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A gentleman sat in my office recently and as we chatted, he stated that his life had been very busy lately. He quickly caught himself and said, " I know busy has a bad connotation right now, so I should say my life has been active."
Regardless of what term we use, most of us can relate to living with a much too busy calendar. We often go to bed exhausted, yet feeling we have left more undone than accomplished. Our to do lists often grow quicker than our check offs. Because we want to feel productive, and feel the need to get things done, we often wear our busyness as a badge. The hard reality, however, is that this type of pace of life is unhealthy and ultimately unsustainable. I believe that is why God himself rested on the seventh day and established sabbath as a command.
Jesus could never be accused of being lazy, yet I find several occasions where it is recorded that he went away by himself to pray and rest. If Jesus, God the Son, took time and made it a priority to get away for rest and prayer, maybe we should make rest and prayer a higher priority in our own lives.
As Candie and I sat on the plane, seat belts buckled, and awaiting take off the flight attendant spoke amazing words of inspiration and instruction. She said, “…if someone needs assistance, put on your own mask before helping others.” The truth contained in these simple words is profound. We must make sure to practice appropriate self-care so that we can be effective at providing care for others. If we neglect proper rest and prayer, we will wear out or burn out. Neither is a positive as the outcome of both are that we are out. No matter how important one’s job or how heavy one’s responsibilities, rest and prayer are foundational. If left undone, all else will crumble.
As we enter the season of Spring, I encourage you to, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10 (NIV) As you rest and pray, God will refresh your strength and renew your spirit. You will find greater effectiveness in life and ministry when you take the time to rest and pray.
Candie and I love you, and believe God has great things in store for you.
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Bishop J. Rob Taylor
Administrative Bishop
Church of God in Hawaii
| | | | Bishop Rob and Candie Taylor | |
Bishop Brian & Zara Whitelock | |
Journey to 21K Update
Journey to 21K – Making Youth Camp Possible!
We’re on a mission to raise $21,000 to help keep youth camp affordable for every student. Our Journey to 21K is well underway, and we’re seeing God provide through fundraisers, donations, and the generosity of our churches and supporters. Every dollar raised is an investment in the next generation!
Want to help? Pray, give, or get involved in one of our upcoming fundraisers. Together, we’re making camp possible for every young person who needs an encounter with Jesus!
Hawaii’s Got Talent – Saturday, March 29th!
Do you have a talent to share? Hawaii’s Got Talent is back on Saturday, March 29th, and online registration is now open! Whether it’s music, art, writing, or drama, this is your chance to showcase your God-given gifts. Don’t miss out on this exciting event! Register online today!
| | Aloha from the Hawaii Youth & Discipleship Department | |
Aloha from the Hawaii Youth & Discipleship Department!
Not every W (win) feels like one at first. Sometimes, it looks like a setback. Sometimes, it feels like punishment. But what if your wilderness season isn’t about breaking you—but building you?
Deuteronomy 8:2-6 reminds us that God led the Israelites through the wilderness—not to abandon them, but to prepare them. Their season of waiting wasn’t wasted, and neither is yours.
The W’s of Spiritual Growth:
The Process of the Wilderness – Trusting God’s Timing
Sometimes, we want shortcuts, but God has a process. Skipping steps doesn’t get us there faster—it just leaves us unprepared when we arrive. Growth takes time, and the wilderness teaches us to trust God even when we don’t see the next step.
The Purpose of the Wilderness – God’s Training Ground
The wilderness isn’t about what you’re losing—it’s about what God is building in you. Strength, endurance, and faith aren’t developed in comfort but in challenge. If you’re in a season of waiting, don’t waste it—let God work in you.
The Promise After the Wilderness – This Is Not the End
The wilderness is temporary, but God’s promise is permanent. Even Jesus faced a wilderness before stepping into His calling (Matthew 4:1-11). Your story doesn’t end in the struggle—there’s a promise ahead!
If you’re in a wilderness season, keep walking. Keep trusting. Keep believing. The W is coming.
With Aloha and Gratitude,
Pastor Brian
Pastor Brian
YD
Church of God in Hawaii
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How You Can Help?
As we move forward, we invite you to be a part of these works of ministry. If you would like to help with the remodel of our Wailuku Church Building, we encourage you to join our Hawaii Men & Women of Action Group and make a tangible impact for the Kingdom.
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A Special Thanks
We want to give a special shoutout to our Evangelism Board for their leadership and dedication to this mission: Pastor Jason Albino, Rev. Jozie Hawthorne & Rev. Elisha Whitelock.
Their commitment to evangelism and church development is helping to transform lives and communities across Hawaii.
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Evangelism in Action: Expanding and Rebuilding for the Kingdom
The Evangelism Department continues to move forward in spreading the Gospel across Hawaii. Our team is actively engaged in two key projects that embody our mission of church planting and restoration.
First, we are excited to partner with Pastor Jason and Jeralyn as they prepare to launch The Bride Church of God in Wailuku. Their passion for reaching the lost and building a thriving faith community is inspiring, and we stand with them in prayer and support as they step into this new ministry.
Additionally, we are working alongside a contractor to help rebuild ICF Church of God in Lahaina. The devastating fire that impacted Lahaina was a tragic loss, but through God’s grace and the unwavering commitment of His people, we are witnessing a season of restoration. This effort is more than just a construction project—it is a testimony of resilience, faith, and the power of unity in Christ.
The Heart of Home Missions
Jesus’ final words to His disciples were a call to action: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19). While global missions are vital, we must never overlook the mission field in our own backyard. Church planting and church revitalization are essential for the spread of the Gospel, ensuring that every community has a place where people can encounter Christ, grow in faith, and be equipped for ministry.
Paul’s missionary journeys weren’t just about evangelizing; they were about establishing and strengthening churches (Acts 14:21-23). A healthy church is a beacon of hope, a refuge for the weary, and a training ground for disciples. When we plant churches, we are expanding the Kingdom. When we rebuild and restore, we are reviving the mission. Both are necessary, and both require the prayers, support, and hands-on effort of God’s people.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support. Together, we are planting, rebuilding, and advancing His Kingdom in Hawaii!
| | | Hawaii Church of God Media Ministry | | Hawaii Church of God State Media Ministry | |
Hawaii Church of God recognizes the importance of media ministry in today’s culture. Rev. Wayne and Merry White are coordinating the media ministry for the state office. They are willing to travel to local churches to help the church be more effective in their digital media.
Rev. Wayne eagerly awaits the opportunity to help train, equip and involve your church in digital media. Reach out to him to help you with your media needs. He and Merry are here to serve you and your church.
| | | Mark Your Calendar for These Events | | Be sure to check our website often for updates and more information. HawaiiCOG.Org | | Affirming every individual & his or her calling | |
Spirit Care Leadership Appointed
Spirit Care representation is an important part of Church of God care for our retired ministers and widows. Rev. Mack and Carol Evans have answered the call to join with the Church of God Ministerial Care Office to coordinate efforts of care and community. The Evans are choice ministry leaders and will serve well.
| | | Honoring the Memory and Legacy of Rev. Tom Tioaquen
| | | Resourcing the local church and ministers | | |
Interested? Contact Rev. Ian using the link below.
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Worship Training
Aloha Hawaii COG, the State Music Department is happy to present Worship Music and Worship Instrument training. If you are interested in learning how to play drums, base, acoustic guitar, and the keyboard then this program is for you. We will start in person classes along with online classes to help you learn or sharpen your gifts and talents for the Lord.
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3-Year Curriculum—Completely Free
The LifeKids team at Life.Church is excited to announce a brand new three-year version of the Bible Adventure curriculum, specifically designed to engage your little learners and help you lead kids to become fully devoted followers of Christ!
Here's what you can look forward to ...
- 100% Free: As always, we offer these resources to you at no charge!
- Three-Year Plan: This curriculum walks toddlers and preschoolers through key Bible stories.
- Bible App for Kids Integration: The content is fully integrated with the Bible App for Kids so your kids can learn at church and from home.
Get your hands on the Scope & Sequence, which includes a customizable teaching schedule, anchor lessons at Christmas and Easter, and links to easily access each lesson on Open Network.
Explore the Curriculum
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#WEGROW
Great news!
The We Grow YouVersion Plan is now live on The Bible App.
If you haven't downloaded The Bible App simply visit bible.comon your mobile device and follow the prompts.
| | Important Information About World Missions Giving Credit | | |
GA24 HARVEST NOW GRAPHIC RESOURCES
Download the graphic logo resources for the Harvest Now theme in English and Español.
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Art Rhodes, CEO of the Church of God Benefits Board, has announced the release of updated materials pertinent to ministers and local churches.
“With each New Year comes new rules, new regulations, and new contribution limits,” Rhodes stated. “Therefore, all the Benefits Board’s free educational manuals have been updated to take into consideration all relevant changes for 2025. You can access the latest version of each manual from the Benefits Board website at www.benefitsboard.com/manuals. The topics covered include:
• Church Construction and Financing Manual
• Ministers’ Retirement Plan Document Summary
• Church Treasurer’s Manual
• Minister’s Compensation Manual
• Church Budgeting Manual
• Tax Information Manual
• The Church as a Taxpayer Manual
• Church Loan Fund Policy Manual
• Church and Nonprofit Tax and Financial Guide (ECFA)
• Minister’s Tax and Financial Guide (ECFA)
All manuals are available without cost and may be used by the local church and church officials to address the everyday issues faced by most churches. Many of the manuals are also available in Spanish.
Any questions or comments about the manuals can be sent to info@benefitsboard.com.
January 13, 2025
Article from Faith News Network: https://www.faithnews.cc
| | Evangelizing to Win Souls for the Kingdom | |
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If you’d like to partner with Rev, Reagan and team, you may do so through our world missions link button below or by sending the funds directly to the team at Kona Church of God.
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Kona Church of God Team Carries Gospel to remote Villages in Nepal
Rev. Reagan Daniels and team from Kona Church of God have been training for their ministry expedition to the remote villages of Nepal. They leave Friday, March 14 2025 for their ten day journey. They have been preparing by hiking up Mona Kea using weighted vests to simulate their trek.
They will hike up remote mountains in excess of 17,000 feet to contact and connect with indigenous people in the villages. They carry on their bodies their hiking gear and digital media presentations of the gospel.
Join us in prayerful anticipation of miraculous meetings and God encounters. Pray for their physical well being and safety. Ask God that their encounters be transformative for the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Also, pray for their families here in Hawaii as they support their loved ones on the mission field.
| | | | Serving Each Other, Our Communities, Hawaii & Our World | | Two Teams-9 Men and 1 Woman Tackled 8 Projects Resulting in Over $300,000.00 Worth of Work | |
Praise can be described as giving the attention to God for who he is. We are quick to think of musicians and singers as the authority of praise. We think of stringed instruments and songs of worship when services are conducted. What we have witnessed during the month of February is that praise can come in the form of hammers and nails, carpet and glue, chemicals and shingles.These bring glory to God when work is given as worship to him. Two teams from all over the southeast came together to work on what was introduced as a couple of projects. To our surprise, their synergy was almost unstoppable. Eight projects later, and we are still in awe of their praise to a living God. The churches and the communities where they worshipped will never be the same. Mahalo nui loa.
| | Maili Church God gifted the team with a case of Chocolate Covered Macadamia Nuts. The team consisted of George Stidham, Ronnie McElyea, Jerry and Glenda Waters, Donnie McWaters, Harold Hanks, Sylar, Jamie McAnally, Chuck Gillespie, and Brian Faulkner. | | Pastor David and Sister Shirley Nanod joked that the carpet was holding the floor together at the Church of God on the remote island of Molokai. To their surprise, the joke was not as far-fetched as they had once thought. The Nanods along with brothers and sisters on the island removed the furniture and the damaged flooring in preparation. | | Hawaii Church of God State Parsonage | |
| | The railing system on the state parsonage lanai had succumbed to the weather. The constant sun and the moisture of island weather created rot on many of the wooden panels. This was no match for the creative influence of the mission teams. They purchased the wood and began the repairs. One could not ignore the speed with which this amazing team worked. On day one, they had measured, purchased the wood and dismantled the railings. By the end of day two, new rails were safely added to the parsonage lanai. | | | | Newtown Ewa Beach underwent a major transformation. The parsonage was gutted and remodeled to provide adequate housing for the pastor and family. The worship facilities are nothing short of miraculous in the reimagining of their look. The funds, however, trickled to the point of needing to wait on some items that were necessary but not immediate. One of those items included the shingling of the parsonage roof. The project was estimated to be between $50,000 and $60,000. | | |
In their worship tour, the mission teams converged on the roof with a tenth of the project cost in purchased materials. Within a mere five hours, they were finished with a 40 x 60 roof. Their confluence was immediately noticed by neighbors who stood amazed. This created great conversation opportunities for Pastor Brian.
| | Jesus is Alive, North Shore | | |
Annual storms on the North Shore of Oahu creates the electric atmosphere for international surfers. The force of the rain coming in so quickly also creates massive river backups. With nowhere to go, the water choses the path of least resistance. Over the years, the water has just created its own path. That path meanders under the sanctuary of Jesus is Alive Church of God on the North Shore. Not only does the flooding create a mess underneath the building, years of moisture and erosion have led to massive sagging in the floor of the church. Pastor Andres and his wife have been faithful to oversee the clean-up of the building but have been at a loss as to how to fix the structural issue. This was extremely complicated by the recent stroke of Pastor. The attention of the congregation immediately turned toward making the necessary accommodations for Pastor’s living arrangements.
| | | The mainland team saw the need, envisioned the remedy and made the much-needed repairs. Although we are still awaiting the Corps of Engineers to come up with a new course of action to change the trajectory of the flooding, we can worship in the structure safely in the meantime. This team lifted the building on jacks and created a system to raise the floor to level it. They remediated the mold and mildew that had set in. And when Sister Estrellita Andres mentioned how the roof flooded where it joined the carport, this team created an engineering marvel to move the water off the roof at a better location than in the direct middle of the carport. These were three distinct projects that totaled somewhere around $250,000 in savings to the Church. | | Of course, no trip to the North Shore during Surfing Season is complete without a testing of one’s skills on the stick. Although they did not make it on the pipeline circuit, they did tame this gnarly wave, yah! | | | |
Unstoppable should be the name of this worship tour. Maili Church of God parsonage needed repair of the lanai and stairs. On Saturday morning, the crew measured for the lumber purchased and commenced to make the repairs needed. Within a matter of hours, the reinforced structure stood ready for service.
| | Part of that service was to protect the new washer and dryer installed by Hawaii Church of God Evangelism Department. Why stop there? Since we were playing with electricity, the Evangelism department took on the project of installing the new water heater for the parsonage as well. By the way, did you know you cannot buy a Hot Water Heater? It's a water heater-Noted. | | Weekly Prayer Force Reminders | |
YWEA - Church of God International Youth Department | YWEA is committed to making an eternal investment in the lives of students throughout Greece. On Samos Island, we will build a ministry center that will offer food, meet basic needs, and offer an eternal hope. In Athens, we will strengthen the ministry of the Hope House. | | | | | | |
