Do you have an available heart?

Winkie Pratney said “God is looking for willing hearts. You do not have to be special. But you do have to be available.”

Our team has made so many new friends this week! We worked with a couple different churches from the Mainland and the Waipahu area. We have loved getting to know our new friends!! 

We worked with a church in Waipahu, helping lead the missions portion of their VBS. They were so interactive and received our message so well. We had loads of fun! 

Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭14‬ ‭says “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?”

When you look at the disciples, you see a variety of different men. They aren’t what WE would considered qualified. Most were uneducated, unconnected, and unnoticed. While I might have my own agenda for who I would choose as my disciples, Jesus saw something in these men. He saw their willingness to go. He saw their faith in boldness and selected them for the task. 

We shared this with the students at the VBS, to show that anyone and everyone is called to go. We wanted to express that the only thing that “qualified” us to be a missionary was putting our "yes" on the table. We trusted that God had a plan and would use us!

-Gracie

Hawaiian Church Ministry Team

A Flood of Obedience

There is no success without sacrifice. If you succeed without sacrifice, it is because someone has suffered before you. If you sacrifice without success, it is because someone will succeed after. -Adoniram Judson

My team and I are about halfway through our mission trip now. With all of the ups and downs we have experienced, I am so blessed to have Lucas and Annsleigh standing next to me. They have taught me so much about faith and perseverance.

It’s so easy to see God’s hand during our trip because of all of the beauty we are surrounded by. Even the gas stations have the most jaw dropping views!

We’ve spent this week in so much fellowship! Getting to know the church body here at Malama Christian Fellowship has been the biggest blessing. They are some of the most generous people I have met. They have loved us like family!

God is teaching me so much about letting go of all of the little things to make His plans priority in my life. I look into my future and I see so many possibilities, it’s paralyzing. When I sit and think of all of the things that I could do with my life, I begin to lose sight of what God has commanded me to do. I don’t need a map for my life, I need a compass that is fixed on God. Our maps look different in each season of life, but our compass will show us if we are headed in the right direction.

John Piper says, “You don’t have to know a lot of things for your life to make a lasting difference in the world. But you do have to know the few great things that matter, and then be willing to live for them and die for them.”

With the help of our good friend Cyril, we have officially reached about 40 people with intentional Gospel conversations now!! I have the names of each of those people so we can continue to pray over them (please DM me if you’d like this list).

Every single life holds so much significance in God’s eyes. My friend Cyril has taught me to not neglect a single person that crosses our paths. We cannot pick and choose who gets to hear the Good News. During our times of evangelism, he has shown an incredible amount of boldness through his faith in Jesus. He has taught me that regardless of how you share the Gospel, it’s takes the same step in obedience to do so. Obtaining this obedience is a daily denial of your flesh and desires. It’s rooted in Bible intake and prayer.

Please pray that our team is flooded with the obedience to continue reaching the people in this area.

-Gracie

Hawaiian Church Ministry Team

Leave God's Children Alone

Our town is a hotspot for human trafficking. Malama Christian Fellowship displays so much boldness on Sundays through their sign waving. They line the streets demanding that the human traffickers leave God’s children alone. It’s heartbreaking to hear about all that has happened. However, it is so encouraging to know there is a church that loves their community so much and is willing to do something about it!

This trip has genuinely taught me that only Jesus satisfies. Nothing that this world could ever offer will sustain your life the way Jesus does. I am surrounded by the most beautiful views and there is still brokenness all around. Children with hungry bellies, families with no home, and a shared feeling of emptiness. So many times we put our value in our works, our relationships,
and ourself. When in reality our sin pushes us so far away from any redemption. But God loves us so much. We have absolute reassurance through His sacrificial love.

It’s been so beautiful to share that truth with others.

Please continue to pray that more opportunities come our way and that we take the necessary step in boldness to speak Jesus into their hearts.

-Gracie

Hawaiian Church Ministry

Give them a hand!!

Our first of many evangelizing training for our little ones! It’s so important that these sweethearts are advocates for Christ in their homes, schools, and communities. 

Yesterday, they learned 5 simple steps to explaining the Gospel... All you need is your hand! 

Pray for these kids who are learning how to share their young faith... while others are still coming to understand what that even means for them personally.

-Gracie
Hawaiian Church Ministry

Beautiful gift of the Gospel

Lilias Trotter said “When God delays in fulfilling our little thoughts, it is to give Himself room to work out His great ones.” Now that I’m here, I cannot imagine spending my summer any other way.

It’s so cool that in God’s big, beautiful plan, He included me- and you!! I admire having a Creator that uses anyone for His kingdom.

We’ve been given something so beautiful - the Gospel. The Lord is teaching me this it is not mine to keep, but that it’s mine to share. Paul challenges us in Acts 20:24 to consider our lives worth nothing to us, if only we may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given us, the task of testifying to the Gospel of God’s grace. 

There are so many reasons to not do something, to not go. So many people will convince us to follow fear over Christ. Matthew 10:36 says “your enemies will be in your own household”.  My prayer is we consider our brothers and sisters, consider their sufferings. So many people day everyday without knowing Christ. Consider those people. 

Boldness requires courage to press through our fears and do what we know is right. Let’s pray that the Holy Spirit gives us all opportunities to share the beautiful gift of the Gospel.

-Gracie
Hawaiian Church Ministry

His Hands in Hawaii

We have been loving it here! The people are so welcoming and kind. We’ve had about 20 Gospel conversations so far. I have the names of each of those people so we can continue to pray over them! We’ve also helped with a bunch of physical needs around Malama Christian Fellowship. Annsleigh, Lucas, and I are so grateful for this opportunity!!

-Gracie

Hawaiian Church Ministry Team