July 2017
Some of this year’s highlights so far
Dear First Prez Ohana, I hope all’s well with you. We’re halfway through 2017, and it’s the time when I typically take a few weeks of vacation and study leave to recharge and learn. Being on vacation is allowing me more time to reflect on how GOD has blessed our church so far this year. If I were to do the Daily Examen exercise, where I take stock of God’s goodness and how He’s working in First Prez, I would definitely include these items on my list: + The love, compassion, and generosity in our church.
EASTER BAPTISMS last April
+ The first-time BAPTISMS and reaffirmation of baptismal vows last Easter. + How God worked and will work through the different First Prez MISSION TEAMS: Cambodia (February), Rwanda (July), Swaziland (July), and Maui (July). + The opportunity to serve homeless families in Waimanalo every month through our LAUNDRY LOVE ministry, to whom we provide literally tons of free laundry services. + Those who took the challenge of the ROOTED discipleship course, resulting in many changed lives and deeper relationships with each other and with God.
MISSION TEAM to Cambodia
+ God’s love, presence, and healing power at our quarterly HEALING SERVICES. + The person who attended our recent ALPHA COURSE who claimed neither faith nor disbelief in God but is now a follower of Jesus! + All the keiki who learned through our VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL that God created them for a purpose. + The women who were inspired at the WOMEN’S SUMMER TEA, where they heard how God is able to restore even the most broken parts of our lives if we yield to Him.
COMPASSION SUNDAY
+ The men who are learning to form deeper friendships with each other and with God through Men’s Ministry’s SAMSON SOCIETY. + The generous outpouring of support for the ACTS 1:8 APPEAL, the fundraiser to help retire our remaining debt from the purchase of our church campus. Although we’re still short of the goal, we’re confident that our Lord will provide through the money pledged till August 31. Page 2 of this letter has more details on these and other ways through which God used First Prez to carry out His work. Our God is purposeful and amazing!
LAUNDRY LOVE
I’ll be back in August refreshed, recharged, and rejuvenated to continue serving our Lord with you. To Him be the glory, always!
Pastor Dan Chun
the ROOTED discipleship course
| JULY 2017
JUST A FEW OF GOD’S MANY BLESSINGS ON FIRST PREZ EASTER BAPTISMS
52
82
PEOPLE BAPTIZED FOR THE FIRST TIME
134
REAFFIRMED THEIR BAPTISMAL VOWS
570
TOTAL BAPTISMS FOR 2017
EASTER BAPTISMS/REAFFIRMATIONS SINCE 2015
COMPASSION SUNDAY
122
TOTAL NUMBER OF CHILDREN SPONSORED AT FIRST PREZ ON COMPASSION SUNDAY
MISSION TEAMS
TO CAMBODIA
A FIRST PREZ TEAM PARTNERED WITH AGAPE INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS IT ITS FIGHT AGAINST SEX TRAFFICKING.
TO RWANDA
A FIRST PREZ TEAM LEARNED FROM AND SERVED WITH CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES WORKING TO TRANSFORM A COUNTRY DEVASTATED BY A GENOCIDE.
TO MAUI
TO SWAZILAND
A FIRST PREZ TEAM OF MIDDLE SCHOOLERS AND ADULT LEADERS WILL SERVE JULY 31-AUG 4 WITH THE NONPROFIT MADE IN HOPE, WHICH WORKS TO RESTORE THE LIVES OF THOSE RESCUED FROM SEX TRAFFICKING.
A FIRST PREZ TEAM OF HIGH SCHOOLERS AND ADULT LEADERS WILL SERVE THE ORPHANS AND LOCAL CHURCHES JULY 23-AUG 6 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ADVOCATES FOR AFRICA’S CHILDREN.
ROOTED
220
LAUNDRY LOVE
21
LAUNDRY LOVE EVENTS SINCE 2015
3,642
PEOPLE TOOK THE CHALLENGE OF THE ROOTED DISCIPLESHIP COURSE, RESULTING IN MANY CHANGED LIVES AND DEEPER RELATIONSHIPS WITH EACH OTHER AND GOD
41
88 $854
AVERAGE NUMBER OF HOMELESS FAMILIES SERVED PER MONTH
AVERAGE NUMBER OF POUNDS OF LAUNDRY WASHED PER MONTH
AVERAGE NUMBER OF LOADS PER MONTH
AVERAGE MONEY SPENT TO WASH ALL LAUNDRY PER MONTH
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
ACTS 1:8 APPEAL
$1,800,000 GOAL
255
KEIKI LEARNED IN FUN AND CREATIVE WAYS THAT GOD CREATED THEM AND MADE THEM FOR A PURPOSE
$1,431,811 PLEDGES RECEIVED
$368,189
AMOUNT NEEDED IN PLEDGES TO REACH GOAL