College Ministry, Hawaii, and A Vision for Global Outreach
In June, the College Ministry was blessed to return to Hawaii for the third year through Harding’s Global Outreach program. Our team worked with churches on the Big Island and Maui and helped lead Aloha Christian Camp on Oahu, welcoming campers from churches across the islands.
In some ways, the trip felt like a family reunion with the many brothers and sisters we have come to love. They shared much aloha with us and especially loved meeting our son Ezra (shout-out to Kayla for being a super-mom, traveling the Pacific with a 7-month-old!).
When we say we go on mission trips to Hawaii, people joke, “Oh, you’re really suffering for God!” And yes—Hawaii is stunning. We’ve seen waterfalls, hiked mountains, and watched lava shoot hundreds of feet from a volcano!
But our time there also reveals the need for long-term workers. Hawaii is expensive. It’s far. It’s not easy. People love to visit, but few stay.
Yet a key aspect of Global Outreach is to cast a vision for moving somewhere for God’s mission. On this trip, we were excited that all six students were returning for their second or third year because they are considering how they can serve long-term. One is exploring graduate school there. Another couple is thinking about full-time mission work.
We’ve been especially inspired by Gary and Nelda Lyons, missionaries in Hawaii for over 45 years, with whom we work on the Big Island and at camp. They’ve shared story after story of God’s work—but they’ve also shared how hard it can be.
In fact, this trip didn’t go as smoothly as in previous years. Plans fell through due to church issues. Although camp was great, it was smaller than usual because of division among congregations. Churches of Christ in Hawaii are struggling, as in many other places.
Our vision for the College Ministry is that it becomes a sending hub from which disciple-makers are launched throughout the world.
This trip helped us see plenty of reasons not to go to Hawaii. Or any other mission field. A short trip is manageable. Investing long-term is a whole different challenge.
But it also reminded us of the reason to go: Jesus is the saving King. And He sends us to share His good news to a lost world!
Anyone ready to move to Hawaii?
In some ways, the trip felt like a family reunion with the many brothers and sisters we have come to love. They shared much aloha with us and especially loved meeting our son Ezra (shout-out to Kayla for being a super-mom, traveling the Pacific with a 7-month-old!).
When we say we go on mission trips to Hawaii, people joke, “Oh, you’re really suffering for God!” And yes—Hawaii is stunning. We’ve seen waterfalls, hiked mountains, and watched lava shoot hundreds of feet from a volcano!
But our time there also reveals the need for long-term workers. Hawaii is expensive. It’s far. It’s not easy. People love to visit, but few stay.
Yet a key aspect of Global Outreach is to cast a vision for moving somewhere for God’s mission. On this trip, we were excited that all six students were returning for their second or third year because they are considering how they can serve long-term. One is exploring graduate school there. Another couple is thinking about full-time mission work.
We’ve been especially inspired by Gary and Nelda Lyons, missionaries in Hawaii for over 45 years, with whom we work on the Big Island and at camp. They’ve shared story after story of God’s work—but they’ve also shared how hard it can be.
In fact, this trip didn’t go as smoothly as in previous years. Plans fell through due to church issues. Although camp was great, it was smaller than usual because of division among congregations. Churches of Christ in Hawaii are struggling, as in many other places.
Our vision for the College Ministry is that it becomes a sending hub from which disciple-makers are launched throughout the world.
This trip helped us see plenty of reasons not to go to Hawaii. Or any other mission field. A short trip is manageable. Investing long-term is a whole different challenge.
But it also reminded us of the reason to go: Jesus is the saving King. And He sends us to share His good news to a lost world!
Anyone ready to move to Hawaii?
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