3 Sunday Morning Habits For Pastors

There is no greater calling in the church then God calling specific Godly, gifted men and women to rightly divide the Word of God as we see in 2 Timothy 2:15.  It is both a scary and rewarding calling; scary because we are warned by God in James 3:1 that those who preach will be judged much strictly based on how we honor God with His Word, and rewarding because we get to see God's Word change lives.  For many Pastors, Sundays are some of the most painful and exciting times for their ministry.  That's true for me, and I want to share with you all 3 spiritual habits that has helped me to shepherd well on Sundays...

#1:  MORNING FASTING
My favorite meal of the day is breakfast. I could eat breakfast for each meal during the day, that's how much I love eggs, bacon, rice, french toast, you get my drift.  To me fasting is going without a daily life giving substance that causes me to be dependent on.  I'm dependent on breakfast, and it's my desire to use Sunday mornings to leverage my heart in being more dependent on God's Spirit rather than breakfast.  Psalms 63:1 say's "Lord, my soul thirsts for you."  This time allows me to draw close to Christ, and be dependent on His work through me on Sundays.

#2:  MORNING READING
It was not till I was 18 years old that I have found great joy in reading, I believe it's because it was the year I was rescued by Christ, and he gave me a desire to learn more.  Every Sundays when I walk into my office before service I sit down and read my bible and a leadership development book.  Again this allows my heart to be filled with more of Christ and less of me.  Right now I'm reading through Philippians and The Pastor's Guide by O.S. Hawkins.  Facts state that reading expands the mind both in knowledge and creativity, and allows us to create healthy habits. Pslam 119:105

#3:  MORNING PRAYER
This is a sweet moment for me.  This is something I did not create as a habit, but rather what my associate, Kahu Marcus McBee, has created for me.  After our 8:45am production meeting with our worship and tech teams, a few of our men would stay behind after our meeting and lay hands on me.  This is the measure of a healthy church, a people who understands that PRAYER IS THE WORK, THEN GOD WORKS! Jeremiah 29:12

Lastly, if you are a Pastor like me and you fight the tensions of large attendance numbers, and then you are discouraged because you expected more to show up, here's something my Pastor friend from South Dakota once shared with me, he said "Zeke, the only people you have to look forward to seeing on Sundays are the ones that call you Pastor."  For a few of you, that statement may sound ungodly, and lacks compassion for the lost, and after sitting on that thought for a while, I now understand what he meant.  What he meant was that my biggest concern as a shepherd is to focus on my sheep, "the ones who call me pastor."  That does not mean, the others don't matter, it just gives distinctive on how we must be faithful to making disciples of those who submit, and are willing to grow in biblical discipline, which by the way is the hardest thing to do.  Thank God for the washing of His Word.

A hui hou,
Kahu Zeke

3 Reasons Christians Stop Going to Church

     Growing up on the beautiful Big Island of Hawai'i was filled with the CHURCH LIFE.  Daddy being a church planter of serval churches both locally and globally was a sight to see and experience; however one of the challenges were seeing Christians not stick or slip through what Larry Osbourne calls "The back door." Why are genuine followers of Jesus not seeing the need to gather together in biblical community?  I think this question has been answered by church leaders way smarter than me; however still a good question to still converse about. 

     My first ministry job was when I was 18 years old as a church intern for a new church plant in Vegas.  I just got saved, and this church had faith in the calling God placed on my life.  15 years later, I've learned some things that has helped me be better at sharing the need to be in Gospel Community.  Here are 3 reasons I believe Christians stop going to church?  I'm sure you can add more to this list, but this is my personal conviction.

#1: THEIR SALVATION EXPERIENCE WAS NOT FULLY CHRIST CENTERED

American Christianity has been deceived by mysticism, which is an act of emotional out bursts and external expressions that can cause confusion on how one is truly saved.  Many of us would agree and say that the only way some one is saved is through Jesus; however since the early 1900's external practices took place in America that began a movement of mysticism that caused the Gospel to be more about how you feel at the moment vs. what does the Bible say about it.

Salvation must be clearly understood from a biblical view.  Here's how I would break it down...

• Sinners must be drawn to Christ (John 6:44)
• Sinners must hear the Gospel (Romans 10:14)
• Sinners must be convicted of sin (Acts 2:37)
• Sinners must repent form self/sin (2 Corinthians 7:10)
• Sinners must embrace Christ (Eph 2:7-8)

The tension is that we have either shared a part of this message (probably just the embracing Christ part) or we present a cool emotional expressive worship service atmosphere and forsaken the true explicit gospel.  Then you have to wonder why "believers" are slipping away, because the message was not about Christ, it was about an emotional fix, which comes and goes.

#2: THEIR SINS BECAME A BURDEN FOR THE PASTOR TO ENDURE WITH THEM

Let's be honest, discipleship is HARD.  I tell our people all the time, there's a reason why Jesus had many followers, but only 12 he intentionally poured into.  Just like you and me, people come with baggage and when there is to much baggage to deal with, we EXPLODE.  The easiest way to not explode is by being passive with each other and go our separate ways quietly. But goes against so much of what God's Word teaches us (2 Corinthians 5)

As a Pastor, it's always easy to blame the individual you are mentoring, coaching, or discipling.  And that just shows marks of an unhealthy Pastor (Guilty).  Pastor's must learn to endure with the people he is shepherding.  When those you lead see you fighting for their relationship, they will catch on eventually and prayerfully be serious as well.

In the book of Titus (The island ministry book), Paul encourages brahdda Titus to put back into place that which accords with sound doctrine.  What was that?  Healthy leadership.  Are you healthy? both spiritually and physically?  Some times we can allow our education, experience, and position as Pastor to miss out on enduring with those God entrusted to us.  

People may not be sticking because you, the Pastor, aren't sticking.  Remain in the struggle.  Be faithful to the unfaithful.  Pursue the lost sheep.  Remember that redemption is a process, but is so rewarding.  Lead and love well Pastors!

#3: THEIR SUNDAYS WERE MORE ABOUT COMMITMENT THAN COMMUNITY

If we read through out the New Testament, and through church history the church meetings on Sundays evolved into what we see today.  It was not always that way.  When the NT believers gathered, they did so through out the week, not just on Sundays (Acts 2:42-47).  The Jews made Saturday their Sabbath as well as their worship gathering, and many evangelical Christians have made Sundays their main gathering because of Easter when Christ rose from the dead.

Sundays in America for Christians have become more of a commitment than a need for community.  A close Pastor friend of mine said that many Christians on Sunday morning view church as something you attend verses some where you belong.  The book of Acts teaches us that the early Christians lived in gospel community because of a few reasons...

1. The Holy Spirit brought them together (Acts 2)
- We as baptist have blammed our Pentecostal family for being manipulative of the Holy Spirit, when we are also guilty of this very thing just in different ways.  We don't need more programs in the church, we need a fresh anointing blown through every believer in Christ to be together and to move onward together.  Everything else will take it's place as the result of the work of the Holy Spirit in and through us.

2. The Holy Spirit used persecution to send them through out the world together (Acts 7)
- This is something we don't experience, therefore don't understand here in America.  Pastor, you want your people to be more desperate to gather instead of you complaining about it on Facebook? Pray for persecution.  I know that's harsh but it's the biblical truth, the church was beginning to multiply and go to the ends of the Earth through the avenue of persecution.  We are seeing that lived out today in Iran, Syria, Indonesia, and other persecuted areas.

For Ohana Church, we've realized that the only way we can move forward in Hilo where most families have other activities going on Sunday, is by providing groups in those areas that represent the church and the heart of Christ.  My son begins tackle football this fall, that will take him away from Church on Sunday; however we have a Deacon that will lead a small group of football players and their parents in the study of God's Word.  Now, I know this is taboo for a lot of Pastors and we can begin to fight and debate on Sunday worship formats and how it should all be done in a certain way; however if we are going to reach a lost nation like America (4th largest lost nation in the world), we have to get out of the walls and BE THE CHURCH!

My heart breaks when I see Pastors with master degrees, and PhDs in theology who live in our community and the extent of the church is what He does in his study during the week, and on Wednesday Nights and Sunday Mornings.  The Church must be people mobilize and sent out by the Holy Spirit to love people to the beauty of Jesus.  Here's a great principle I'm learning...

"Sundays are a reflection of Monday through Saturday"


A hui hou,
Kahu Zeke Tomaselli

How Church Planting Made Us More Gospel Focused

Both my wife and I come from church planting families, and when God joined our hearts together he used church planting as an avenue to learn more about the gospel and how that is fleshed out in our plant in my home town of Hilo, Hawaii.  Here are three simple realities we have learned about the gospel in planting Ohana Church...

#1:  THE GOSPEL IS ABOUT CHRIST, NOT A DENOMINATION
Though America is one of the largest lost nations in the world, it's heritage is filled with gospel roots and influences made up of hundreds of different denominations.  Now we are very proud and privileged to be a Southern Baptist Church plant; however we want the people that we reach know that the only name that matters is the name that is above every name, JESUS CHRIST! Our affiliation with our denomination is a cooperative kingdom partnership that allows us to make Christ known.

#2:  THE GOSPEL SHAPES OUR PERSPECTIVE OF THE UNCHURCHED
When we arrived back in Hawaii, after being gone for almost 12 years, it was considered to be 95% unchurched (Over a million people).  Starting a church from scratch puts you in a demand position to engage our city.  My past life in Hawaii was not Christ centered, so coming back forced me to face past issues that dealt with unchurched settings.  We knew the only way to see people come to Christ was to go in the areas they lived life in.  That was a little scary for me; however I had a strong woman of God to come along side me to learn and grow with me this time.  The things we would discover in these settings were simple, and that was that unchurched people longed for spiritual community, they just did not articulate it the way we Christians do.  Yes, a lot of junk spiritual views are connected in these groups, but it was the start of some healthy growing relationships that evolved to what we see today at Ohana Church.

#3:  THE GOSPEL MAKES MARRIAGE EXCITING
My wife and I served in Las Vegas for several years, and then in her home state of Tennessee for a couple years, and now in my home state of Hawaii.  We've learned so much in these different contexts, and one thing that has been consistent has been the faithful hand of God upon our relationship.  Like many marriages in general, we have experienced the ups, the downs, the pretty, and the ugly parts of marriage; however it has ALL been a part of God's training for us.  The gospel has thought us one MAIN valuable lesson with each other, and that was to be 100% honest with one another.  Because of that we have been able to walk through some very dark times together.  Last year I came out of a heavy season of dark depression, and as I was transparent with my wife, my church, and my mentors, the gospel healed me.  Three years ago my wife and I came to Hawaii by ourselves.  Three years later we have added three new adopted boys (blood brothers), we have seen hundreds of lives changed, we have been a part of helping support additional new church plants, and we have seen Ohana Church become a reality from the simple call of God because of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  What a Savior!


A hui hou (See you later)
Kahu Zeke Tomaselli

Tomaselli Ohana from Left to Right: Layne, Kainakoa, Kainalu, Kaimana (He's mad at me for scolding him before this pic, lol), and me.

A CALL TO INTIMACY

ALOHA:

Today I celebrate Gods sovereign gift of earthly life and eternal life in Jesus Christ. 29yrs ago, I was born in Honolulu, Hi and 29yrs later I'm preparing to head back to my home state to plant a church that plants many churches.

I walked into my office today and my staff overwhelmingly blessed me with gifts, and encouraging words. As I received their blessings, one thing stood out to me, my personal relationship with them because of Christ.

As a young Pastor one thing I struggle with is my performance to God. That ultimately over flows into the way I view how the people I Pastor should be as well. I struggled with basing spiritual growth on how we are committed to church stuff and activities. This is a easy temptation to get influenced by; however God has not called me to my performance for Him, he has called me to be with Him and let Him press His life in and through me. Christianity is not about doing good things for God and others, it's about a genuine love relationship with God through Christ.

I served as a youth and worship Pastor in Tennessee for a little over 2 1/2 years. I got caught in the temptation of legalism. I would constantly preach on commitments and base our youths and adults spiritual growth on weather or not they were committed to the Lords work by their involvement, and if they weren't, I would throw a self righteous act of affliction on them. No different from the Pharisees of the bible. FORGIVE ME LORD!

Thank God for His Grace!

If I could go back in time and redo my ministry all over again in TN, I would teach my congregation on how to walk intimately with God. The main goal in the life of a believer is to KNOW GOD! Our daily goal is to SPEND TIME WITH HIM!

John 17:3 says "this is eternal life, that you may KNOW HIM, Jesus Christ, whom God has sent"

John 15:5 says "apart from me you can not do anything".

GOD CALLS US TO BE INTIMATE WITH HIM! He then presses His life out of us in such away, that the overflow is being connected in what He is doing through his church globally. Hear me correctly, GOD DOES THE WORK, NOT ZEKE. Our participation in His kingdom work is us living out of the overflow of our intimate love relationship with Him.

To my Pastor friends, encourage your people to walk in intimacy with Christ. Beware of the lie of thinking that their personal commitments to the church is the goal. Let Christ press His life in and out of them.

To my friends, don't let ministry commitments be your focus. If so, you will fail. Focus on walking with Jesus, and let Him mold you into the masterpiece He plans to make you (Phil 1:6).

6 months from now my wife and I will jump on a plane and move our lives to Hilo, Hi to start Ohana Church. It is my goal not to try and make a big church with a packed out room in Hilo. It's my desire to teach people how to walk with God intimately, through His word, in the powerful name of Jesus!

To Gods Glory ALONE!!!

Pastor Zeke

WINS!

ALOHA,

One of the words I have been introduced to since being back at Hope Church is the word "WIN".  Our team constantly asks each other "what are the huge wins in your ministry?"  By doing this, we are reminded about God's promise to us in the great commission, that he would be with us in every part of the journey on making disciples.

Here are a few WINS for Layne and I...

• As of January 1, my father, Frank Tomaselli has accepted God's invitation to be a part of our launch team in Hilo as we prepare to plant Ohana Church.  My father led me to Christ as a young boy, and planted a church in the same area of Hilo 25yrs ago.  Praise God!
• We have connected with a person of peace on the Big Island who is in connection with new Christ Followers from Osaka, Japan.  This nation has been on our hearts and we have been praying for them and a possible connection to begin church plants and reaching the 99% lostness in Japan.
• Our sending church, Hope Church has already committed and planned out dates on when they will join us in Hilo to help us in mission work in 2014.  I love them!
• We have had a few churches verbalize their financial partnership with OC.  This is huge!
• We have had multiple small groups in our church adopt OC as a mission.  
• We have over 300 people all over the world praying for Hawai'i, the Pacific, and the World.  Our prayer strategy has been life changing for us.  We thank God for our Prayer coordinator Kandy Smith for being sensitive to God's call in this area.  Thank you Kandy.
• My wife and I were blessed to save enough money to travel to Hawai'i this April to do a vision tour.  We learned so much on stewardship through this few months of saving.  What a WIN!

PRAISE GOD FOR THESE WINS!!!

Lastly, we are looking forward to our vision trip to Hawai'i and we would like to invite people to partner with us on this journey.  Our trip will cost us an extra $2000-$3000.  Our resources in the Islands are limited, so we are asking our partners to prayerfully consider giving towards this trip.  This would cover travel while we are on the Big Island, and Oahu.  It will also cover meals, room and board, and other related ministry opportunities.  We plan to prayer walk the islands, and connect with as much of people as we can.  Part of that cost will also cover OC handouts that communicates our vision.

If God is leading you to give, you can do it in two ways...

1. Mail a check to Hope Church, Attn:  Pastor Zeke Tomaselli, Memo: Ohana Church, at 870 E. Cactus Rd. Las Vegas, NV. 89183
2. Give online at http://www.hopechurchonline.com/giving/give-now/

• Go to link
• Fill out your info
• In PAYMENT INFORMATION: Go to Fund, scroll/click on Ohana Church.
• Make payment

Just last May, God gave us a vision for church planting in Hilo and through out the world.  We are living it now.  God bless you all for your time, energy, and resources.  You all are a blessing to Layne and me.

Mahalo Nui Loa,

Pastor Zeke

Who is ready to GO to Hawai'i?

That's the "Big Ask" who wants to spend life with Layne, myself, and the people of Hawai'i in making Christ known?

For 6 months now we have had hundreds of people from all around the world faithfully praying for our journey and the start of a new church in Hilo, Hi.  Since then the vision God has planted in our hearts has become so much clearer.  God has faithfully revealed to us a deeper desire and calling to reach the people in Hawai'i, the Pacific, and the World with the Gospel.

For some of you, God has made it clear to you through your time of prayer what the next step for you is.  Others need some extended info on what life in Hilo, Hi looks like.  It is my heart to be honest and upfront with you on the challenges church planters and fellow churches in general come against while living in the beautiful state Hawai'i.

What to expect...

::  Cost of living is very high

::  There is a shortage of jobs, so unemployment is high

::  95% of the people in Hilo are unchurched

::  The percentage of those living on Government assistance is higher than ever


::  2-3 generations of family members live together due to the high cost of living


::  There is a great need for foster care families

::  It’s a very dark place despite the beautiful tropical atmosphere it provides

But God is at work in Hilo…

::  A new network of church planting has just begun

::  We are seeing many come to faith in Christ

::  Many fellow churches from the mainland is in support of fellow local works

::  Hilo was not hit by the rescission

::  Jobs are beginning to raise

::  The Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Livestock industry has been a success for the people

::  The University of Hawai’i, Hilo is a mission field to students

::  The city is filled with community events, and local sports that allows Gospel living to take place

I am a native of Hilo and I have never been so passionate about my hometown than now.  If you sense God’s call to minister and live life with the people of Hawai’i starting in fall of 2013, go a head and contact me (zeke@ohanachurch.com) and we can begin to help you prepare for this new journey.

For some of you, God is calling you to just continue to Pray for us.  We encourage that.  Prayer is the work.  Others, God may stir within your heart to financially give to Ohana church, if so, go to the following link to begin the process http://www.ohanachurch.com/support/give/

God is good, and he desires to see people in Hawai’i, the Pacific, and the World to come into an intimate love relationship with Him through Christ.  Christ will be made known through God's people!

Who is ready to GO to Hawai’i?

Pastor Zeke

Developing Leaders

God has inspired me to work on my communication skills, and as I have prepared to grow in this area, I have made action steps to get counsel from other mentors.  One mentor encouraged me to use my church blog to encourage leaders, and focus on specific principles.

I am a living product of someone who believed in me, and put their money were their mouth was.  I am thankful for people like my father Frank Tomaselli, and mentors such as Vance Pitman, Jeff Riley, Mike Laughrun, Tim Frank, and Scott Nesbitt.  These men lived life with me, and thought me what it looks like to follow Christ, and lead people to Christ.

When developing leaders, the key is not to give them a lot of tasks, though that has been our down fall.  The key is to encourage them and identify their strengths first.   If a leader is not equipped to carry out a task, then the mission of the task is pointless.  One of my strengths as a young leader was in the form of a talent.  God blessed me with the ability to sing, and play instruments.  Each mentor God placed in my life used this musical ability as a platform, but that also allowed me to discover some new and potential leadership qualities that I did not know I had.  This is key.  Maximize from your strengths, not weakness.

From this development, I have grown with a desire to teach the bible, create and lead ministry teams, and God has specifically given my wife and I a vision to plant a new church in Hawai'i, that involves so many different areas of leadership competencies.  What an honor!

As leaders in an organization, we must also realize that with new leaders come new models of ministry.  Not every leader functions the same way.  So the organization may have a mission in place, but it may be fleshed out differently based on the new leaders personality, skill, experience, and personal conviction.

From a Christian view, let's develop leaders that lead from the talents and gifts that the Lord has blessed them with.  Let's be flexible to punt from past leadership/tradition, and move forward with the provision God gives us.  Let us look at change as a GIFT of God, and not opposition.


Let's develop healthy leaders!


Pastor Zeke

Our Journey Update

Hello friends,

WOW! Preparing to plant a church is a blessing, but very overwhelming.  I thank God for the North American Mission Board, Hope Church Las Vegas, and Launch Network for the training we have received over the past two months.  Very blessed to have been chosen by these ministries to reach people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ through church planting.  Praise God!

I think this process of training is so humorous.  When God called us to plant a church in Hilo back in May, I immediately began working on our missions statement, core values, strategy, fundraising, and community needs plan.  As I began to seek counsel on this plan, I realized how much I did not know about planting a new church.  The truth is, I need God more then ever in my life.  A couple weeks ago, I had the privilege to lead 2000+ of our church members in a song called "I Need You Jesus".  The first verse and chorus says this...

I am frail, broken easily
Without fail, my strength keeps failing me
All alone, I'm powerless
To lift myself from the pit that I am in
I need You, Jesus
I need You, Jesus
I need clean hands
I can't, You can
I need You, Jesus 

Those words say it all!  Apart from God I can do nothing, but through him I can do all things.  Here at Hope Church we call this God Dependence.  My goal is not to plant a church.  My goal is to grow deeper in a intimate love relationship with my God/Father.

As Layne and I continued though our church plant training, we were so convicted by God to erase everything we have written down, stop looking at other planters strategy, and just seek God and desperately cry out to Him for forgiveness, and restored fellowship.  Following that sweet time of meeting with the Lord, He just revealed Himself to us, and refreshed us.  Its good to know that the Christian life is not based on our efforts, but rather what God does in and through us to showcase His glory.  When we are intune with God through intimacy with Him, He presses His mission out of us to the ends of the earth.  Thank You Lord for being so good!


Grace and Peace to you all!


Pastor Zeke


Prayer Needs...

• Launch Network Training
• A clearer vision and strategy for Hawai'i, the South Pacific, and The World
• Partners - Church/Family/Individua/ (Prayer, Financial, and Missional support needs)
• The Collins Family - They are planting in Las Vegas.  Jim Collins and I serve together as the resident church planters at Hope Church.  We have become close friends.
• The 43,000 people who live in Hilo
• The 95% lostness in the State of Hawai'i
• The unreached/unchurched Nationals that live in Hawai'i (People from Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the rest of the South Pacific)

Praising God On The Journey

(Hope Church Worship)

The Psalmist writes...

PSALMS 150
Praise the Lord!

Praise God in his sanctuary;

    Praise him in his mighty heavens!

 

Praise him for his mighty deeds;

    Praise him according to his excellent greatness!

This Psalm says it all.  This is where Layne and I are living at this very moment, PRAISING GOD!!!  We are in all of God right now.  He is worthy to be praised, and high and exalted.  He is so good, and we are so thankful for God in allowing us to be a part of this glorious journey we are on.  Thank you Lord!

Since God has called us to church plant in Hawai'i, He has answered so many of our prayers.  We would like to share with you all that He has answered and revealed to us since He called us on May 1.

• The Lord connected us with Launch Network (May 1)
• We needed a sending church:  Hope Church Las Vegas committed to be that to us within 24hrs our Calling. (May 1)
• We were low on funds to get to a Church Plant Assessment Retreat in June.  God provided those funds immediately after we prayed.  We were also approved at that retreat by LAUNCH in June to plant in Hawaii in 2013. (June 13)
• Upon Approval to plant, we were also offered a year paid church plant training position through the North American Mission Board with Hope Church in Las Vegas. (June 13)
• As we got ready to move, we had no money to move across the country from TN to NV.  Our home church in Carthage went over and beyond in giving us a HUGE love offering. (July 15)
• NAMB also provided us with a 3bed 2bath home in the Silverado Ranch area of Vegas for the next year. (Aug 1)
• Our house in Carthage sold within 30days for the price we asked for. (Aug 30)
• We have 10 churches that has committed to partner with us through this Journey (July).
• God has blessed us with a Prayer Coordinator and a prayer team of over 100 partners (Aug 1).
• Layne was offered a job as soon as we got to Vegas (Aug 20)
• Our first individual has committed to being a part of our financial support team.  The cool thing is that she lives on the Big Island, where we are planting. (Aug 28)

PRAISE GOD!

Thank you for your prayers, God is using you greatly in our lives as you cry out to him on our behalf and the needs of Hawai'i, The South Pacific, and The World!

Mahalo Nui Loa,

Pastor Zeke

50-50-30 Journey

Our Church Plant training here in Las Vegas has been so rewarding.  God is at work in our lives and we are excited to be a part of this Journey at Hope Church.  Thank you to all our partners all around the world for your co-labor in the faith.  Christ is being made much of because of your efforts in being intentional about the Gospel.

Yesterday, our church fellowship kicked off an intentional Gospel message called The 50-50-30 Initiative; which means we want to personally reach 50 thousand people, and 50 thousand households within 30 days with the Gospel of Jesus.  We have created strategies on how that would look like from baking desserts for our neighbors, taking them to lunch, being heavily involved in community events, etc.  From there, we will invite them to our 3 week series where our messages will be surrounded by one phrase "GOD, I've got a question..."

Sept 9 | Question 1:  God, can I really trust the bible?

Sept 16 | Question 2:  God, do all religions ultimately lead to Heaven?

Sept 23 | Question 3:  God, why does bad things happen to good people?

We have discovered that 95% of our city is lost, and that the 3 zip codes we are serving in are the most unchurched communities in the city.  Like I said from the beginning, us planting a church in Hawaii is not the main goal, it is all about the Kingdom of God and pointing those who are lost to Christ.  Sharing Christ with others should not stop for us after this initiative, it will continue because God WILLS it too!

Luke 19:10 - For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

- Be intentional about engaging your city with the Gospel
- Be ready to live generously
- Be aware of the lostness that's around you
- Be dependent and desperate for God


Glory to God, FOREVER!


Pastor Zeke

The Journey of His Faithfulness

Well, as I sit here our moving truck is completely packed - in one day, thanks to some amazing friends - and we are set to leave Tennessee on Wednesday headed to Las Vegas for one year of church planting training then on to Hawaii.

I am so amazed at how God moves! I remember when we first got to Carthage. I remember when our house here was as bare as it is now. I remember knowing very few people, and starting out on this new journey God had called us to. Now, as I look back I am thankful for all He taught us. It hasn't been easy. We have been through, and will go through again, some rough seasons in ministry, but God is faithful!

Right now I am sitting in the basement of a house that God provided for us! Ministry has taken place within the walls of this home! I am so thankful for the lessons learned in hearing my mom say over and over again "This house isn't ours, it's His! It is a tool for ministry." I have been able to see that in this home! I am listening to the sounds of a washer and dryer run. The first appliances Zeke and I ever bought as a couple! I remember thinking "I cannot believe we bought this!" But God provided! I hear the dishwasher running upstairs - this will be hard to part with (: - that was a Valentine's gift from Zeke because we had gone almost 2 years without one! But God provided for that! He has absolutely blessed us beyond what we can comprehend!

I think back to today and how we went to pick up our rental truck, and because they didn't have the car dolly ready, they gave us a discount on the whole rental! Which pretty much covers one of the many fill-ups we will have to do between here and there! I think about how packing the truck started a little slow, but within minutes we had so many people in our house packing, loading, and cleaning. How even the lunch that we were going to provide for those who helped ended up being provided to us! He is so faithful! I think about the fact that clothes that didn't need to be packed on the truck, got packed on the truck, but in a couple loads of laundry I had kinda slacked on we have what we need to make it there! The same goes for towels and blankets! He is so faithful!

It is easy at a time like this to get overwhelmed with all that will be missed - and please don't misunderstand me, there is a cost involved for those who are Christ followers! There are birthdays we will miss, but there are also birthdays we will get to celebrate! There are big life events we will miss, but there are also big life events we will get to be part of. There are people, places, and things that will be missed, but we have been called by a faithful God to go, so we will go. We could think about all these things we will miss, or we could count the ways He has been overly faithful to us during this time!

There is a verse that is on our living room wall here at the house that says "What then shall we say to these things? If GOD is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31 This has been a reminder to us through seasons of blessings and seasons of difficulty that if God is for us, if He is leading us and we are following after him living out of the relationship we have with Him, who can be against us! Who can come against our God? Who can be victorious over Him? And if He is the one that is guiding us, leading us where He wants us, who can come against that? Oh yes, there will be difficult circumstances we face, but we can face those knowing that our God has the victory! I think about 1 Thessalonians 5:24 that says "He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it." He will accomplish His purpose! I am so thankful that as believers we get to be part of that! I am so thankful that I cannot stop what I did not start! He started this! He has called us, and He will complete it, because He is so faithful!

Prayer Requests:
*Please pray for us as we travel to Las Vegas.
                       -The plan is to leave Wednesday morning and arrive in Las Vegas Friday afternoon.
                       -We are driving a 16ft rental truck that is going to pull a dolly with one of our cars and                         then we will also be driving a separate car.

*Two of our friends from Carthage will be traveling with us to Las Vegas.  Pray for their families as they are away and their travel back to Carthage.

*Pray for our house here in Carthage to sell! We have had a few people look at the house, but no offers yet.

*Pray for our family here as we get ready to leave. Pray for peace for them about this journey.

* Pray for FBC Carthage as they continue to seek after the heart of God for His guidance during this time of transition.

Thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement during this time! We are so blessed by you all!
Layne

-Also, we are forming a prayer support team for Ohana Church. If you would like to be part of this team, please leave a comment with your email address, or you can email us at ohanachurchonline@gmail.com.

The Joy Is In The Journey

(Layne and I, 8 years ago)

We had a saying in Las Vegas which said "The Joy Is In The Journey".  For Layne and I, that has been a statement we lived from the inside out.  Our faith in God made us totally dependent on Him.  We would have never known that our journey in life would bring us to the spot we are at right now.  Layne and her family moved from TN to Vegas in 2001, I arrived in Vegas in 2002.  Our paths would cross, and we began courting in 2005.  On August 8, 2008 Layne and I were married, what a great day!  The following year we would move to Layne's home state of Tennessee.  After our arrival I would accept a Pastoral position with First Baptist Church in Carthage, TN.

After 10 years of being a part of this journey of faith, God has affirmed our long term goal of planting churches all over the state of Hawai'i and through out the world.  On Monday, our few friends from Carthage will help Layne and I pack a 16ft Budget moving truck.  We will say our last good byes to a few loved ones on Tuesday, and head back to Vegas on Wednesday.  We plan to arrive in Vegas early Friday afternoon.  We will do a year of training in Las Vegas, and then move to my homestate of Hilo, Hi.

The joy in our Journey is this...

We surrendered to the will of God, because of His spirit that indwells within us.  We understand that this life is not about us, but about the one who gave us life.  We are looking forward to both our good and challenging times that are up a head.  We are also looking forward to seeing people transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  There is a whole lot of uncertainty when you follow Christ, but that's what faith is for;  believing even when it does not make sense, in time it will.

Journey Partners, you will receive a prayer email soon from our Coordinator Kandy Smith.  Please pray for us faithfully, we are more desperate for God then we have ever been.  We do all of this because of Christ!

Make much of Him!

Pastor Zeke

The Journey Of Prayer

 (Baptizing 4 teens on my last Sunday)

Grace and Peace to you the Saints of Jesus Christ,

Layne and I are on an emotional journey as we said farewell to FBC Carthage on Sunday.  We felt so loved and appreciated by them as they honored us with many gifts of encouragement.  Our fellowship also commissioned us in each service, and our Pastor preached through Colossians 1:24-29 entitled PREACH CHRIST!  That is why we breathe, it is to make much of Christ in fulfilling the great commission.  Thank you FBC Carthage for your co-labor in the faith, and being a sending church for the Kingdom of God!

The life of a follower of Jesus must be one that is completely dependent on God through prayer.  My mentor Vance Pitman adopted a quote by Oswald Chambers that has impacted the people of Hope Church in Las Vegas, NV.  The quote states "We don't work before we pray, prayer is the work then God works".  This puts all the attention on the Glory of God.  As we pray and place our dependence on God, His glory is then pressed out of our lives in transforming many other lives.  God is making a name for Himself globally, and He is doing it through Prayer.

Part of our journey is to invite families to join us practically.  Right now, Layne and I have sought out a few families to pray about joining Ohana Church as staff partners.  We have also invited families to join us as layman supporters on the Big Island; where they would relocate to the Islands, find jobs there, and be a part of the Journey of Ohana Church.  These are huge request to ask people, but for believers in Christ our main goal is seeing the Great Commissioned fulfilled.  Let's continue to call people to give up their possessions, and leave comfort for the sake of Christ (Luke 14).  This is not just for Hawaii, but this is a challenge to the ends of the earth.

Lastly, I want to introduce you all to Dr. Kandy Smith.  Layne and I met Kandy through FBC Carthage.  She serves on the Worship Team as our Organist, and also serves in our Library ministry.  Over the past 2 1/2 years God has developed in her heart a missions cry for prayer.  I have personally seen God move mightily through Kandy and her desperation for God through prayer.  God placed Kandy on our hearts to be the Prayer Coordinator for Ohana Church locally, and globally.  Beginning August 1 (the day we leave TN), Kandy will begin emailing out prayer needs and request.  You can partner with us by emailing Kandy at ohanachurchonline@gmail.com, and requesting to be on our prayer chain team.

Mahalo Nui Loa, Kingdom Partners!


Pastor Zeke

Our Last Week Serving at FBC Carthage

   Last week was a great week at Student Life summer camp with our students! The theme for the week was Audacious. We looked at 1 Corinthians 16:13 that challenges us as believers to "Be on 'our' guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong." God was at work in amazing ways during our time at camp. It was amazing to see Him reveal Truth from His word, and then give us the opportunity to put this into practice. We also got to experience a very sweet time of worship. One night a big storm came through the area and knocked the power out during our evening worship service. After a little while of trying to gain back power, the house lights were brought back up and one of the lead singers of the band came out and led us in worship. I cannot begin to describe how incredible the sound of 2,000 people praising God in the midst of a storm is! It was absolutely overwhelming! I am so thankful that I was able to be a part of that sweet time!
 
    It has been an interesting week since we have been back from camp. Bittersweet is the best we can describe it. This has been our last week serving at FBC Carthage. We have enjoyed the last two and a half years as we have built relationships with some amazing people and seen God move in amazing ways! This coming Sunday will be our official last day. Pray for us as we say our good-byes, and pray for FBC Carthage as they seek direction from the Lord for this time.
  
   This Saturday we will have an orientation meeting for our Launch training. We are excited about all that is in store for us through this training! We got back from summer camp Saturday to find our launch packet on our doorstep! Needless to say the next few months will be filled with reading for both of us! :) (Fortunately more for Zeke than for me!) :)
  
   We have also begun the packing process! This is probably my least favorite part of the journey! We are at the stage that we have to begin packing, but there are also many things we cannot pack until time gets closer for us to leave. It is never easy to pack up and move, but God has blessed us to be able to look back on 2 years of great memories, and also look ahead to all that He has planned for us! We are so excited to begin this time of training for the work He has called us to in Hawaii.
  
   Please continue to pray for us during this transition. We are absolutely dependent on the Lord during this time, just as we are at any other time in our lives. Thank you for your continued love and support of us during this time!

Prayer Needs:

• Pray for us as we travel to supporting churches to share with them the vision God has given us for   Ohana Church.

• Pray that our house will sell. We have had some interest, but nothing serious.

•  Pray for our move from Tennessee back to Las Vegas. We will leave August 1st.

• Pray for our Launch training. Pray that God would speak to us through this training and refine the vision He has given us for Ohana Church.

• Pray for us as we say good-bye to family and friends here in Tennessee. Pray that these relationships would only grow as we follow God's call on our lives.

Layne

The Journey Continues

Aloha,

Layne and I are so encouraged and blessed by what God is doing in our lives and how He has called us to be a part of what he is doing in Hawaii.  Here is an update on how our Journey is moving forward.  Thank you for your support and partnership in God's activity in our lives.

Yesterday we announced to our Church Family that our final Sunday with them will be on July 15th.  God has blessed Layne and I with great friends in our last 28 months of serving at FBC Carthage.  We have seen God move mightily within this fellowship.  Many have come to know Christ as Lord and Savior.  We have seen 6 High School and College students except the call to ministry, Praise the Lord!  God has allowed Layne and I to also build tight relationships among families within our community and county.  We will miss the people we got to live life with here in Smith County.

We will spend a few weeks packing and preparing to relocate to Las Vegas.  We plan to move from Carthage to Las Vegas during the first week of August.  There are many things we must sell.  Please pray for us, as we need to sell our home and a few small items.  The Home is a huge prayer request.  Our plans are to move whether or not we sell our home before August.  God has Called us, and we are confident that He will accomplish the details.

Why move to Vegas?

Our past home church (Hope Church LV) has offered me a residency position for a year.  With the support of the North American Mission Board, we will be equipped and trained in church planting.  We will also continue our partnership with Launch Network.  While we are in our year of training, we plan on inviting families and people we are connected with in praying about moving with us to be a part of what God is doing in Hawaii.  We cannot do this by ourselves, and we understand that the success of the church in reaching people is going to happen because of Godly families joining together and living life together.

Thank you again for being so faithful in your prayers for us.


Glory to God, FOREVER!

Zeke