Kauai Mission
May he have dominion from sea to sea…to the ends of the earth! (Ps. 72:8)
A joint mission-work of the Oceanside United Reformed Church (http://www.oceansideurc.org ) and the Grace Evangelical Church (http://www.graceevangelicalchurch.org ).
HISTORY
On January 2, 2007, a parishioner of the Oceanside URC who had just moved to Hawaii e-mailed Rev. Danny Hyde about the possibility of starting a Reformed church on the island of Kauai. In fact, through this initial contact, if was revealed that there were many others with the same desire—even a local family that had been seeking a Reformed church for over a decade. Currently there are six committed families, along with at least five other families we are in contact with.
The Council of the Oceanside URC sent Rev. Hyde to the island of Kauai to make a pastoral visit from February 6-8. After returning, it was decided to do an initial inquiry of the feasibility of planting a church with the core families as well with other URCNA congregations. As well, the Oceanside URC decided to propose jointly pursuing this work with the Grace Evangelical Church in Torrance, California. After meeting the Grace Evangelical Church, their Council sent their pastor, the Rev. Greg Bero from March 21-22 to make a pastoral visit.
Then, on April 10th, the Council of the Oceanside URC decided to take the initial steps toward the work of church planting on Kauai with the Grace Evangelical Church.
OPPORTUNITY
We believe Christ has been blessed us with this providential opportunity, that literally fell into our laps and developed over just a few weeks, to oversee a wonderful group of saints as a Reformed congregation in an area of the world with no Reformed witness. Kauai (http://www.kauai.gov/ ) is the most remote and pristine of the Hawaiian islands (pop. 62,500) on which there are many non-denominational, mainline, and Roman Catholic churches, but nothing remotely Reformed.
Since our two congregations were church plants, mostly with newly Reformed Christians, the desire to be involved in other mission work and church planting is a strong desire.
TIMELINE
Phase 1—Begin Gathering (May-August 2007)
1a. Steering Committee
The initial step to facilitate communication between the overseeing congregations and the mission and that will assist with decisions “on the ground,” is to have two of the men in the group be a steering committee. These will be the point of contact in the initial steps.
1b. Meeting Place
With any gathering, there must be a gathering place. We desire to see a Reformed Church located near Lihue, as it is central to the island, is where the airport is located, and is the hub of all that happens.
1c. Study
In terms of study, we will initially lead the group through the confessions of the United Reformed Churches—the Belgic Confession, Heidelberg Catechism, and Canons of Dort—as these Three Forms of Unity they will unite the mission in heart and mouth in the faith before the Lord and his world. To do this, the group will use Rev. Hyde’s book, The Good Confession (http://www.wipfandstock.com/bookStore.cfm?bookID=2024&do=detail), which explores the Belgic Confession in an inductive way.
1d. Pastoral Visits
Once a weekly, mid-week gathering is begun, the overseeing churches will be sending a minister of the Word once a month, whether Rev. Hyde, Rev. Bero, Dr. R. Scott Clark (Associate Pastor of Oceanside URC and Professor at Westminster Seminary California), or another. The purpose the ministers’ visit will be twofold:
-
To conduct house visitation with each family/individual in their home, for the purpose of encouragement from the Word, prayer, and fellowship;
-
To meet with the entire group in the mid-week gathering, to lead in catechizing and in prayer.
Phase 2—Begin Lord’s Day Worship (September 2007)
Once the initial phase is underway and completed, we desire to start Lord’s Day worship as soon as September. To do this, requires a meeting place and pulpit supply. Between ministers and licensed seminary students, we have a plethora of men to fly to Kauai to lead in worship, preach/exhort the Word, and administer the Sacraments.
2a. Meeting Place
By this time, a centrally located meeting place must be secured in the Lihue area that is conducive for worship services. Since in our Church Order (http://www.covenant-urc.org/urcna/co.html ), article 37, the Consistory (pastors and elders) is required to call the congregation to worship twice on the Lord’s Day, any meeting place must provide for enough time to fulfill this requirement. In most of our churches, these two worship services take place in the morning and evening, but in many of our commuter-type churches in Southern California, churches meet for morning worship, have a time of fellowship and even a meal, and then meet again in the afternoon.
2b. Pulpit Supply
As of this time, we have no man that has stepped forward, saying, “Here I am, send me.” Because of this, we are planning on providing pulpit supply during the year 2007. Lord willing, during the coming months of this year, the financial support needed to call a pastor and the man of God’s choosing will come to fruition.
Phase 3—Call a Church Planter
Finally, we pray a third phase will be implemented in the future of calling a man to be the church planting pastor for the Kauai Mission. Above all the finances and logistics, we pray for the Lord’s will to be done and for his kingdom to come.
FINANCES
Because of the high cost of living on Kauai, we have roughly estimated that it will take $90,000 a year to support the Kauai Mission. These funds will come from three sources: the families, the overseeing churches, and other church and individual partners.
As of mid-April 2007, support in the amount of $57,839 has been raised/committed between the families ($35,700), the overseeing churches ($14,000), and other partners ($8,139).
TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS
Since we are still in need of approximately $30,000 in order to fully fund this mission, we invite you to join us in this exciting work, by making a tax-deductible donation to “Oceanside United Reformed Church.” A letter will be sent to you with this financial information for tax purposes.
Please mail support to:
Oceanside United Reformed Church
Attn: Kauai Mission
4318 Forest Ranch Way
Oceanside, CA 92057
CONTACT:
Rev. Daniel R. Hyde
Pastor, Oceanside United Reformed Church
760.231.9171
pastor@oceansideurc.org
Rev. Greg Bero
Pastor, Grace Evangelical Church
310.782.7019
GECSouthbay@sbcglobal.net
