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LAHAINA BAPTIST CHURCHJanuary 2012

PASTOR CHRIS’ CORNERAloha kakou,

2012 is moving along quickly and we should be excited about the days ahead as God continues to lead us in ministry together at LBC. The ministry is growing and becoming more intentional in making disciples of Jesus Christ, so we can be assured that our best days are yet to come.

As we have begun our study on Matthew 13 and the parables of the Kingdom that Jesus taught to the crowds that followed Him, we will be challenged to check the condition of our hearts for today. If we endeavor to move forward in life without the Lordship of Christ leading us, we will find ourselves pursuing things outside of His direction and purpose. As we join together in this study, let the words of Jesus teach us of the life that He has secured for us, that He has prepared for us, and that He seeks to be glorified in through us.

He begins with the parable of the sower to teach us that the seed and the sower are never changing, but the soil can vary. What is the condition of your heart? Are you hardened like the pathway? Are you shallow like the rocky ground or maybe choked like the thorny ground? Are you prepared for His growth in your life like the good soil?

During in our study, we will also look at the other parables and we should be challenged to reassess our walk and our Kingdom view in life each day to make sure that we are

where we should be with Christ. This life is an incredible gift from God – please don’t allow the world or your own ideas of what life should be to distract you from chasing the ultimate goal – living in full faith with Jesus your Lord!

As a reminder: Keep our Korean students in your prayers as they are with us through the month of January. We have been so blessed to have the opportunity to host these students from the Taebaek English Camp through our Korean ministry. Keep the host families in prayer also – this portion of ministry is an incredible task but an awesome way to experience missions. Also, be looking for Pastor Ma Dae Won, pastor of Sin Taebaek Baptist Church to share with us during the message time at the 10:15 worship on January 15th. Pastor Ma is the servant that God spoke to over 11 years ago to begin this wonderful ministry – and God’s vision is still growing stronger today!

Mahalo again for the wonderful privilege that you have given me to be your pastor. I pray for God’s continued blessings on us all, as we grow closer to Him.

Until next month,Aloha in Christ, Pastor Chris

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JANUARY BIRTHDAYS1. Paulo VanBramer10. Lei Hough15. Brandon Waiohu17. Tyra Kinnan24. Page VanBramer25. Daniel Sprinkle29. Ralph Bautista31. Larry Crouthamel

january Anniversaries:

6. Cornelio & Fanny Ancheta

Korean Students arrive in Maui!

Please call the church office if we have missed your special day, so we can update our records.

Living Against the Tide

The culture around us pulls our senses and desires and is beset with temptations. Our fast food culture makes it easy to choose what is expedient instead of healthy. Our media promotes sensual pleasure. Our nation’s permissiveness toward abortions and talks of euthanasia speak of the expendability of individuals. The mentality of “what’s in it for me” helped to bring our nation to its knees. How do we swim against the tide of temptations and the pull of the world? The Bible is clear on how to circumvent these temptations. We are to live directed by God’s Word.

Learn what the Bible says about these situations every Sunday at 9 a.m. in January. Join us as we learn how to live against the tide of selfishness and greed and live as a people after God’s own heart.

Scripture for January:Romans 13:14 New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

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A New Year’s Revolutionary Thot – Eccl. 10:19b

It’s a New Year! Did you go overboard for Christmas? Dreading those credit card statements for January? Are you still dealing with purchase decisions you made in June 2011? Feeling financially oppressed? Does God want you living like this? Is there a “God given” way out?

Yes there is! According to Eccl. 10:19b “Money answers all things.” I bet you didn’t know THAT was in the Bible. The problem we face is NOT the money; it’s our attitude/behavior!

Would you be willing to invest your time (lots of it), energy (especially emotional) and financial resources (some of it) to change your thinking towards money so that you can be more in line with the directions given by God’s Word? There is no “quick and easy” on this one. Our society is the most “advertised to” society in the history of the world. There are experts trying to manipulate our attitude and behavior thousands of times a week. I believe we can fight back and I am wondering if anyone else is willing to do what it takes to live directed by God’s Word regarding our personal finances. Let me know if this is something you’d like to get involved in during 2012.

Your fellow traveler,Don Sprinkle

Pastor Ma Dae Won and Family arrive in Maui

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What  a  wonderful  and  memorable  2011  we  had  as  a  church  family.  I  think  the  most  memorable  for  me  was  the  Christmas  season  events.  The  choir  was  on  tour  around  the  island  and  finished  up  with  a  bang  at  our  Christmas  Eve  service  and  then  our  Christmas  Day  service.  I  will  forever  remember  the  church  being  full  to  capacity  and  over-­‐flow  chairs  on  both  sides,  extending  outside.  Then  on  Christmas  Day  again  the  church  was  full  and  God’s  children  were  serving  Him  Faithfully.  I  was  thrilled  to  see  so  many  of  our  youth  giving  their  Kme  and  talent  to  the  Glory  of  God.  Our  youth  served  in  the  areas  of  set-­‐up,  they  served  in  the  area  of  Drama,  where  they  acted  out  the  Christmas  story,  and  they  lead  the  church  in  worship  on  Sunday  morning.  They  also  worked  as  parking  aNendants,  guiding  people  along  as  they  arrived  for  church.  

The  future  of  our  church  looks  bright  and  prosperous  if  you  gauge  growth  thru  the  eyes  of  the  youth  program.  We  are  so  fortunate  to  have  wonderful  leadership  leading  and  

guiding  our  youth.  The  girls  have  Nancy  Killet,  Carol  Barca,  and  Sabrina  Hamrick.  They  are  a  polished  and  Obedient  group  of  women  dedicated  to  the  Lord  and  His  work.  The  boys  are  anchored  by  a  group  of  men  who  are  driven  by  the  Power  of  the  Lord  and  determined  to  grow  up  Mighty  Men  of  God.  The  boys  leadership  is  powered  by  Andrew  DeMello,  Brandon  Waiohu,  and  Pastor  Gary  Hamrick.  

The  year  2012  has  a  promising  beginning  as  the  youth  prepare  to  take  the  Gospel  outside  the  walls  of  the  church.  The  youth  group  have  pledged  to  make  Missions  and  Evangelism  the  primary  goal  of  this  new  year.  The  boys/girls  have  planned  Mission  Outreach  to  the  community  once  every  two  months  for  a  total  of  6  for  the  year.  They  are  going  to  Molokai  for  Mission  work  during  the  Spring  Break.  They  will  then  plan  to  work  out  in  Ke’anae  for  a  week  helping  the  local  Hawaiian  Taro  Farmers.  Following  that  some  will  travel  to  Korea,  where  they  will  engage  mission  work  doing  English  Training  in  Taebaek,  South  Korea.  

The  youth  will  then  work  toward  bringing  the  Gospel  to  their  school  with  the  “See  You  at  the  Pole”  rally,  which  is  held  each  year.  To  end  the  year  the  youth  will  once  again  sing  and  dance  to  Glorify  and  Exalt  the  King  of  Kings.  

Please  conKnue  to  pray  for  our  young  people  as  they  help  to  Fulfill  the  Great  Commission.  May  the  Lord  Bless  them  and  Keep  them  and  May  His  face  shine  upon  them.  

PASTOR G’S SPACE:

Chris Martin, PastorGary Hamrick, Associate PastorSunday Schedule:8:00AM Morning Worship9:00AM Bible Study10:15AM Mid-Morning worship

Wednesday Schedule:5:30PM DInner6:30PM Bible Study/Student Ministry

LAHAINA BAPTIST CHURCHShaw Street at Honoapiilani Hwy P.O. Box 1000Lahaina, HI 96767lbcoffice@lahainabaptist.orgOffice: 808-661-3725Office Fax: 808-661-0926Website: www.lahainabaptist.org