Hope. One powerful definition of hope is: the happy anticipation of good. For the believer, this happy anticipation of good is based on the character and nature of God. The unmatched goodness of our eternal and unchanging God makes our hope secure, trustworthy, and dependable. This is true regardless of the circumstances, challenges, and struggles we will all inevitably face at various points in our lives. 

News from around the world reveals an unparalleled time of upheaval, disaster, war, evil, and human struggle. One does not have to look far to find an unprecedented challenge to basic living. Never have I been so certain of the applicability of Mark 13:5-8 and 2 Timothy 3:1-5a.

⁵ Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. ⁶ Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. ⁷ When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. ⁸ Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.

       Mark 13:5-8 (NIV)

¹ But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. ² People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³ without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ⁴ treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power…

2 Timothy 3:1-5a (NIV)

In spite of, or even in light of this, I have also never been more confident in the hope we have in Jesus. We see the unshakeable promise of God in 1 Thessalonians 5:4-11 and Hebrews 6:11-12, 18-20.

⁴ But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. ⁵ You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. ⁶ So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. ⁸ But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. ⁹ For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁰ He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. ¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:4-11 (NIV)

¹¹ We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. ¹² We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. ¹⁸ God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. ¹⁹ We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, ²⁰ where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 6:11-12, 18-20 (NIV)

Candie and I love you and are praying for you. Be encouraged in the hope we all share in Jesus. 

Bishop Rob and Candie Taylor

I trashed everything in the refrigerator, I cleaned out the garbage disposal but nothing seemed to work.  We had two problems, one, the smell was still bad and two, I wasn’t going to give up, either this smell was leaving the building or I was because it was bad.  When cleaning out the garbage disposal I made a mess.  I grabbed the sponge next to the sink, put it under the water and that’s all it took, the smell had been found.  This sponge stunk so bad.  It’s hard to believe a little sponge could make a whole building stink as bad as it did.  

In Romans 12:2, it says, Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Oh how our minds can be like that sponge.  How our minds can start to smell because of what we are soaking in.  If we want our lives to change we must change the way we think.  How can our minds smell good if all we are thinking on is Complaining thoughts, Hateful thoughts, Negative thoughts, Prideful thoughts and so on.  

Paul was telling us we must renew our minds, we are living a new life in Christ but it is up to us to renew our minds.  How?  Renew it in the Word of God, in the Promises of God, in the Faithfulness of God.  Our minds are either going to stink or smell good, the choice is yours.

Please keep the Hawaii Youth & Discipleship Department up in prayers as our Got Talent and Youth Camp are quickly apporching.  We have set a goal to raise $21000 to help bring down the cost of youth camp per camper from $295 to $150.  If you like to help with this please follow the link.  

Pastor Brian

Pastor Brian

YD

Church of God in Hawaii

A Significant Milestone for a Special Group

We celebrate the graduating MIP class of 2024. The photo was taken after each of these and one who was home sick passed the Ordained Minister test. From left to right are Rev. Malu Brown, Rev. Gabby Brown, Rev. Tony Maganis, Rev. Jozell Hawthorne, Rev. Jeralyn Albino and Rev. Jason Albino. Unfortunately, Rev. Sy Vergara was home sick, but still took and passed her Ordained Minister's Exam via Zoom. We praise God for their hard work and dedication toward perfecting their call.

Just as Paul emphatically encourages Timothy concerning his reading, teaching, preaching, and study of scripture, the Church of God DOE creates a curriculum to help ministers train for their kingdom work. These students rose to the occasion to know their church, the scripture and themselves through study. Their theological study mirrored the fulfillment of Paul's urging of Timothy. Paul commands Timothy to “Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you” [2 Timothy 1:13-14]. Timothy is to be a teacher of others who will also teach. “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” [2 Timothy 2:2].

Their journey is even more significant as they graduate as part of the 50th year celebration of MIP. MIP began 50 years ago in the state of Hawaii with 7 newly called and credentialed ministers. Dr. Robert Fisher saw the need to train the men and women for success.

Congratulations to Rev. Malu and Gabby Brown of the Maili Church of God. The Abad/Brown Wedding of April 27, 2024 was one week prior to the last MIP class and Ordained Minister Test. We celebrate the goodness of God.

Ask Pastor Brian about CAMS for Students

Resourcing the local church and ministers

As of publication, Bishop and Candie Taylor are enrolled in the course The Genesis Story: Reading Biblical Narratives.

Hawaii Churches and Ministers Serving

As we continue to rise to the occasion to maintain and refresh the properties with which we have been blessed to steward, we want to spotlight the Honolulu Church of God. The church was built in 1942. For you History buffs out there, yes, that is during World War II.

Pastor Evan Palmer often remarks how grateful he is that the structural integrity of the church is beyond compromise by termites. While they have found termite damage, it is not to the demise of the building as it may be with other properties. The benefits of a concrete building are real.

Painting and maintaining a concrete structure of that age is a large undertaking. Hawaii Church of God partnered with the Honolulu Church of God to see the painting accomplished.

Oahu Students Serve to See Youth Camp Prices Affordable for All

Summer would not be summer without..... Church of God Youth Camp. For one incredible week in the summer, the peer pressure changes. The surroundings and the atmosphere change. Discipleship is a 24/7 occurrence. If you add the hours, a student who attends one week of youth camp experiences more hours of hands-on-discipelship than a student who attends every weekly church service. Plus the discipleship training occurs everywhere-church, ball court, meals, canteen. Youth camp workers are modeling how to be disappointed and still hold to their joy in Christ. How to be tired and maintain integrity. They demonstrate forgiveness over and over again. It's a remarkable gift we have. But it is not cheap.

The islands are home of some of the most expensive properties on earth. Those prices are passed on to the camping program. Youth director, Bishop Brian Whitelock and his wife Zara are committed to lowering the price of camp so it is affordable to all. For a mere $150.00, a student will be able to participate in one of the most valuable weeks of the summer. One cannot feed a student for a week on $150.

Three Oahu churches came together to give of themselves to support Pastor B and Lady Z achieve their goal by hosting a car wash. The youngest participants and the eldest found a place to give of themselves for the Glory of God and the benefit of the camper. Each driver had his or her car washed, dried, and shined as students and leaders sang along with the music. The atmosphere was one of unity and aloha.

A second car wash is planned for June. Contact Pastor Brian for further information.