Adventures in Church Planting: An Unexpected Surprise

When Gregg and our team made the decision to move our Sunday services to Kahala Elementary, we were excited for the opportunity to be in a community and to reach our Honolulu community.

A couple of weeks ago, Kahala Elementary held their school beautification project on Sunday morning during our services. One of the fathers that had come to help paint decided to bring his family yesterday to check out the new church in his neighborhood.

When Gregg got up to speak, he immediately recognized him. Turns out, this was one of the college students Gregg introduced to Christ more than 17 years ago when we were campus ministers at the University of Hawaii!

Gregg spent hours with this young man. In fact, if you’ve listened to enough of Gregg’s messages, you’ve probably heard a story about him (for example, Gregg’s near death snorkeling experience). He didn’t know that we had returned to Hawaii; he definitely didn’t know that we were planting a church at his children’s school. 

Church planting can be challenging. But seeing someone, whom you helped introduce to Christ more than 17 years ago, still loving God, still following Christ, reminds me that I wouldn't want to do anything else. 

A Church Planting Essential

This January, we will officially plant Grace Bible Church Honolulu. Believe it or not, this is the fourth church plant of which Gregg and I have been a part. You may wonder, are we crazy? Possibly. Glutton for punishment? Most definitely. And we have the gray hair to prove it! We’ve learned a lot through our experiences and the growth it has brought forth in our lives is invaluable.

Yesterday, during my daily ramblings to Gregg about church thoughts, ideas, etc., Gregg stopped me and reminded me of this one church planting essential:

He said, “All that we need to do is to stay in love with Jesus, and help others to do the same.”

It sounds like a no-brainer, but in the midst of planning, meeting, scheduling, preparing, and the daily demands and routines of a family and ministry, it is so easy to . . . slowly . . . drift . . . away from God.

So, fellow church planter, fellow Christian, stay in love with Jesus and help others to do the same.

The God Who Sees Me

This morning during my devotional time, I read Genesis 16. This is the story of when Sarai, unable to have children, gives Hagar, her maidservant, to Abram. Then when Hagar conceives a child, Sarai begins to take her hurt, insecurity, jealousy and anger out on Hagar.

Talk about dysfunctional!

Hagar must have felt so betrayed. So unloved. So used. So alone. 


After the angel appears to her, “she gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me.’” Genesis 16:13

When I hurt . . .

When I cry . . .

When I feel all alone . . .

When I feel as if no one cares . . .

You are the God who sees me. 

Do What You Gotta Do

One night as I was putting my little Jojo to bed, I noticed that he had something in his mouth. It was a mouthful of candy! The little rascal. He was pretty bummed when I had him spit it all out. I vividly remember how he looked at me and with a sigh, he said, "Go ahead. Do what you gotta do."

Jordan didn't resist, didn't argue, didn't excuse. I laughed, but got to thinking how often my tendency is to resist God's work in my life, to make excuses and justify my attitudes.

David seemed to understand this too as he prayed in Psalm 27, "Teach me your way, O Lord; lead me in a straight path. . ."

I want Jesus to have his way in my life. Lord, do what you gotta do.

Mulligans

Yesterday, Gregg and I were able to break away from our routine for an afternoon of golf with some friends.

Now, playing golf is not something I get to do very often, and I don’t do it very well either. For some reason, when I hit the ball in one direction, it has the amazing ability to follow a completely different trajectory.

Because of this, I always get a little nervous before playing. What a relief to me, when on the first hole, my friend, Annie, said, “Would you like to take a mulligan? Go ahead, take a mulligan.”

In golf, a mulligan is a do-over. You get a fresh start. You don’t have to play your horrible shot that landed in someone’s backyard, you don’t even have to count it. It won’t be written on the final scorecard.

A mulligan is similar to what God offers to us, isn’t it? A fresh start. A clean slate. A do-over. Have you taken your mulligan?

“. . . he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. . . as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:10, 12)

Who Ate My Cookies?

For my mom’s birthday, I bought her a box of cookies from the Honolulu Cookie Company. These cookies are so good and they come nicely wrapped in a gift box.

Anyway, until I got around to sending them, I placed them in the refrigerator with a big sign, “Do not open!”

Last night Gregg and I went out for dinner and upon returning home, I noticed the box had been opened and cookies had been eaten! (Sorry, Mom.)

I began my search with the usual suspects . . . the children. After some probing, one child finally came forward and confessed to eating the cookies.

Why do confessions often turn into excuses?

“I ate the cookies, because I didn’t see the sign.” “I didn’t know I wasn’t suppose to eat the cookies.”

We often do the same thing, too. Don’t we?

As Gregg and I discussed this with our child, we mentioned that true confession involves taking responsibility for what you’ve done, not shifting the blame or making excuses for it.

John Ortberg, in his book The Life You’ve Always Wanted, makes a good point saying, “Confession means saying that somewhere in the mix was a choice, and the choice was made by us, and it does not need to be excused, explained, or even understood. The choice needs to be forgiven.”

So Mom, be looking for an opened, slightly eaten gift in the mail that came with an important life lesson for your grandchild.

What We Need the Most

In a few weeks, my youngest child, Jessica, will turn five. She’s busy planning her big day and has decided that what she really wants, what she really needs is a “muffin maker”. What Jessie thinks she really needs is an easy bake oven so she can cook for treats for everyone.

Most people, spend their entire lives pursuing what they think they really need, but neglect pursuing the one thing they need the most: forgiveness.

Last Sunday, Gregg talked about how God is generous with what we need the most. He invites us into an incredible relationship that is characterized by forgiveness, mercy, grace and unconditional acceptance.

Yet, He doesn’t stop there. God asks that we, too, be generous in forgiving others. This is tough because it’s sometimes easier to focus on what’s been done to us by others, rather than focusing on what’s been done for us by God.

We forgive others not because they deserve to be forgiven, but because we have been forgiven.

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32