I came to New Hope Peninsula Church for the first time about a year ago. I didn’t show up in person, though. Instead, I started by listening to Ben and Christy Pierce on my iPod, where they were wonderful examples of love and healing at a time when I needed a LOT of love and healing. Before this time, I hadn’t gone to church in years. When my children were small, I believed the only way to help the community and the larger world around me was by volunteering in secular projects and investing in organizations helping people without theological support behind them.
I believe I started listening to the “Built to Last” series. I don’t remember my first sermon (although it might have been “Losing the last 20 lbs” since it had a catchy title!). Listening to that series was ground breaking for me. I never understood or believed that a pastor could be inspirational! But both Ben and Christy were and I kept listening. I’ve ended up listening to all the sermons that are online (yep, all 5 years’ worth!). I’ve listened more than once to each of them and each time I get something new from them. In many, I heard the message that a church community can help to heal you and that message was momentous to me. I truly believe that God has spoken to me through these sermons and encouraged me to search for a faith community. He has asked me to begin saying yes where I might have made up excuses or said no before. And when the Big Guy tells you something, I think it’s a good idea to listen.
Now, when Bill Weir told me that I might like to go to this conference in Hawaii, it wasn’t too hard to imagine saying yes. However, I wasn’t sure about how I could be involved. I’ve wanted to help New Hope in some way, since the messages that this community has sent out to the world have helped me, so I tried to think about the skills that I could bring to the table. Bill’s involved in prayer ministry, and I was clear that was not going to be my thing. However, I wondered if I could help by just assisting the team. I’m not a huge sports fan, but I liken myself to the waterboy. How can the team survive without someone to fetch the water?
Christy was very enthusiastic about my coming, but I haven’t always been so sure that there was something I could do. Last night, I sat with Cynthia Bosworth as she explained what the pray sessions will be like. It was a bit weird for me, but mostly because I’m afraid that doing things other than what the team is doing will make me feel like an outsider. I just keep reminding myself that God wants me to say yes, but that He also wants me to involve myself in ways that work for me. It helps that the prayer team is so loving and kind about my boundaries. Thanks Cynthia and Christy and Bill!
It sounds like the Hawaiian Island Ministries conference is an ideal way to experience a large community coming together for a common cause. Cynthia tells me that the vision of this conference for 25 years has been to support and equip the small local churches and leaders of Hawaii’s Christian communities. Dan and Pam Chun had a vision that the HIM conference could bring them together, no matter what faith model they practiced individually. It seems that the vision has become a reality since the conference now hosts about 5000 people!
If nothing else, just seeing that many people come together in worship will be an amazing experience for me. I really can’t wait. Plus, it’s Hawaii! Who can say no to that? Not me!