obc june 2015 newsletter
DESCRIPTION
Olivet Baptist Church June Newsletter in Honolulu, HawaiiTRANSCRIPT
Volume XLI
No 6
June 2015
A COOPERATIVE EFFORT OF PASTORS, TEACHERS, AND VOLUNTEERS DEVELOPING A SOUND FOUNDATION OF CHRISTIAN FAITH
Praise the Lord! See more pictures from the annual picnic (page 6-7)
Ongoing Weekday Bible Study
We would love to hear how prayer is working in your life and we would love to share those stories with our church brothers and sisters. Please send us your stories by email ([email protected]), by mail, or even a hand written note. We want to hear how God is working in your life!
“We Are Ready To Serve Our Church Family.”
Deacon Pat Ota June Deacon on Call
Phone: 808-227-8492
Deacon of the Month
Olivet has active
deacons who are
available to help in a
variety of ways.
WHAT’S
A Deacon
Q
Q
A
A
What is a deacon?
Deacons serve the Lord by
conducting the caring
ministry of the church-
doing the benevolence
work, visiting the sick,
being alert to the spiritual
needs of the congregation-
for the purposes of freeing
the pastoral staff to focus
on prayer and the ministry
of the Word, promoting
unity within the church,
and facilitating the spread
of the gospel.
When can I call a deacon?
Deacons are servants of the Lord,
and you can reach out to them at
anytime. Each month, Olivet has a
designated deacon on call who
can be reached at anytime, day or
night. However, other deacons are
also available when needed.
A Woman’s Study: A Loving Life —Led by Emily Hew Monday Nights: 6:30pm-8pm Olivet Baptist Church—Multi Purpose Room
Young Adults Study —Led by Jason Hew Tuesday Evenings: 7:30pm Kahala Mall Atrium (in front of Jamba Juice/Starbucks)
Backyard Bible Study—Led by Jenn & Eric Laa A Study on Philipians Thursday Nights: 6:30pm-8pm Olivet Baptist Church—Conference & Multi Purpose Room (Children Welcome) If you are interested in this study, please contact the church office for more details.
Contact Information:
Senior Pastor Timothy Morita
Office Phone: 808-946-6505
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.OlivetBaptist.org
Dear Olivet Family and Friends:
The month of June presents itself with new and wonderful experiences. When you
receive this newsletter, some of our young people will undergo a milestone in their
lives as they transition from one phase of their life’s preparation to another. Each
phase will offer its own unique challenges. The greatest challenge of all is what they
do with “Jesus?’ Will they allow Him to walk with them or simply put Him aside, as
someone inconsequential to the business of making decisions and, possibly living on
their own?
There are so many unknowns and unintended
consequences to the choices we make. However, they
need not be fraught with fear or doubt. I am reminded
of a command and promise God made to the children of
Israel, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your
mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that
you may observe to do according to all that is written in
it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and
then you will have good success. Have I not
commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do
not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is
with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:8-9).
What’s so amazing about all of this is that we don’t deserve anything – neither His
promises or assurances. Yet, He keeps on loving us with an incredible steadfastness
that is beyond me to comprehend. I would have given up a long time ago. My prayer
for all of our graduates is that they hold close to their hearts Joshua 1:9, and, that
they know with all certainty that the Lord is with them wherever they go.
Sincerely,
Pastor Tim
B U I L D I N G FA I T H I N Y O U R C O M M U N I T Y
Be sure to follow us on social
media for the most up-to-date
information, events, and
outreach opportunities.
Olivet Baptist Church
@OlivetBC
#OlivetBaptistChurch
Reaching Out with Many Hands Here at Olivet there are many ways we are reaching out to the community. We have Bento Blessings, Tidings of Joy, Wash and Glow, Food Pantry, and so many others. Outreach is often seen as the things we are doing in our community, but our reach
extends much further. Olivet Baptist Church provides support to Hamama Community Church, a church-plant started by Ikaika and Stacey Higa. Ikaika and his wife Stacey moved into the community of Kahalu`u/Waihe`e to begin the ministry of Hamama Community Church. Yesterday I was able to visit with them to see how things are going. They have the heart and vision to be a part of the community and use the property for the good of the community. Through connections with residents, their plan is to start off with Bible studies and small groups in the homes of the community members. With the 1.7 acres of land, they are hoping to cultivate it and use it to restore the values of Hawaiian traditions and culture within the context of the gospel. With the help of churches and other groups, they are moving forward with that vision. Olivet is able to provide financial and physical support to the ministry of Hamama Community Church and I can see God’s hand upon the work of the Higas. They have connected with one family that has welcomed them into their home for a small group Bible study. The land is also developing nicely!
There are many ways to do outreach and Olivet is active in reaching out. Thank you for your part in the ministry of the gospel in our
community, around our state, throughout the nation and across the world! -jason
Jason Hew
Minister of Outreach &
Education
808-946-6505 ph
To the left: A picture of what it
looked like when I got there in 2010.
To the right: The
picture I took while visiting
Ikaika recently. *Notice where the sign
is in reference to the
trees and bushes.
To the left: They cleared enough of the overgrowth that they uncovered a stream! A fresh water spring flows into the property from Hamama Falls. The more they clear it, the
more the stream will flow. The plan is to grow taro along the edges of the stream.
To the right: This is the area where the Olivet team worked.
California grass once crowded this area. Now it is clear and
indigenous plants are being planted.
Japanese Dept. Schedule
June 7 (Sun) 9:15 a.m. “The Front” Youth Choir (Woodland Heights Baptist Church, Arkansas) will be singing in the Japanese Worship
Service 11:30~ Luncheon with “The Front”
June 13(Sat) 8:30 a.m. Association of Hawaii Japanese Christian Churches, trustee’s meeting at Makiki Christian Church
June14 (Sun) 11:30 a.m. ~ Potluck Luncheon with Graduates
June 21(Sun) 12:30 p.m. Japanese Dept. Church Council
June 27(Sat) 8:00 a.m. ~ Food Pantry Ministry
June 26 (Fri) to July 6 (Mon) Pastor Makito and Chie Watanabe will be serving as a guest speaker and a Christian Hula instructor at the 66th
Annual Mount Hermon Japanese Conference in California
June 28 (Sun) 11:40 a.m. Prayer Time (Last Sunday of the month) 祈望会 “Kibou Kai”
Maki to Watanabe
Japanese Language
Associa te Pasto r
Makito Watanabe 渡辺牧人
Japanese Language Pastor
Office: 808-946-6505 Direct: 808-380-7612
Email:
Japanese Worship Service: Sunday, 9:15-10:20am
Japanese Sunday School:
10:30am - 11:30am
Midweek Bible Study Wednesday, 9:30am
HOW ARE YOU?
OGENKI DESUKA? お元気ですか？
“I Finally FOUND IT!”
Luke 15:8~10
"Or suppose a woman who has ten silver coins loses one of them-what does she do? She lights a lamp, sweeps her house, and looks carefully everywhere until she finds it. When she finds it, she
calls her friends and neighbors together, and says to them, "I am so happy I found the coin I lost. Let us celebrate!' In the same way, I tell you, the angels of God rejoice over one sinner who
repents."
Rev. Makoto Watabe, Executive Director of Japan Bible Society, gave me a silver colored “cross pen” as a souvenir from Japan. He visited us and preached at our worship service on Sunday, February 1, 2015. I know him from Japan, and he is also currently an associate pastor at Tokiwadai Baptist Church in Tokyo where I used to serve as a pastor for college students and young adults. He was on his way to the annual National Prayer Breakfast in Washington D. C., where President Obama participated. It was his 4th time in attendace. Anyway, I lost that silver colored Cross pen at the church after I signed my name for a get-well card to a person in Japan on Wednesday, April 15, during the Bible study and prayer time. I’ve been looking all over for it for about 2 weeks; asking our members to help me find it also, but I was not able to find it. Then, when I started to prepare for a sermon using Luke 15:8 -10, a parable of the lost silver coin (listed above), I opened up my Japanese Study Bible to look for some references, that cross pen fell down from it. “I finally found it!” It was in between the pages of that Study Bible I used on that Wednesday. I was about to lose hope in finding it, but I was so happy I found it. It was interesting to find a silver cross pen when I was trying to find references for a parable of the lost silver coin. I am very happy now to prepare baptism with one person who found Christ as her personal Savior and Lord, and repented before God to follow Him. She is very happy to be founded by God also. The angels of God are rejoicing over her!
Makito
Your Japanese Language Pastor
Japan Department R E L A T I O N S H I P S | L I F E | L O V E
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO JOINED US FOR OUR ANNUAL CHURCH
PICNIC AT BELLOWS!
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO JOINED US FOR OUR ANNUAL CHURCH
PICNIC AT BELLOWS!
FAMILY FRIDAYS IN JULY July 10, 17, 24, & 31
5:30pm Olivet Baptist Church will be having Family Fridays in July. This is an opportunity to spend time together as a family, as well as with other families. Each week there will be a crafts & activities, worship, a message, dinner, and a movie. This is open to the public, and we encourage everyone to invite your friends and family. Mark your calendars today! More details will be coming soon. For more information or to sign up for Family Fridays, please contact the church office at 808-946-6505.
Graduate Recognition Sunday
Please join us on Sunday, June 14, 2015 as we celebrate the accomplishments of our youth and college students. We will be recognizing them during our worship service, and celebrating with a church-wide potluck for lunch. Please come and share in this important milestone in our young people’s lives. High School College Jasmine Healy Keri Kawatachi Megan Horita Bradley Suda David Pang Hikari Watanabe Naomi Pang
Medical School Shirley Hirata
Kyla Teramoto
Mark Your Calendar
4 5
1 2 3
Worship Night June 12 6:00pm
Olivet Baptist Church
Wash & Glow Car Wash June 13
9am Olivet Parking Lot
Graduates Recognition Sunday June 14
Service & Potluck
Kakaako Ministry June 14 5:45pm
Next Step Shelter
Food Pantry 9am Prayer Walk 10am
June 27 Olivet Baptist Church
A Night of Worship Friday June 12, 2015 at 6pm at Olivet
Worship ~ Testimony ~ Devotional ~ Fellowship
Contact Us Church Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 8am-4pm
Phone: 808-946-6505
Fax: 808-946-6507
Address: 1775 S. Beretania St
Honolulu, HI 96826
Web: www.OlivetBaptist.org
Email: [email protected]
Rebecca McGuire
Preschool Director
Makito Watanabe
Japanese Language Pastor
Jason Hew
Minister of Outreach & Education
Timothy Morita, Senior Pastor