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What a wonderful privilege it is to be appointed back to the islands of Hawai’i to serve as your State Administrative Bishop. Candie and I are thrilled to know our home continues to be among you for the next two years. As we look back over the summer, we celebrate the wonderful events we shared. We graduated our second CAMS class; We graduated our first MIP class in over 25 years with seven candidates; Hawaii represented well at the Church of God General Assembly in Indianapolis, Indiana; Youth camp saw great participation of students and workers; The spiritual results were significant; Holy Spirit moved among us, and he has refreshed us and equipped us to do the work of the Harvest Now.
At the General Assembky, General Overseer, Dr. Gary Lewis launched off of former General Overseer, Dr. Tim Hill’s sermon that affirmed our Declaration of Faith. As a church that is committed to what we believe we will be the church that GOES, PREACHES, CARES, and DISCIPLES . That would be a daunting task if we had to rely on ourselves individually, or even corporately as the islands of Hawai’i.
There are two things, however,I want to remind you.
First, as Dr. Lewis shared with us: .
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We are never alone as part of the church of God we have each other and all the other 8.5+ million members in over 192 countries around the world. That means 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, ministry is happening in the Church of God. We celebrate. We participate. And we will motivate ourselves to join the army of God to work while it is still light.
Most importantly, the work that is set before us was not only commanded by Jesus as he implemented the Great Commission, but he gave us the power to be his disciples through the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We have the authority to preach the good news of Jesus as we seek and save the lost. We have the power to make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. We will send them to do the work of the church. The Church of God in Hawai’i accepts our responsibility to Go, to Preach, to Care and to Disciple through the authority and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Candie and I love you. We are proud of you. We are honored to serve you and to work beside of you.
Blessings,
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Bishop J. Rob Taylor
Administrative Bishop
Church of God in Hawaii
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Bishop Rob and Candie Taylor | |
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Bishop Brian & Zara Whitelock
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Aloha from the Hawaii Youth & Discipleship Department | |
PRAISE THE LORD CHURCH !
I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for your incredible support in helping us achieve our goal of raising $21,000 for our youth camp. Thanks to your generosity, we were able to reduce the cost for each camper from $300 to $150, making this enriching experience more accessible to our youth.
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Your contribution has made a significant impact, and we are deeply appreciative of your commitment to our cause. As we look ahead to 2025, we are excited to set the same fundraising goal. We hope you will consider partnering with us again to continue making a difference in the lives of our young people.
In Proverbs 29:18, it is written, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." This verse reminds us of the importance of setting goals and having a clear vision for the future. Inspired by this scripture, we are not only setting our sights on maintaining our youth camp but also on achieving something unprecedented in the Hawaii Church of God history.
We are thrilled to announce an ambitious new endeavor: for the first time, we aim to take our state youth choir to compete in the 2025 International Teen Talent competition. This is a monumental opportunity for our youth, and we humbly ask for your prayers and financial support to help us reach this new milestone.
Thank you once again for your unwavering support. Together, we are shaping a brighter future for our youth, grounded in faith and vision.
Pastor Brian
Pastor Brian
YD
Church of God in Hawaii
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Connecting churches to each other, the church to the community and the community to Christ | |
Youth Camp 2024
100 Campers, 50 Workers, 15 Churches,
4 Islands and 1 God:
Together We Rattle the Islands
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Church of God General Assembly 2024 is in the history books. Hawaii had 21 island delegates in attendance. We gathered for lunch in Indianapolis to celebrate those who crossed the pacific from Hawaii.
Youth Director, Pastor Brian Whitelock registered the first International Jr. Talent Participant from Hawaii. To say we were a little proud is an understatement.
We were thrilled to have Rev. Ian Mateo represent us as the Hawaii Chairman of the State Music Committee in the International Music Ministers Choir . Hawaii was also represented in the Mass Youth Choir During Friday evening's service. They may have been the most beautiful students on the stage.
Hawaii won runner-up for its division at the World Missions Awards. Likewise, we accepted the award for the runner-up for Women's Ministries WWAM project.
While we may have seasons where the distance between the mainland and our islands seem immense, the general assembly is a great reminder that we are not just cogs in a mchine, but we are a part of a world wide movement that is about the Great Commission through Going, Preaching,, Caring, and Discipling.
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Mark Your Calendar for These Events | Books Are Still Available for Purchase Email or Call the Offie | |
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Be sure to check our website often for updates and more information. HawaiiCOG.Org
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Affirming every individual & his or her calling | |
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Summer Birthdays
Raquel Leihua Taguchi July 13
Teofilo A Andres July 15
Jeralyn Maque Albino August 12
Brian Whitelock August 13
Keith Elliott August 20
Benedicto Mariano August 24
Gabrielle Brown August 27
Ino Bocobo August 29
Susan Elliott August 31
Cassandra Willes. August 31
Photo by Robert Anderson on Unsplash
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Special Announcement: We just received an update. This news has impacted CAMS for students. We are pushing back the start date for CAMS for students until January 2025. So if you are 14 -22, now is your time to get in on the amazing things God is doing in the Youth of Hawaii. | |
Ask Pastor Brian about CAMS for Students | |
Calling and Ministry Studies for Students | Case Studies A leadership pipeline designed to help individuals, at a young age, identify, answer, and develop the call of God on their lives. This ministry formation process will ultimately lead to equipping and empowering young leaders into healthy ministries around the world. | | | |
Resourcing the local church and ministers | |
GENERAL OVERSEER
Bishop Gary Lewis, D.D., serves as the General Overseer for the Church of God. From 2022-2024 he served as Secretary General for the denomination. His experience in the ministry includes having served the church as a student pastor, senior pastor and state youth and discipleship director.
In 2008 he was elected by the Church of God General Assembly to serve as the International Assistant Director of Youth and Discipleship and then in 2012 as the International Director. In 2016 he was appointed state administrative bishop for South Georgia where he served until his election to the Executive Committee in 2022. He also served as a member of the International Executive Council (Council of 18).
Gary met his wife, Lori while they were attending East Coast Bible College. They have three children and two grandchildren. Read their amazing story below.
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FIRST ASSISTANT GENERAL OVERSEER
Bishop Tony Stewart currently serves as first assistant general overseer of the Church of God. Previously he served as second assistant general overseer from 2022-2024. From 2014-2018 he served as chair of the Church of God International Executive Council and previously for ten years on the Church of God World Missions Board of Directors. He has a
history of impactful ministry at the local church level, focusing on church health and evangelism.
For over 15 years, he, and his wife, Kaci, have served as lead pastors of CityLife Church, Tampa, Florida, a multigenerational church with three campuses and was named as one of the fastest growing churches in America by Outreach magazine and Lifeway Research.
Bishop Stewart is an alumnus of Lee University and holds degrees from Life Christian University, and an Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Asian Seminary of Christian Ministries (May 2023). He is the author of The Door to More.
He and his wife, Kaci, are the parents of two daughters.
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SECOND ASSISTANT GENERAL OVERSEER
Bishop T. Wayne Dority, D.D., serves as the second assistant general overseer. He has served as General Director of Publications for the Church of God, as well as the Director of Multi-Cultural Ministries USA and Canada. Bishop Dority has also served with excellence as the Administrative Bishop of the Pacific Northwest, Texas, Ohio, and most recently Tennessee. He has served on the International Executive Council, World Missions Board of Directors, European Theological Seminary Board of Directors, Pentecostal Seminary Board of Directors, State Council, Youth and Christian Discipleship, Evangelism and Home Missions. Having pastored for twenty-two years, Bishop Dority carries a special burden for clergy and churches.
He holds a Degree in Theology, as well as a Commercial Pilot Rating.
Shelly, his wonderful wife of over 40 years, joins him in ministry.
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THIRD ASSISTANT GENERAL OVERSEER
Mark L. Williams serves as the third assistant general overseer of the Church of God. He previously served as general overseer for the Church God, the highest leadership role in the denomination, 2012-2016, and as second assistant general overseer from 2008-2012. Williams began his ministerial career as an evangelist. Pastorates include South Cleveland Church of God, Cleveland, Tennessee; Riverhills Church, Tampa, Florida; and North Cleveland Church of God, Cleveland, TN—the founding church of the denomination. He also served the Church of God as a member of the International Executive Council and the state overseer of California/Nevada. Williams earned a B.A. from Lee University, an M.Div. and a D.Min. from Pentecostal Theological Seminary and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from Lee University in 2010.
Williams is married to Sandra Kay, an ordained minister and graduate of Lee University. She holds a Master of Theological Studies from the Pentecostal Theological Seminary. Sandra Kay has ministry experience on local, national, and international levels. She has served on numerous academic, denominational, and community boards. Sandra Kay is a committed prayer intercessor and dedicated to mentoring new generations and supporting men and women in their ministry callings. The Williams are parents of two grown sons.
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SECRETARY GENERAL
Thomas A. Madden serves the Church of God as Secretary General. He is a fourth-generation minister who grew up in a pastor’s home in South Carolina. After graduation from Lee College (University), Bishop Madden earned a degree from the Pentecostal Theological Seminary.
While serving as Youth Pastor of North Cleveland Church of God, Bishop Madden birthed what is now known as Winterfest. His love for youth would become the focal point and passion of his ministry. This would eventually lead his ministry into appointments as state Youth and Discipleship directors. The Maddens have served the Church of God in the Great Lakes region, Indiana, and back to the International Offices, where he served as Youth Ministries Coordinator. In 2004, he was elected to the position of Assistant International Director of Youth and Discipleship and then International Director, where he served from 2008-2012.
In 2012, the Maddens were appointed Administrative Bishop of the Delmarva-DC region where they ministered for four years. In 2016, they moved to serve as the Administrative Bishop of North Georgia until his election as Secretary General in 2024. Bishop Madden was also honored by his peers when elected to the Council of Eighteen, where he served from 2016 to 2022.
Bishop Madden is married to his childhood sweetheart Charla, who is a graduate of Lee University with an M.A in elementary education from Tusculum College. She has been an integral part of their ministry team. They have two children and five grandchildren.
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Church of God Executive Council Elected at the 2024 General Front (l-r): Kip Box, Joe Dobbins, Anthony Pelt, William Lee, Angel Marcial E., Kevin McGlamery. Back (l-r): Ken Hill, Stafford Petersen (S. Africa), Rick Whitter, Julio Melendez, David Cooper, Lennox Walker, Nick Park, Kelvin Page, Ishmael Charles, R.C. Hugh Nelson, Toby Morgan. Not pictured: Jerry Madden, Niko Njotorahardjo | |
General Assembly Adopted Items
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GA24 HARVEST NOW GRAPHIC RESOURCES
Download the graphic logo resources for the Harvest Now theme in English and Español.
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Evangelizing to Win Souls for the Kingdom
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Serving Each Other, Our Communities, Hawaii & Our World
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Hawaii Churches and Ministers Serving | |
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Announcing the Hawaii Ministerial Training Committees for the ensuing General Assembly Period. Their efforts of Discipleship make a difference that means someone's eternity.
CAMS Committee 2024-2026:
Joe Abell
Destiny Albino
Malu Brown
Stephanie Calizo
June Guevarra
Ofelia Sarrano
CAMS for Students Committee 2024-2026:
Taelor Maganis
Tony Maganis
Benita Mateo
Syrahlyn Vergara
Eli Whitelock
MIP Committee 2024-2026:
Ino Bocobo
Jozel Hawthorn
Wayne White
Zara Whitelock
Dave Pennington
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Hawaii CoG Mission's Blitz Projects Continue
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Be on the look out for a dedication service for the relaunch of the Church of God in Ewa Beach for October. | |
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Sixteen thousand dollars has been raised to put in the new floor in Molokai. We are awaiting the date for the crew to come and help with the project. | | |
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During the General Assembly, we took time to meet with the Mission Blitz Team to discuss the Molokai project.
The plans are in place for a New Year new floor project for Molokai and Jesus is Alive on the North Shore.
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We are eager to have the Church of God Men and Women of action join us on the beautiful island of Hawai'i in October. Their trip will help us sure up the plumbing issues experienced by the church. We are excited to have this issue resolved. We are even more excited to have our Ohana from across the sea join us for the time.
Congratulations to Pastor June for the refinancing of the Church loan. Pastor June and Rev. Len have worked diligently and lead the church to make significant strides to pay down the principle on the church indebtedness. The renegotiated mortgage at a lower payment allows more money to be used for ministry.
We honor Pastor June and Len as we say Mahlol Nui Loa to them for over 11 years of service to the Crosspoint Church. Their faithful service and attention to the people ensured ministry during difficult times. He and the Hilo church have worked hard to ensure a smooth transition during a pastoral change. We are grateful for their leadership and sacrifice..
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