From Chris Martin.

I pray that this edition of the Pacific Connector finds you physically and spiritually well and blessed. 

Although I have heard the same adjectives describing the past months that you have listened to – unprecedented, unparalleled, unequaled, extraordinary – I would like to add another: unsurprised. 

I am not referring to myself as being unsurprised because no one could have imagined the course of events over the past few months. In my wildest dreams, I would never have expected a global pandemic that forced the world into isolation, crashed global economies, and sent the church on a new platform of fulfilling the Great Commission. But our Father knew.

God was unsurprised by the past few months and He will be unsurprised in the coming months. As Creator and Sustainer of all things, He is accustomed to our panicked responses, our lack of faith, and our fear while He maintains His place of glory and honor. He waited on our rushed and scattered prayers and listened to every word. He is still attending to our cries, our anxiety, and expects more from us tomorrow. We stand to miss His power and presence within us unless we utilize our faith and allow Him to be our Father in Spirit and truth, and let Jesus be our Lord in all things.

We have witnessed many of you exercising great faith in these past days through your efforts to serve Christ during this crisis. You have embraced the uncertainty and faced the difficulties, determined to show the power of Christ to a world searching for hope. God is honored in your faith and He has more in store for us in the days ahead.

We have been encouraged by many of you who have reached across town, the island, or the sea to assist neighbors, sister churches, and others worldwide.  Your service in cooperative ministry is bearing God’s Kingdom fruit and will continue to bear more as we proceed ahead. Your compassion proved Jesus’ statement to His disciples when He said, “This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12-13) 

In providing for us during this pandemic, God is preparing us for a more significant impact in our world than ever before. Let us commit ourselves to be faithful to His tasks ahead of us, knowing that our world will not be the same as it was previously. He has given us opportunities to advance His mission – let us not lose the ground we have gained. Let us rise to the call of leading forward in these days of confusion with the voice of God guiding us through. God is faithful.

Mahalo for the privilege and joy of serving you in our convention of churches. For our staff team, we appreciate your support of our ministries in service to you and our churches. We remain ready to respond to your needs, coming alongside you as we navigate these days of uncertainty. God is faithful.

Continue to pray and strive for ways to serve God in obedience together. As always, your HPBC staff team is ready to assist you in any way that we can to advance and support your ministry. If we can serve you, please call us at 808-946-9581 or email me at chris@hpbaptist.net. Mahalo.