Pukalani Community Church of the Nazarene

I visited a friend yesterday. One of my flock. She is in hospice care and unable to leave her home. Though difficult and painful for her to move around her house, she and her adult son joined me at her kitchen table for prayer and communion. It was a rich time of fellowship and worship. When I asked her how I could pray for her, she smiled and said, “just thank Jesus because I have had such a good, good life. God is so good to me everyday,”
I knew she was in a lot if pain, so I thought she would ask me to pray for a reprieve, or relief of some sort, but she didn’t. Her attitude and outlook inspired me and caused my soul to soar. I had gone to comfort her, and her faith brought comfort to me.
I thought about my friend the rest of the day, thought about her life and the many people she has touched or influenced and continues to influence in a Christ-like way. Every day of her life was, and is a living testimony of God’s love in her life, poured out for others through her actions and deeds. She has truly lived her life running for the prize, pressing in for more of God in all ways, empowered by the Living Spirit of God in her.
“I am so blessed because Jesus is my friend. I am ready to meet Him face to face,” she assured me as I prepared to leave. “Please let the church know that I love them and am praying for them. And let them know that Jesus loves them too,”
I assured her that I would, and I set up an appointment to meet again next week, same time, same place.
After our meeting, I asked God to give me strength to continue running the race with as much humility and passion as my dear friend has. Running with joy all the way to the end that others might come to know Him because of His love in me. To God be the glory!

I had just hit the “home stretch” of my sermon last night when a strong and rushing wind blew in through an entrance door announcing the arrival of a young adult couple we had never seen before. Aware of their tardiness, they awkwardly apologized for the disruption and grabbed a seat close to the exit. I finished my sermon and invited the worship team to the front of the church to close out our service. In the middle of their last song, a rushing wind announced the arrival of a second young adult couple, who quickly grabbed a seat near the first two. Curiosity piqued, I made my way over to our four guests as soon as the closing prayer was finished and introduced myself to the small group.
“I’m Pastor Mark, and we are so happy to have you!” I exclaimed with an outstretched hand.
Meekly, one of the young men grasped my open hand and cleared the nervousness from his voice, “sorry we were late,” he explained. “We came up from Kihei and weren’t sure what time church started. We heard that this church believes in the power of the Holy Spirit, believes that He (Holy Spirit) is real and still active in people’s lives.” He explained.
“Absolutely we believe in the Holy Spirit, in His power, and in His manifest presence in each one of us when we submit to Him.” I assured the group.
I ushered them towards our kitchen and encouraged them to grab something to eat. I watched as our members began to introduce themselves and interact with our visitors, making them feel comfortable and welcome.
An hour or more had passed when one of my new friends pulled me aside. “We heard this church prayed for, and believes in Supernatural healing. Is that true?”
“Absolutely it is true!” I assured him.
“Three of us need healing prayer!” He explained.
Those of us who remained gathered around our new friends, anointed them with oil and prayed for healing right then and there. It was a powerful time. After our impromptu prayer session, we gathered near the alter and worshipped through fellowship and scripture with our new friends, family really.
The time passed quickly and before we knew it our hour and a half, Sunday evening church service lasted nearly 4 1/2 hours.
We bid our friends farewell, all on a spiritual high, as they shuffled out the door. “We will be back, and next time we will be on time!” They exclaimed as they got into their cars and drove away.
God is crazy cool and He is doing something here at Puka Naz! I am so blessed to be part of His plan and I can hardly wait to see what He does next!

Aloha Church Ohana,

Connections and relationship building, two important “planks” in the “what we are about” platform that defines who we are as Puka Nazer’s.

Jesus commissioned us to make disciples, a command we take very seriously here at Puka Naz. Exactly what that should look like, and how we go about doing so takes on many different forms as we go about our business of reaching our community for Jesus.

The act of “making disciples” is only possible after relationships have been established. Sometimes that means thinking or acting outside “the box.” Sometimes that means holding a “southern fried chicken cook-off” on a Sunday morning after church service. An unorthodox time and approach to building relationships within our community.

The Apostle Paul told us that “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means some might be saved.” 1 Corinthians 9:22 He is talking about building relationships with people wherever they might be in their lives, or in whatever circumstances they find themselves in at the time. He knew that to sit back and wait for new people to come to him, or the church he attended would result in very few, if any new relationships or new disciples for Jesus.

So kudos to you, church, for thinking and acting outside the box. Continue to be creative and purposeful in order to meet new people, and to forge new relationships in our community, “that some might be saved.” Oh, and enjoy that fried chicken!

Love

Pastor Mark

Aloha church Ohana

If you haven’t noticed, we are in the midst of a season of Spiritual and physical growth here at 211 Hiwalani Loop, to God be the glory! God is bringing new people and families to our church nearly every week. It is a testimony to each of you as well as your faithful commitment to not only our little church, but to our God given commission, which is to share the love of the gospel with your family, friends, and even strangers in a purposeful and meaningful way. To make disciples.  Your commitment to this call is in and of itself a reflection of inner Spiritual growth which brings with it an inextinguishable desire to share the love of God with others through word and deed.

Our world today is a sad and lonely place for so many folks. A world with little to no hope. But because Christ is in us, we have hope, and can share that hope with others in a profound and meaningful way.

I am so encouraged and proud of each of you, and so excited to see and experience all of the goodness God has in store for our Church Ohana! My charge to you is simply this; continue! Continue to be the love of Christ, continue to be the light of Christ, continue to be the hands and feet of Christ in all that we say and do to a world in need!

 

Love,

Pastor Mark

Aloha Church Ohana,

 

Turmoil in the world seems to be at an all-time high. Every day brings with it a new crisis, or word of new and horrific atrocities being carried out across our globe. New technology keeps us connected to images of injustice, violence, and even death being carried out, almost the moment it happens. The weight of despair can easily overtake even the strongest of individuals.

But for those who believe, the darkness of our time provides us with excellent opportunity to shine for Jesus. For our hope in Christ cannot be extinguished by Earthly circumstances or trials, and the light that is Him lives inside each of us, and gives us strength to persevere under any trial the world throws at us. Not only to persevere, but to love even the unlovable, to pray for even the impossible, and to live for the one who gives us life.

Church, Jesus is the answer! Jesus in us, is the answer. So be not afraid! Let your light shine, illuminating the way that others might come to know Him! Their lives depend on it.

In Christ,

Pastor Mark