erik Vandenburgh shared a few words of encouragement to the members of the church. "We celebrate the building today, and we are so excited to do so. But let’s remember the work is not done when the building is built, but that we come to learn of a crucified and risen Savior who has given us a purpose, and that is to go to a dying world. May the celebration of the building be an inspiration to us to tell the world that Jesus is coming again someday soon. Let's join in that wonderful message." - Erik Vandenburgh

Meet one our Intern Ministry Leaders, interning in the Ministry Leader Development program for the year here in the beautiful Hawaii Islands! 🌺 Wilson Pio is an Intern Ministry leader on the island of Kuai currently training to become a pastor. After years of following other career paths, Wilson felt God pulling him to ministry and accepted the call to come to Hawai “This MLD experience has truly been a blessing,” Wilson says, “I came in with the mindset that this program would show me if being a Pastor was the aspect of ministry that God has called me to, and it has done just that. I truly love being able to share God's word with people and show his love through interactions with others. I am grateful for this opportunity and I am excited to see where the rest of the year will take me.” Make sure to welcome Wilson and say hi if you see him!

Nestled in the church's garden area, the Blue Papaya has been a place of spiritual rebirths for four decades. “Part of the experience of getting baptized at Kaneohe is getting into the water itself,” shares Pastor Nelson, “One of the water sources for the Blue Papaya is water directly from the mountain, and it is freezing. Every time you step in the water you gasp from the cold, but you also feel refreshed and alive. I like to think of it as a reminder of the sudden change that happens when you give your life to Jesus Christ. All of sudden, you feel so alive and you almost can’t breathe because it feels so overwhelming. It adds a newness to your life. You’re still the same person, but there's this awakening that happens.”

Jesus declares, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life.’ Let these words motivate you to strength and life into this new week”.