Jay and Melissa Haynes and family.	Rocky and Emily and family.

Two Families, four churches, NAMB, HPBC, and Immanuel Network working together to reach locals for Christ in Waiehu

Jay Haynes and Rocky Komatsu first crossed paths in the summer of 2009. Jay was serving alongside his wife, Melissa with the Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM) at Maui Community College. Rocky was home visiting family and met Jay at a youth camp in Keanae. Little did they know that a year later both Jay and Rocky would end up in Louisville, Kentucky not only attending the same school but the same church. It did not take long for Jay and Melissa and Rocky and Emily to hit it off and become great friends! Melissa and Emily worked together, Rocky and Jay would workout together and meet regularly for prayer.

Pretty soon, many people who had come from Hawaii to Louisville began to meet together to pray for Hawaii and its churches. Through consistent prayer, the growth experienced at their church, and an increasingly burning desire to do ministry in Hawaii, Rocky and Jay began discussing church planting. After talking with many of the local pastors in Maui and praying, they believed Waiehu to be a strategic location. It is vital because it is in the center of several communities, all of which are in need of more churches. With the support of other local churches, they hope to see a church planted in Waiehu!

What is the leadership of Waiehu Community Church (WCC) praying for?

Our burden is to see God glorified through a gospel community that proclaims Christ as King. We desire that this church positively impact all of Waiehu, Maui, Hawaii, and the nations for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Ultimately we’re praying for revival on Maui!

Who is partnering with Waiehu Community Church?

One of the primary WCC partners is Kahului Baptist Church on Maui. Kahului Baptist is supporting Waiehu Community Church by receiving Rocky and Jay and their families for a transitional time as they move back to Maui. Kahului will serve as a launch pad for Waiehu Community Church as we hope to plant in early 2019.

Waiehu Community Church will be a part of the Immanuel Network. The Immanuel Network is a group of like-minded churches, pastors, and missionaries who are committed to the health and multiplication of local churches around the world. Kailua Baptist Church in Kailua, HI and Immanuel Baptist Church in Louisville, KY are both a part of the Immanuel Network and are also considered our sending churches. These two churches have served in equipping Rocky and Jay and their families,  providing them with resources, and are committed to staying connected to them both before and after WCC is launched.

Jay and Rocky currently have built and plan to continue building solid partnerships with other local churches in Hawaii, including those within the Maui County Baptist Association, the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention, and churches on the mainland.

What are the next steps for Waiehu Community Church?

For the year of 2018, the Haynes’ and Komatsu’s will become members at Kahului and will continue planning, organizing, and team-building. The goal is to launch Waiehu Community Church in the first half of 2019.

Would you pray for Waiehu Community Church and consider joining them as they plant a church in Waiehu, Maui? You can learn how to partner with and give online to WCC at waiehuchurch.org