Hawaiian Churches Prepare for Hurricane Lane

Hurricane Lane, the first major storm to threaten the Hawaiian Islands in several years, is making its way toward the islands. Life-threatening rains and flooding are expected. (See Hurricane Lane unleashes flooding and landslides as it gets closer to Hawaii.) Yesterday, GraceConnect.us checked the Charis Fellowship pastors in Hawaii to see how their congregations are faring and how we can pray for them as the storm advances. Both churches are located on the island of Oahu, on the south-central side, just north of Pearl Harbor.

Ted Kirnbauer, pastor, Grace Fellowship, Waipahu

Thanks for your prayers and concern. The schools (including our preschool) are closed for Thursday and Friday in anticipation of the hurricane. People have been piling into the stores to fill up on gas and water and extra food items. There was no water left at our supermarket as of Wednesday so we filled up whatever containers we have. We also picked up anything loose laying around the outside of the house and moved potted plants into covered areas.

It’s always hard to know what to expect. This is a pretty major hurricane. It is slow moving up the island chain which is bad since it will linger to dump a lot of water.  It should hit our side of the island (Oahu) by Friday, but there is a 70% chance of rain predicted already for today. Flash flood warnings are posted but on Oahu no rain so far.

It’s 6:20 a.m. and I am meeting a guy for accountability- hardly any cars on the road.

Frank L. Figueroa, pastor, Waipio Grace  Brethren Church, Mililani

What Ted has said is true. All of the stores have been depleted of most of the essentials including water, toilet paper, canned foods, batteries, lanterns, and generators. Even propane gas has been hard to fine and people have been waiting in line for hours just to fill up their propane tanks.

As far as people from the church go, I have been in touch with all of the older people to see what they needed help with, and the body of Christ is so amazing that every single one of them have already been reached out to buy other people to make sure that things are being taken care of and offering them a place to stay if they need to come and be with other people.

I think the biggest problems we are going to have is with the wind blowing down trees and utility lines, and so much water saturating the ground that flooding is almost inevitable. Even without a direct hit, we will get drenched and probably have problems with our utilities and roadways because of all the water.

April and I were reading in our devotional this morning in 2 Corinthian’s chapter 4, that when God allows adversities and challenges we should be looking for the opportunity to grow as it gives us an opportunity to shine brighter for Him in the darkness. Please pray that we will be able to serve our families, communities, and even those who need to know the Lord Jesus as Savior in a real way during this time so that they may see that they cannot trust in material things but need to put their hope in the living Savior Jesus Christ.