First Quarter HPBC Executive Board Significant Actions

In January 2024, the Programs Committee requested that the following motions regarding scholarships be approved through an email vote. These scholarships for Theological Initiative were approved: New applicants Cody Rogers, Shaw Okawara, David Kuraya, Fusako Takada, and Jesse Macabasco have been awarded scholarships ranging from $625 to $1,250 for the 2024 spring semester. Renewing applicants David McElrath, Noah Denney, Jeff Buchholz, Gay Williams, Todd Morikawa, Kerey Smith, and Sara Shin have also been awarded scholarships ranging from $625 to $1,250 for the 2024 spring semester.

At the February 23, 2024 Executive Board meeting, the board unanimously approved the provisional appointment of the following new board members: Neil Nakama (Valley Isle  , Maui), Matt Gao (Pawa’a Community Church, Oahu), and Johnny Lau (Living Faith Baptist Church, Oahu). They will fill vacancies on the Executive Board for 2024.

The Executive Board, as recommended by the Operations Committee, voted to appropriate $150,000 of operational funds from the Hawaii Baptist Foundation to the Pu’u Kahea Designated Fund for improvements to the Pu’u Kahea Conference Center in order to prepare the grounds for guests this spring and approved a recommendation to continue discussions with Hawaii Baptist Academy regarding the transfer of the Pu’u Kahea Conference Center property. The Operations Committee is committed to having all permanent Board recommendations concerning the Pu’u Kahea Conference Center be presented to the messengers of the Annual Meeting in 2024.

The Programs Committee recommended, and the board approved a Leadership Development Initiative grant to Yokohama International Baptist Church of $10,000 for a one-year appointment for Reina Yamada. The Programs Committee also recommended, and the board approved to offer only one grant opportunity under the HPBC Leadership Development Initiative to assist HPBC churches with the creation of new ministry leadership positions. They recommended, and the board approved the creation of a new “First Year Leadership Subsidy” as the only Leadership Development Initiative grant. The Programs Committee has created documentation for the grant opportunity and these are available on our website at hpbaptist.net/initiatives.

The Programs Committee recommended, and the board approved, that the “New Mission Effort Support Scholarships (Church/Members)” and “Mission Trip Coordination (w/HPBC Staff Team) Scholarships (HPBC Pastors)” from the HPBC Missional Development Initiative are recommended to be discontinued, and any public-facing information regarding these scholarships should be removed.

The Communications Committee brought two recommendations, and the board approved both. First, the Executive Director-Treasurer will be directed to hire a designated, trained staff person or independent contractor to receive calls regarding allegations of sexual abuse and provide initial guidance. The committee noted that this person should be trained in trauma to assist survivors and churches and help submitters file an allegation report with the appropriate party. They also tasked the Executive Director-Treasurer to compile a list of professionally trained, licensed, trauma-informed Christian and/or biblical counselors to assist HPBC churches in ministering to survivors of sexual abuse.

Our next Executive Board Meeting will be held on Friday, May 10, 2024, at the Hawaii Baptist Academy Administrative Offices.

Brian Frable, president
Larry Hale, 1st vice president
Naomi Ashman, 2nd vice president
Grace Poei, recording secretary
Dr. Craig Webb, executive director-treasurer