I'
oc-< Z
.0 SALVATioNisT
1
phetamine users in the United States. anything other than wonderful. hardare to warm think of Oahu as Thepretty beaches and beau-
It's
Despite
the
roundings,
beauty
of their
sur-
the citizens of Honolulu
tiful, the water is turquoise and invit-
experience sin and suffering as much
ing. Happy vacationers relax, surf and
as the people of any other major city.
ship, one-on-one
build up the tans they plan to show
One might be tempted to smirk at the idea of someone going off to do missions in Hawaii. But the influence
vant study and expert teaching from
of Christ is desperately
munity. However, the main focus of Revolution Hawaii will be in the
off when they get home. Inland, the lush jungle features exotic botanical life
and
Delighted
spectacular children
waterfalls.
swing on vines
and splash around in the clear pools
tropical"paradise."
needed in
And so, for the
tion Hawaii is "intense daily disciplementoring,
rele-
some of the top leaders of the Salvation Army and the Christian
field."
could be wrong in Hawaii? Plenty.
past three years, men and women between the ages of 18 and 29 have headed off to Revolution Hawaii to
meeting the needs of the surround-
Not Exactly Paradise
spend one year changing that corner of the world. While there, they study,
Peel back the surface, and you'll find
pray and get intimate with God.
also spent in learning and personal reflection. The students live in com-
and drug abuse. Per capita, Hawaii
What is Revolution Hawaii?
munity
has the largest amount of metham-
As described on its website, Revolu-
located on the divisional headquar-
at the feet of cascading water. What
a state ridden with poverty, violence
Participants
Com-
are assigned to
one of the four corps in the Honolulu area where they assist the officers in ing community.
Significant
in dorm-style
time is
apartments
YOUNG SALVATIONIST/September 2008
II
the beach. He accepted the gospel at that point, but later began to stray. Eventually Rob shepherded Kealoha back into the fold again. always easy for him. doesn't doing.
really
But it isn't "My family
support
what
I'm
In Hawaii, family is number
one, and they see me as stepping out of the family to be with Rob." Kealoha knows what Jesus meant when he talked about choosing him over
family.
He still
loves and
respects his family, but he chooses his Savior above all else. Twenty-year-old
Jessica
Franklin
came from chilly Alaska to the shores of Honolulu when at a crossroads in her life. "I prayed about what to do with the next year of my life," she says. "He led me here. God opened my eyes to him while I've been here." It was similar for Martina
Jessica, Kealoha and Corey in class.
ters campus.
But that's only from
the reading list. This year the newly
Pound, 19, who had just graduated
published Insane (Nealson Munn and
from
the students are dispersed amongst the the Micronesian Islands for some
David
Islands. It's been a big adjustment for Martina. In the Marshall Islands
more primitive missionary work. And
Aggressive
understanding that not everyone can give up a year, Revolution Hawaii has
Booth, updated by Cory Harrison) are included as well.
added the option of joining in for just
Throughout
the summer component.
particular fields are often brought in
September - May.
In the summer,
Collinson)
was mandatory
reading. More familiar stand-bys like Christianity
(Catherine
the year, specialists in
to spend a week teaching
The Nuts and Bolts
the stu-
dents. They cover a wide variety of
Revolution Hawaii is led by life-long
subjects:
Salvationist Rob Noland.
Rob is pas-
istry, fair trade, global renewal, bib-
Christ to the
lical holiness, etc. This provides fresh
sionate about giving
mass media, youth
min-
people of Hawaii and Micronesia.
perspective for the students (and a
And he's just as passionate about
lot of fun for the teachers!).
equipping
the minds of his students
and seeing them develop as mature
Who is Revolution Hawaii?
followers of their Lord. He expects his students to read a substantial
"I used to run from church.
stack of books, including
God's way," says 27-year-old Kealoha
such pop-
drinking.
But now
I'd go
I'm choosing
(Rob Bell) and Revolution and Renewal
Irvine. Kealoha, the only native Hawaiian student in the 2007-2008
(Tony Campolo and Bruce Mains). Of
school year, met Rob Noland when
course, Army books are also part of
Rob was holding a church service on
ular Christian writings as Velvet Elvis
12 YOUNG SALVATIONIST/September
2008
high school
in the Marshall
she never saw anyone homeless and she never saw any drugs. According to her, they don't even have a food bank there. The pace is much busier in her new environment. But she felt called to be here. The smile on her face shows she knows she did the right thing. Corey Gaus, 27, gets great satisfaction from the sidewalk Sunday school
Martina and
at a local housing project with which he's involved.
Joey relax
They started with no
after street
children, now their average is about 40. He muses over the fact that he
ministry.
was once reluctant to come to Revolution
Hawaii.
"I didn't
want to
come, but I was called. I had a ministry at home that was failing.
While
I've been here I learned why it was failing. I wasn't applying what Jesus was teaching.
You've got to preach
with the love and authenticity Christ showed./I
that
Though
Joey
not
a Salvationist,
Arnold was working at The Salvation Army's
Camp
Kuratli
in Oregon
Martina and Jessica enjoy stre~t,ministry. f4i'\1
when
he heard about
Revolution
Hawaii. "I came to RevHi because of its motto: 'learning how to love God by loving others.' I needed this improvement
in my life."
tion, he welcomed
In addi-
the discipleship,
always easy. The students at RevHi come from dramatically different hometowns and varied ethnic backgrounds.
They have had to consider
that there are many ways of looking at an issue. They've also had to learn
discipline and accountability. Joey loves the classes at RevHi. And he
that there are numerous ways of carrying out daily activities and no one
reports,
way is the
"I'm
doing
things
I never
thought I'd do. Like spending time with the homeless."
right
way.
But after
months together, the group seems to have made space for each person to express himself.
They almost seem
life Together
like a hodgepodge group of brothers
Living, working, studying and social-
and
izing with the same few'. people isn't .
together
sisters.
They
like
to
hike
and see movies together,
YOUNG SALVATIONiST/September
2008
i3
though
their taste in movies varies
quite a bit! But the RevHi gang doesn't live in a bubble. On Oahu, there is quite a bit of interaction
between
the corps.
There are young adult meetings on Sunday nights that are attended
by
people from several different corps. There
are social
gatherings
and
opportunities for worshiping with other Christians. And of course, there are the interesting
people that the
students meet while ministering.
In
the course of a year, many new faces fill the lives of the RevHi students. The study, the communal
living, the
ministry - these are the elements that lead to dramatically
changed
lives.
Students return back to their corps of churches equipped to lead. They've been stretched and challenged, and they have found out that "with God nothing is impossible." For more information about Revolution Hawaii, visit www.revolutionhawaii.org.
Students and residents of a low-income housing community
14 YOUNG SALVATIONIST/September 2008
enjoy a Bible lesson together.