The gospel is advancing across our region, and you are a part of it! The church planters featured below are supported in part through your faithful giving to the Cooperative Program and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions. Every dollar your church gives helps make these ministries possible.
SEND Network is the church-planting arm of the North American Mission Board. We work with Shane Critser, Send Network’s Director of the Coastal West Region.
The Coppenbargers (Pearl Harbor/Hickam, Oahu)
Valor Church launched its first public services in August 2025 and, by November, had secured a home in Aiea, sharing the facility with Life Christian Church for Sunday evening gatherings at 5 pm. Small groups continue to meet in homes throughout the week. Leading this exciting new work are Craig and Maggie Coppenbarger, who bring two decades of military and ministry experience to Hawaii.
Having already planted two thriving churches and trained many others for ministry, they are uniquely positioned to reach military families at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Please keep the Coppenbargers and Valor Church in your prayers!
The Sete’s, Kahuku, Oahu
Pastor Nasa Sete, his wife Caroline, and four children are off to an exciting start in 2026 with their church plant in Kahuku on Oahu’s North Shore. After being commissioned and sent out by GracePoint Church in January, the Sete ohana has begun weekly Sunday Bible study and prayer gatherings in Kahuku. Please pray for the Sete family as they walk by faith, trusting God for what lies ahead!
Their sending church is Gospel City Church in Indiana, and their local sending church is GracePoint Church in Mililani.
The Brennan’s, Keau, Hawaii Island
Exciting news from the Big Island — All Nations Fellowship now has a permanent location to call home! This significant milestone marks a major step forward for church planters Mike and Monica Brennan, who relocated to Keaau, Hawaii in 2025 after years of church planting experience in Wyoming. What makes this ministry uniquely compelling is its dual mission — planting a gospel-centered church while actively working to prevent human trafficking in the community. Please pray for All Nations Fellowship as they press forward for God’s glory on the Big Island!
Mel and Rachel Hennegan, Gospel Life Church, Guam
Gospel Life Church: A Divine Partnership in Guam!
Mel and Rachel Hennagan are seeing God work in remarkable ways through Gospel Life Church in Guam! Mel, a Send Network church planter who grew up on the island and returned with a heart for his people, recently navigated a significant transition when their previous meeting space closed. God opened a beautiful door — Agana Heights Baptist Church, a congregation of 12 that had gone without a pastor for over seven years, welcomed Gospel Life to share their facility. Mel is now preaching both services, breathing new life into an older congregation. Please pray for Mel, Rachel, and their two children, Aria and Judah!
Erik and Dani Naylor, Lahaina, Maui
Three years ago, Erik and Danni Naylor and five children boarded a plane to Maui with a dream of planting a healthy church in Lahaina. Then the fire came. Their home, neighborhood, and town were devastated in Hawaii’s most destructive wildfire in modern history. But God had other plans! Through that tragedy, the Naylors joined in replanting Lahaina Baptist Church, and today that congregation stands as a vibrant witness in a community still healing. As the host site for Samaritan’s Purse rebuilding efforts, Lahaina Baptist is helping restore Lahaina both physically and spiritually. God is faithful — praise His name!
Elise and Lucy Tafao, Manuia Bible Fellowship, Pearl City, Oahu
When Pastor Elise and Lucy Tafao completed decades of faithful ministry in American Samoa, they had every reason to retire. Instead, they felt God’s call to Oahu — and Manuia Bible Fellowship was born. The congregation currently gathers on Sunday afternoons at First Baptist Church, Pearl City, with a vision that extends far beyond one congregation. Pastor Elise is also actively training future pastors with a heart to plant a network of churches to reach Oahu’s significant Samoan population.
Manuia Bible Fellowship was sent out with the blessing and support of Aina Haina Baptist Church, under the leadership of Pastor Fola Ioane, providing a strong foundation for this exciting new work.
Grace Church Kailua Reaching the Windward Side of Oahu
Grace Church Kailua is a new church, pastored by Chris (wife Cathy) Alsup. Grace Church’s mission is to reach Kailua with grace and peace, showing God’s love and growing together in devotion to Jesus Christ.
Hawaii Cultural Orientation Series
Hawaii Culture
Hawaii Mission Team Basics
The Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention asked Ikaika Higa to sit down and talk about cultural issues that would help anyone coming with a mission team to Hawaii.
Hawaii Culture
What to Know Before Visiting Hawaii
What should I know before visiting Hawaii?
Hawaii Culture
How to Show Respect and Aloha When You Come to Hawaii
We asked local pastor, Ikaika Higa, to help us understand Aloha and respect in Hawaii.
Hawaii Culture
What is “Talk Story” and Why Is It So Important?
Pastor Ikaika Higa shares insights on the local practice of "talk story" and why it's so important in the culture.
Hawaii Culture
What is a Shaka and what does it mean?
Pastor Ikaika Higa talks about the Shaka you see in Hawaii. What is it, how to do it (and how not to do it), and what does it mean.
Hawaii Culture
How do locals in Hawaii view tourists?
Pastor Ikaika Higa of Hamama Community Church talks about the effect tourism has and how locals feel about it.