We believe that children have immense value to God, and we want to reflect that in how we treat our children here at KCC and also those we support around the world.

What a blessing to have our 5th and 6th grade girls' Bible study helping to write letters to the children at Living Hope Christian School in Uganda! To see these young ladies joyfully sharing parts of their lives with children of the same age around the world shows the heart God has for children everywhere.

But Jesus called for them, saying, “Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Luke 18:16

Over the past several months, we have been studying through the Old Testament together on Thursday evenings. Pastor Perry has been taking us through the main themes and key verses of each book, with a special focus on how each book specifically relates to the nation of Israel.

The class is currently meeting on Thursdays at 7:00 PM in the sanctuary. Lectures are live streamed, and you can also find past lectures on our website here.

My son, if you will receive my words
And treasure my commandments within you,
Make your ear attentive to wisdom,
Incline your heart to understanding;
For if you cry for discernment,
Lift your voice for understanding;
If you seek her as silver
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
Then you will discern the fear of the Lord
And discover the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 2:1–6

Prayer is where the eternal touches the temporal and the ordinary changes into glory. Jesus loves it when we pray and so do we. But honestly, many of us find it hard to do so. The apostle Paul himself confessed in Romans 8:26 that "we do not know what we ought to pray for." Yet pray we must! It's no wonder that the ministry of the Holy Spirit most mentioned in Scripture is His help in our prayer lives.

It is often difficult to pray because praying is a super-human task that requires more than human power. It is the place where Christ-followers join in the battle against the enemy. It is the place we find ourselves united by faith with the victorious Christ. It is the place we must rely on the Spirit.

Our pastors and the prayer team pray weekly over our congregation and for specific requests brought to them. If you would like to be prayed for by our staff and prayer team throughout the week, submit a prayer request here. Or if you would like to be prayed over in person, simply let one of the pastors or a prayer team member know at the service and we can pray together.

You may also consider joining the prayer team to pray for our congregation with others. The prayer team meets on Tuesdays at 6:30 PM at KCC. Hope to see you there!

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Philippians 4:6

From KCC member, Kara MacPherson:

This past Sunday, I was blessed to share an update about my daughter's recovery since her catastrophic diving accident last September. I am so incredibly grateful for the prayers that went out from our community here at KCC, and I want you to know that they had an impact well beyond Kadyn's physical healing.

A part of the story that I didn't have time to share on Sunday was how prayer affected me, personally, throughout Kadyn's time in the hospital. I am a Type A planner, oldest child of five siblings, military wife, always the one who sets the pace. When I walked into that neurotrauma ICU room, I couldn't have been more out of my league. My entire life was turned upside down in an instant.

But our God is not a God of chaos. Crying out to Him gave me the anchor I needed to be able to persevere through times when I was watching my daughter in pain or when I just had no concept of what the next hour would hold. Pursuing a relationship with Him allowed me to see how He was working through Kadyn's life, even as she lay unconscious in the hospital bed. Spending time with Him aligned me with His will, and gave me a deeper understanding of the bigger purpose of what we were walking through. As my family and I drew nearer to God, we also grew closer to each other in the process because we were all aiming in the same direction. The peace and comfort I felt, in the midst of what had the very real potential to have been a scary and stressful experience, can only be attributed to the power of prayer.

God massaged my stubborn and independent nature, and gave me the courage to ask for help. He released me from the desire to know the future, and allowed me to see the blessings in the present. Kadyn's healing wasn't without pain, frustration, and learning everyday things anew, and in fact she is still healing. But we walk this road knowing that our God goes before us. We rest in the assurance that He is good, and that this journey He has us on will be for His glory.

I am eternally thankful for the gift of prayer.

Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for You have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.
Pslam 61:1–3

Congratulations and best wishes to Jahden and Charlotte Jacobs, who were married on September 5! We wish you a lifetime of joy in building a life on the foundation God has for you.

And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”
Matthew 19:4–6

As you watch the above video of Pastor Chris praying over the children at Living Hope Christian School in Uganda, feel like you're part of their birthday celebration! These children, 295 of them who are part of Pastor Chris's school, are supported by donations from us here at Kailua Community Church. Those donations stretch to cover not only teacher salaries that give gainful employment to men and women who are now supporting their families, essential building projects that contribute to the safety and good hygiene of the students and staff at the school and church, and school costs like materials and uniforms for the students, but also medical care, food, and emotional support (like this birthday celebration) that shows the students they are valuable to God and His people.

We are so thankful for the continued support of the community at KCC to keep this program running! If you would like more information on how you can join us, visit the sponsorship page on our website here.

But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.
Mark 10:14–16

We are very excited to announce that Jacob Butters will be serving as the associate pastor at Kailua Community Church, starting September 1st!

Pastor Jacob has been leading our young adult ministry and is looking forward to stepping into the associate pastor position. He once asked himself, “What does success look like?” To which the Spirit answered, “The people who are in heaven because of you.” And, with that, he decided to commit his life to serving God vocationally. Saved at the tender age of 4, he has walked with and been carried by God through tragedy and triumph in life, happy to be in the fold of the Good Shepherd.

Pastor Jacob loves surfing, deep theological and philosophical conversations, history, and entertaining. He was graduated from University of Hawaii with a B.B.A in Entrepreneurship and is working towards his Master of Theology at Dallas Theological Seminary.

We can't wait to see the impact Pastor Jacob will continue to make at KCC. Make sure you give him a hug, handshake, or high five the next time you see him!

I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
2 Timothy 4:1,2

Youth Ministry Director Josh Ley has been building community and excitement this summer, in preparation for the youth group fall program launch on Tuesday, September 1. The youth recently celebrated time together with their annual end-of-summer outing to The Spaghetti Factory and Waikiki fireworks, and everyone had a blast! The kids and leaders alike are looking forward to growing in relationship with Jesus and learning together, and they'd love you to join them! If you have a child in 7th–12th grade, join the Group on Church Center  or contact Josh for more information at Youth@KailuaCommunityChurch.com. Also, if you would like to volunteer to help lead this amazing group of young people, contact Josh today!

I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
John 15:5

This past weekend, over 30 women from our church met with other ladies at Anchor Church for the annual Bloom conference. Joelle Coon shares below about her experience:

Bloom was such an amazing time with fellow women of God, worshiping and praising the Lord! It was Spirit-filled, and we were encouraged to bloom where we are planted. We were uplifted and pointed to Christ as we listened to several speakers share about surrendering to Christ and being rooted in Him.

I love Bloom because it gives me an opportunity to connect with other women in our church and in the community as well. It's good for women in all different seasons of life and stages of their faith. The topics discussed both encouraged and convicted me, as the gospel was shared in truth and love. What a great opportunity to be in God's presence and enjoy being a daughter of the Lord!

Planted in the house of the Lord,
They will flourish in the courts of our God.
Psalm 92:13

Mission work and church planting are an important part of what our denomination believes in doing, and recently our district superintendant joined pastors from Oahu and Big Island to participate in a prayer walk in Pahoa with church planters Mike and Pa Xiong. A couple weeks ago, we were able to show a short clip from this powerful video in service. You would be blessed to watch the full story of how the prayer walk impacted those who were there.

Pray with us for Mike and Pa, as they minister to the people of Pahoa!

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."
Mark 16:15

This past week, the young adults had a great time fellowshipping, singing, and praying at their worship night. Many thanks to the Wilson ohana for hosting the event, and for everyone who worked to put the evening together! The young adults meet weekly on Wednesday nights for Bible study, and young adult women also meet on Saturdays for another Bible study. If you'd like more information or to connect with the group, contact us at YoungAdults@KailuaCommunityChurch.com.

Iron sharpens iron,
So one man sharpens another.
Proverbs 27:17

We are so thankful for the blessing of being able to show Jesus to the keiki at KCC each week during Sunday School! Their curiosity, faith, and joy make this time special for the teachers and children in class. We can always use extra hands in the Sunday School ministry, so if you feel the Holy Spirit tugging at your heart to step in email our Sunday School director, Nicole Harbottle, at Kids@KailuaCommunityChurch.com to volunteer.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Matthew 19:14

Aloha Kailua Community Church!

My name is Callen Coleman, and it has been such an honor to serve as a missionary with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), supported through your prayers and partnership. Thank you for investing in what God is doing in the lives of coaches and athletes here in Hawaiʻi.

I am originally from Portland, Oregon, where I was born and raised, My sports background is boxing! I fought for 6 years, and coached it for 2 years. Today, I have the privilege of serving with FCA, where our mission is to engage, equip, and empower coaches and athletes to become disciples who make disciples. Our vision at FCA is to see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes. Our mission is to lead every coach and athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His local church.

As we look ahead to this next school year, we are excited to launch FCA Huddles—places where students and coaches can gather to encourage one another, study God's word, and grow in their faith together. Our prayer is to establish huddles at Castle High School, Kailua High School, Kalaheo High School, Kailua Intermediate School, and King Intermediate School. If you are a coach, athlete, teacher, or school staff member at any of these campuses, I would love to connect with you and explore how we can partner together to launch or strengthen an FCA Huddle. Even if you're not at one of these schools, we'd still love to connect! Whether you're interested in starting a huddle with your club team, school team, coaching staff, or another group of athletes, FCA would be honored to come alongside you.

Thank you again for your faithful support and for being a part of what God is doing through FCA. Your prayers, encouragement, and generosity are making an eternal impact in the lives of coaches and athletes across our community.

Mahalo,
Callen Coleman
Fellowship of Christian Athletes

In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
Ephesians 1:13,14

On June 28, we joyfully met at sunrise at Kailua Beach Park to witness 22 beautiful professions of faith through baptism! It was a moving and meaninful experience, and we are excited to see what the Holy Spirit is doing in each of these lives. Join us in prayer over those who were baptized and also over those who are considering taking this next step in faith.

If you are interested in being baptized or have questions about baptism, contact the church office at any time at Aloha@KailuaCommunityChurch.com.

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Galatians 3:27

Last week, we had over 160 children and 100 volunteers here at KCC to walk beside Paul and his underground church in Rome. The children experienced the heartbreaking trials, joyous victories, and tear-filled celebrations of this unique Bible hero. God's word truly came alive as the children enjoyed traditional Bible-times customs, occupations, foods, crafts, and even games!

We had 41 children make new professions of faith at the end of this amazing week, and 16 additional kids who recommitted to Jesus. Praise God! Join us in praying for their continued growth as they walk with Jesus.

Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.
Romans 12:2

We are excited to celebrate the recent marriage of Kendall and Ethan Smith! Join us in praying for this beautiful couple as they begin their new life together.

Let all that you do be done in love.
1 Corinthians 16:14

Join us in welcoming Josh Ley to the KCC team, as he takes the reins from John Mileham as youth director.

Josh grew up the son of a pastor in Ohio, and his family served as missionaries in Egypt during his formative years. It wasn’t until his junior year of high school that he fully surrendered his life to Jesus. After moving back to the States, he started attending a local youth group and began to grow in his faith immediately. Because of this, he believes that the middle school and high school years can be the among the most impactful in a person’s life.

Now, as a husband of nearly 20 years to Ali, and a father of seven, a U.S. Marine captain with over 20 years of service, and committed follower of Jesus who has served in a variety of ministry roles, Josh brings a deep passion for discipleship and ministry to youth that is both relational and intentional.

We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and His might, and the wonders that He has done.
Psalm 78:4

We rejoice with the host of heaven that another child of God has made his faith public with baptism. Derek Randall was recently baptized by Pastor Perry and Elder John Mileham at North Beach on MCBH, a beautiful testimony to God's faithfulness and the blessing we have in relationship with Jesus.

If you are interested in being baptized, we are planning a beach baptism service on Sunday, June 28, at 6:00 AM at Kailua Beach Park, across from Buzz's Steakhouse. Email us at Aloha@KailuaCommunityChurch.com with any questions and to be added to the list. All are welcome to come out that morning to encourage and support those being baptized!

Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.
Acts 22:16

Help us welcome Nicole Harbottle to the position of Sunday School director!

Nicole has faithfully been working with the outgoing Children's Ministry Director Michelle Mileham to prepare for her new role and be ready to continue to provide the exceptional programming for our keiki that Michelle has so lovingly and diligently supported over the last few years. We are excited to have Nicole on the team, and we look forward to walking with her as she points kids to Jesus!

Train up a child in the way he should go,
Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6

The KCC AWANA program meets weekly throughout the school year to encourage and train kids and youth from age three through high school to know, love, and serve the Lord Jesus Christ. This past week, we were honored to be able to present the Citation Award to two students! Both CJ Loomis and Scarlett Mileham completed the ten books in the upper AWANA curriculum, with all Scripture memorization, devotional exercises, and additional work required, to earn the coveted Citation Award. Over the course of their time in AWANA, CJ and Scarlett memorized over 648 Scripture verses, and read through and wrote a summary of every book in the Bible. Pray with us for CJ and Scarlett as they step into this new stage of life, carrying with them this incredible foundation of faith.

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15

This past Sunday, we were able to celebrate the KCC high school graduates in a big way with a beautiful baccalaureate service where we reflected on where they've been and where they're headed. God has great plans for Scarlett, Charlotte, Mallory, and Brennan, and we invite you to join us in praying for them as they embark on their next steps.

Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16

Some of our KCC homeschoolers came together last week to creatively share about books they'd recently read. The keiki put together recipes that showcased their stories, and talked about their favorite parts of the stories. Bellies and minds were filled, and fun was had by all!

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!
Psalm 133:1

Every year, we see many from our KCC ohana move on to new places around the world, and this year is no exception. We are so thankful to have had the time we had with all of you and we send you to your new homes with aloha and prayers. We are hopeful that we will meet again soon! A hui ho, and best wishes!

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."
Mark 16:15

Recently, our denomination's president, Jonathan Schaeffer, gave a video update on post-secondary educational opportunites through our denomination's schools. If you are curious about college and seminary through Christian and Missionary Alliance schools, check out the video above! You can also find information on Alliance colleges and affiliates here.

Women of KCC gathered together this past Saturday to fellowship, sing, and connect on beautiful Kailua Beach. Informal gatherings like this help us to get to know each other better and stregnthen the bonds of our KCC ohana. We are thankful to have the opportunity to grow with and serve each other, and we invite you to be a part of that at KCC! If you are looking to get plugged in, talk to a pastor or someone friendly at church on Sunday, send us an email or give us a call, or check out the calendar for an event that fits your schedule.

and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:24,25