Pukalani Community Church of the Nazarene

In worship services, we often hear Pastor Mark preach about how “the church isn’t the building—the church is US!” That statement couldn’t be more true: the church is so much more than these four walls that make our humble hale! WE are the Church, from Pastor Mark and the staff, to the newest member; from our oldest kupuna to our youngest keiki—we all have a part to play. At a previous church where I used to serve, one of the staff members would describe Sunday as the “halftime for the church.” It’s a time to get renewed, get refreshed, get pumped up… but not so that we can forget everything when we get home and take a Naz nap after potluck (no judge how much you grind—and I will be the first in line for that Naz nap!). But joking aside, we are “filled” on Sunday so that we are able to “pour” into the world around us throughout the week!

I get excited about this idea because it reminds me that as a pastor, I have a role to play beyond Sundays and Wednesdays, and even beyond these church grounds.

As many of you know, Hau’oli and I live AT the church, but that doesn’t mean that we are always “ready to give an answer for our hope” (1 Peter 3:15-16). We are human too and there are plenty of weekdays that come where it would be sooo easy to check out from the world around us because of the “fullness” that each weekend brings to our family. It would be soooo easy to be cranky when our time isn’t spent the way we were hoping or we are asked to do things simply “because we live at the church.” To be honest, that crankiness does slip into my thinking more often than not (I AM human) but as soon as the thought enters my mind, God always gently reminds me (as only He can do!) that my time is NOT my own, and that my job is to STAY ENGAGED in Him, no matter what that looks like during the week, whether that’s at the Hale or out and about on the island.

One way that has helped us stay engaged with the world outside the Hale has been our part time job with a local home efficiency company. In short, we change out light bulbs, update water fixtures, and offer some other services (for free in most cases) to make homes energy efficient–and we get paid! Besides to help cover some of our bills, we’ve seen this job as another ministry opportunity. For the last six months (since starting with this company), we’ve seen a wide range of humanity: the retired couple with a several-story lavish upcountry home to the one-bedroom Section-8 unit with multiple immigrant families squeezed together just to afford the high cost of housing. We never know what we are going to get when we walk into a home!

As with any job, some days have the occasional disgruntled tenant, but for the most part, our clientele have been wonderful, precious people, no matter their status. And while we don’t introduce ourselves as pastors up front (although it often comes up as we get to talking), we find that more often than not, people pour out their stories and their hearts to us… as we are just putting in a light bulb or changing out a showerhead! We’ve heard encouraging and entertaining tales of times gone by, and we’ve shared moments of prayer for families going through frustrations or unimaginable heartbreak.

I’ve been wanting to share this for a while, so I’m glad it’s my job to share this week–I am so, so, thankful for the opportunity to serve with this company. This job does have it’s logistical and practical purposes (and it’s helpful for everyone involved!) but above all, we see it as an incredible privilege to be invited into the homes of our Maui neighbors (and company team members!) and just sharing life together–and that’s what “being the church” is all about. To simply “BE” with people, being representatives and examples of God’s love, whether or not the other person knows where our Hope comes from.

I pray that you too will take advantage of the opportunities you’re given today to share God’s love, being representatives of Him and His family here at Puka Naz!

–Pastor Jamie Kalama
Puka Naz Keiki (Children’s) Pastor

Please follow and like us:

“I can’t believe she would say that about me,” “I can’t believe this car won’t let me merge in front of them,” “Don’t they know that I already know how to do this?” These might sound like words that slip out of our mouths when we get caught up in the daily interactions we have with family, friends, or even complete strangers. These sentences, and sentences like these cause us to place ourselves higher than our role as servants.

It’s common to feel offended, “done wrong,” or just have hurt feelings when others fall short of our expectations, or when we feel like we “deserve” better than being viewed as satisfactory instead of extraordinary, but why? We are allowing others’ opinions to form our identity.

In Colossians, Paul is instructing the church to focus on God above all things. “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (3:1-3).  If we remind ourselves daily that our identity is in Christ and not to be found in the opinions of others, financial success, or the mistakes that we’ve made, we will find that our flesh won’t be as active as it was before.

Me ka haʻahaʻa,

Pastor Pua

Please follow and like us:

When I was a young boy growing up in rural Washington State, I used to love riding in the back of my Dad’s pickup truck whenever the weather allowed. I would sit with my back against the cab and watch as the greens, browns, and golds of the rolling hills and picturesque countryside sped by. As I reminisce, I can almost hear the hum of the tires on the worn pavement, the roar and force of the wind mixed with the moaning of the engine all around me as the pickup cut through the still wall of air, as well as the faint smell of dust being kicked up by the rapid rotation of the tires being thrust forward across the dust’s black, porous bed on the winding roadway below. It is a cherished memory of childhood, and even though I loved the experience, I learned over time that I never knew what was coming up ahead. My perspective was always in retrospect. I was unable to plan or prepare for any bump in the road, approaching summer squall, or even the ability to enjoy or anticipate the scenery that lie just ahead. As I grew older, I came to really appreciate sitting in the cab of the truck as we moved forward across the terrain. I enjoyed seeing where we were going with growing anticipation of what lie ahead. Even so, my childhood experiences have value and are fun to revisit from time to time, but not enough to make me want to travel in that manner any longer, at least not very often, nor for an extended period of time.

In a lot of ways, individuals experience the church in a similar way. We love to reminisce, to look back at what once was with a youthful and unrealistic fondness of days gone by. In hindsight, time has a way of erasing the difficult memories and challenges every church has faced, while highlighting “the glory days” of a time long passed. Our human tendencies are to do all we can to hold onto, or replicate things of the past while missing out on all the new that God is doing in our midst. Don’t get me wrong, our heritage is important. It has formed us into who we are, and what we believe today. But we must remember what God’s word says, He is doing a new thing, and that includes in our church, Puka Naz. To plan effective ministry, we must have an eye on what is ahead while doing all we can to remain in His will for us individually, and as a church.

Our future is bright! God is doing great things in us, and through us. Look forward with an eager anticipation of what lies ahead. Imua Ke Akua! Forward with God! For His plans are perfect, and His ways are best.

Pastor Mark

Please follow and like us:

Greetings Brothers and Sisters,

Please follow and like us:

In the book of John chapter 1 we read about the “Word became flesh.” What stands out to me in that phrase is the word “flesh.” This word, “flesh”, gives tangibility for us in the physical to things that are spiritual. As I write that I think of this: heavenly things are tangible in heavens reality. This is what I mean: I can touch and taste and see and hear earthly things but I can’t touch and taste and see and hear heavenly things because I am on earth. If I was in heaven I would be able to touch and taste and see and hear the things of heaven.
So now here’s the cool thing about the Word became flesh. Jesus who was in heaven with the Father and Holy Spirit took on flesh to make the realities of heaven tangible and visible for us here on earth. Now in Christ heavens reality is as real to us as this physical earth bound reality.
Obviously not everyone believes that, even though it is true, but all of us who have accepted Christ testimony/message have assurance in our hearts that God who is in heaven and everything in heaven are indeed real. How did that happen for us? Prevenient Grace! This means for those who don’t know, God is ever present with all man-kind drawing them back to him. He longs for people to see him and turn to him. God draws people in many ways but one way you could say, “God’s preferred way”, is revealing his love that is in Christ through his “church.” God of heaven and earth has been made known to us, the church, but he is still working in making that known to the rest of the world.
So this is what I believe to be true. God wants us, his church, to be the tangible representation of heavenly things to the people of this earth so that they get to see what heaven looks like through our lives. We as believers are imitating what we see in heaven through faith. What we see in heaven is a God who passionately loves us.
I John 3:18 says “Dear children, let us not merely say we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.”

-Pastor Hau’oli Kalama

Please follow and like us:

Being the keiki pastor, I have the (really cool!) privilege of getting to help form kids’ foundation in the church and their foundation in Christ. It may surprise many of you, but to be honest, I am not specifically “called” to children’s ministries. I’m not in children’s ministry for the crazy games, the loud songs, the cute little crafts, or the yummy snacks (okay… maybe the snacks!).

You see, I’m not in it for the “now,” I’m in it for the “later.” What encourages me the most about children’s ministry is hoping about what these young ones will become, and what gives me passion and purpose in children’s ministries is that awesome privilege of getting to help form their foundation! And it won’t take that long either—I’m learning that time goes by fast, so before we know it, our 4 and 5 year-olds are going to be joining the youth group, and the 3^rd and 4^th graders are going to be looking at colleges… so there’s no time to lose! It’s never too early to start grounding our young people in the One who first loved them.

Proverbs 22:6 tells us, “Start off children in the way they should go, and when they are old, they will not turn from it.” The series we’ve covered in Keiki Church and Keiki Night have included “Suit Up! (The Armor of God)” (Ephesians 6:10-17), “Through the Roof (The Paralyzed Man)” (Luke 5:17-26) and “Everybody’s Welcome (Being in the Family of God)” (Acts 10:1-48). Each of these have been filled with fun and laughter, but most importantly, these kids have been putting God’s Word in their heart! Most of our keiki do not yet read (or do not read English) and to see their passion and ability to memorize these passages and verses has been so amazing for me! Some of them have not even turned 4, yet for ALL of them, the highlight of their day is getting to pray at Keiki Church. Wow! It is truly a privilege for me to get to witness their joy, love, and excitement for the Scripture as they grow in their faith.

My deepest dream is that by the point these keiki begin leading their own lives, they will have a foundation of who they are in Christ and know that their worth is found in only Christ, no matter what life throws at them! Those are the days I am planning for, living for, and hoping for—not what happens this week at Keiki Night. Sure, Keiki Night is fun(!), and we do have awesome moments together(!), but thinking and dreaming about what these keiki will become one day is sooooo much more exciting to me.

Let us all open our hearts to our young people now—we each have that special privilege of helping shape our keiki and lead them to a Christ-filled life, and we can either respond to our brief moments with them with annoyance and impatience (which can be so easy to do!), or with encouragement and love (sometimes harder, but think of the eternal rewards!). “Therefore, let us encourage one another and build one each other up!” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

Please continue to pray for our keiki ministries, for each of our children, for our neighborhood here in Pukalani, and for our families here on Maui. It seems our children encounter more and more darkness every day in their small lives, so let us build them up to grow in the Light!

–Pastor Jamie Kalama, Keiki (Children’s) Pastor

Please follow and like us:

We had just loaded the car with a compassion food box for a family in our neighborhood and were headed out the church driveway when I spotted them, a young couple in a rental car. I could tell they were either confused, lost, or both by the way they were acting.  I pulled my car up close to theirs and got out. “Can I help you?” I asked.  They seemed distraught and hesitated before the young man answered. “We were looking for a church or a temple,” he explained.  “This is a church,” I assured them. “Can I help you?” I could tell they were unsure if my statement was true by the way they looked at each other.  “This is a church?” He asked again. “Yes, it’s small, but it is a church,” I assured him.  He hesitated several more moments before reluctantly answering.
“We are here on vacation and we were in a bad accident.” He explained. “My wife was hurt and really shook up so we wanted to come pray for tranquility or peace and somehow we ended up here at this church.”  I offered to pray for the couple and invited them into the church over their mild protests.  “We have no allegiance to any church,” they explained hesitantly.
I assured them it was ok as they exited their car and followed me inside. I listened as the wife shared with me about their car wreck. I could see she was in pain or discomfort. Her arm was bandaged and her head and shoulder bruised from the impact. “We really want peace and balance for the rest of our trip,” the husband explained.  I smiled and shared with them about our Creator God, about Jesus our Savior, and about the Holy Spirit who brought them to this place. I explained God’s plan of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ for all people. They were very receptive. I asked them to join hands with me and I prayed for peace, for comfort, for physical, spiritual, and emotional healing through Jesus our Savior and Lord for both of my friends. I prayed for God to bless them, and thanked God for the blessing they were to me, and I thanked the Holy Spirit for bringing them to this little church out of so many churches on the island.
We visited and exchanged contact information after the prayer. The young lady told me her injuries felt much better already as they made their way back to their car and headed out our driveway and down the road.
I smiled and watched through tears of joy as their car drove out of my sight, thanking God and His ever acting and seeking grace which brought them to this place, Puka Naz. I thanked the Holy Spirit who gave me the words to pray, and who softened the hearts of my new friends that they might receive the good news. To God be the Gory!
#fieldsarealwaysripe

Please follow and like us:

Bumped into a friend yesterday. I didn’t recognize him at all. He faithfully attended our recovery church for several months but stopped coming suddenly, with no explanation. It’s a common thing in that ministry. All we could do was pray for him and trust God to continue to work in his life. As I said before, I didn’t recognize him at first. He was clean and sober, looked like a new man. As a matter of fact, he was working. He left abruptly because he had been given a job, and didn’t attend any longer because he worked Saturdays, he explained. “Pastor, thanks for believing in me, and thank Puka Naz for the recovery ministry. It really is working!” He said through the open window of his vehicle. “We’ll keep praying for you, and I am proud of you,” I assured him as he backed out of his parking spot. “I’m holding tight to The Lord with all I have, one day at a time,” he told me with a wave of his hand before driving away. I watched him leave and thanked God for allowing the reunion to happen. Reassurance in a ministry where success cannot be measured by weekly numbers, but instead by transformed lives. God is good.

Please follow and like us:

Take a look at the different Work and Witness opportunities here at Puka Naz.  Share it with your friends that are looking to serve.

https://workandwitnessadmin.nazarene.org/WorkAndWitnessAdmin/auth/projects/index.xhtml

Please follow and like us: