A total of 162 registered messengers from 37 churches along with 43 guests celebrated the theme "HPBC in 3D: Disciples Discipling Disciples," based on 2 Timothy 2:2, at the Kauai Beach Resort on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, Nov. 10-11. The meeting was hosted by churches of the Garden Island Baptist Association.
For the first time in Hawaii Pacific Baptist history, the annual meeting was broadcast live online. By the Friday evening session, 75 people had logged on to watch the proceedings.
Messengers approved the affiliation of three new congregations: Enchanted Lake Baptist Church on Oahu, Pawa'a Community Church on Oahu and Yokohama International Baptist Church in Yokohama, Japan. The HPBC now consists of 110 constituted churches and 32 mission congregations in Hawaii, Guam, Saipan, American Samoa, (Western) Samoa and Okinawa, Japan and Seoul, Korea. Congregations worship weekly in 14 languages.
An overall budget of $3,076,108 for 2012 was approved. The budget reflects a $149,068 decrease from the 2011 budget. Anticipated Cooperative Program giving is $1,238,774, plus funding from the North American Mission Board and LifeWay Christian Resources. The convention will continue to allocate 31.5 percent of Cooperative Program receipts to national and international missions and ministries.
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Churches of the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention were recognized for excellence in ministry, including three churches that were honored for their Vacation Bible Schools.
The convention also highlighted specific churches that had increased their giving to world missions through the Cooperative Program during the past year. Churches received certificates of excellence for their participation in the Acts 1:8 Challenge as well.
In electing officers, Steve Irvin, pastor of Pali View Baptist Church in Honolulu, was elected president; Chris Martin, pastor of Lahaina Baptist Church in Lahaina, Maui, first vice president; and Peter Lee, pastor of the All People Mission Church in Honolulu, second vice president. Nancy Whitehead, a member of Waikoloa Baptist Church on Hawaii, was re-elected recording secretary.
A resolution was approved thanking the volunteer leadership of those ending their terms of service with the executive board and convention committees. A resolution recognizing Southern Baptist Convention entities also was approved.
Messengers approved changes to the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention constitution. The statement of faith was amended to say the convention is "founded on a fellowship based on the Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments," as well as "any historic or current" Baptist Faith and Message adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention.
The statement of faith previously had said the convention was founded on fellowship based on the Baptist Faith and Message 1963. An article on membership was amended to remove language specifying a church's adherence to the BF&M 1963.
Marino Ramones, pastor of Pahala Baptist Bible Mission in Naalehu and Ocean View Missions on the Big Island, preached the annual sermon.
Next year's annual meeting of the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention will be Nov. 8-9 at Olivet Baptist Church in Honolulu.
Faith McFatridge is associate editor of the Hawaii Pacific Baptist, newsjournal of the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention.
Copyright (c) 2011 Southern Baptist Convention, Baptist Press www.BPNews.net
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