K-3 - PEOPLE FILES
- David Kinnaman - Martin Kiogora - Jeffrey Kirby - Erika Kirk - Ashley Morgan Kirk - Daniel Kirk - Rachel Klinger-Cain - Scott Kluesendorf - Thomas Knapp - Monte Knudsen - Rachel Kobrin - Joseph Kohm - William J Kole - Rocky Komatsu -
==david kinnaman======
David Kinnaman is the CEO of Barna Group, a leading research and communications company that studies the intersection of faith and culture. Since joining Barna in 1995, he has overseen thousands of studies and directed interviews with millions of individuals. Kinnaman has authored or co-authored several bestselling books, which draw on Barna's research to explore trends among different generations and within Christianity. His works include: Faith for Exiles: 5 Ways for a New Generation to Follow Jesus in a Digital Babylon, unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity... and Why It Matters, You Lost Me: Why Young Christians Are Leaving Church... and Rethinking Faith, Good Faith: Being a Christian When Society Thinks You're Irrelevant and Extreme Kinnaman's work focuses on topics such as cultural change, young adults, leadership, spiritual and vocational calling, and communication within the church. He is a frequent speaker at conferences and has been quoted by major media outlets such as USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times.
Feb 10, 2023: Christianity Today: Data Shows that Americans Are Spiritually Open
Lucado joined David Kinnaman, author and CEO of Barna Group, and Ed Stetzer, executive director of the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center to talk about the unprecedented possibilities open to Christians today.
“This cultural moment that we’re in is one that is challenging but also has great opportunity,” said Stetzer.
“There’s a lot of real hopeful data here,” said Kinnaman. One area that especially stands out, he noted, is the openness of two generations who are often thought of as resistant to Christianity: Millennials and Gen Z.
Lucado joined David Kinnaman, author and CEO of Barna Group, and Ed Stetzer, executive director of the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center to talk about the unprecedented possibilities open to Christians today.
“This cultural moment that we’re in is one that is challenging but also has great opportunity,” said Stetzer.
“There’s a lot of real hopeful data here,” said Kinnaman. One area that especially stands out, he noted, is the openness of two generations who are often thought of as resistant to Christianity: Millennials and Gen Z.
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Feb 6, 2019: Christianity Today: Half of Millennial Christians Say It’s Wrong to Evangelize
Barna president David Kinnaman points to the rising cultural expectation against judging personal choices. Practicing Christian millennials were twice as likely as Gen X and four times as likely as Boomers and Elders to agree with the statement, “If someone disagrees with you, it means they’re judging you.” “Cultivating deep, steady, resilient Christian conviction is difficult in a world of ‘you do you’ and ‘don’t criticize anyone’s life choices’ and emotivism, the feelings-first priority that our culture makes a way of life,” Kinnaman said. “As much as ever, evangelism isn’t just about saving the unsaved, but reminding ourselves that this stuff matters, that the Bible is trustworthy, and that Jesus changes everything.” |
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==martin kiogora======
Martin Kiogora: a pastor, chaplain, professional counselor, content writer, and a budding web developer.
Martin Kiogora
The king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them. (2 Samuel 24:24, NIV)
There is an old adage that says, “The best things in life are free. There is also a modification of the same adage which says,“There is nothing free in life. Someone must have paid for it.” This is very true — free things come at a price. There is a price to pay.
King David insisted on paying for the cost of the sacrificial animal instead of accepting a free offer from one of his subjects — Araunah. David understood that sacrifices must cost you something. To attain something, whether spiritual or material, there is always a price to pay.
Our salvation came at a price. The apostle Paul encouraged the Corinthian Christians, who were struggling with sexual immorality, that they had to lead and live a pure life because they were bought with a price.
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20, NIV).
Our salvation is free because Christ, through his sacrificial death, paid the ultimate price. Christ, our elder brother preceded and prepared the way for us. Our Lord and Saviour smoothened the road for us.
- Martin Kiogora; I Will Not Sacrifice to the Lord Offerings That Cost Me Nothing
There is an old adage that says, “The best things in life are free. There is also a modification of the same adage which says,“There is nothing free in life. Someone must have paid for it.” This is very true — free things come at a price. There is a price to pay.
King David insisted on paying for the cost of the sacrificial animal instead of accepting a free offer from one of his subjects — Araunah. David understood that sacrifices must cost you something. To attain something, whether spiritual or material, there is always a price to pay.
Our salvation came at a price. The apostle Paul encouraged the Corinthian Christians, who were struggling with sexual immorality, that they had to lead and live a pure life because they were bought with a price.
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20, NIV).
Our salvation is free because Christ, through his sacrificial death, paid the ultimate price. Christ, our elder brother preceded and prepared the way for us. Our Lord and Saviour smoothened the road for us.
- Martin Kiogora; I Will Not Sacrifice to the Lord Offerings That Cost Me Nothing
==jeffrey kirby======
Father Jeffrey Kirby, STD, KHS, is a Catholic priest, moral theologian, writer, and pastor of Our Lady of Grace Parish in Indian Land, South Carolina. He holds a doctorate in moral theology (STD) from the Holy Cross University in Rome. He is an adjunct professor of theology at Belmont Abbey College. Father Kirby is the Host of the daily reflections, Daily Discipleship with Father Kirby. He is a Senior Contributor to the Crux news site, the host of multiple miniseries on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), and a Papal Knight of the Holy Sepulcher (KHS).
Christians need to rely on grace offered by Jesus' resurrection, says South Carolina priest
"I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). This verse comes from the Gospel of John, one of the four gospel narratives in the New Testament. While the exact authorship of this gospel is unknown, it is most commonly attributed to the Apostle John, says the website Catholic Answers. The lesson in this verse, South Carolina-based Fr. Jeffrey Kirby told Fox News Digital, is that Christians need to "cling to the Risen Christ and rely on His grace." (Fox News 4/28/24) READ MORE>>>>>
"I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). This verse comes from the Gospel of John, one of the four gospel narratives in the New Testament. While the exact authorship of this gospel is unknown, it is most commonly attributed to the Apostle John, says the website Catholic Answers. The lesson in this verse, South Carolina-based Fr. Jeffrey Kirby told Fox News Digital, is that Christians need to "cling to the Risen Christ and rely on His grace." (Fox News 4/28/24) READ MORE>>>>>
==ashley morgan kirk======
Ashley Morgan-Kirk serves as the Online Connection and Care Pastor at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection.
Ashley Morgan Kirk
Every week, [Resurrection Senior] Pastor Adam [Hamilton] meets somebody who has never walked into our physical doors before but has been worshiping online with us........We hear from people who aren’t ready to come back in person yet, who are faithfully attending online. … I talk with people each week who aren’t geographically close to us but who are identifying as Resurrection people.............online church has been a method” for some who regularly attended before the pandemic to keep up, her congregation has “also seen new people join us. ....For some in Kansas City who are new to us, online worship is their screen door to our physical front doors at our locations." ....She drew a parallel to Methodism founder John Wesley’s practice of itinerant preaching outside of church buildings........."I think this is the moment in history that’s allowing us one of the biggest opportunities to make the Gospel more available to the general public, just like the work that Wesley did.”
-Ashley Morgan Kirk, Online care and connection pastor; Church of the Resurrection; Kansas City, Kansas 2.2.22
-Ashley Morgan Kirk, Online care and connection pastor; Church of the Resurrection; Kansas City, Kansas 2.2.22
==daniel kirk======
July 6, 2023: Presbyterian Outlook: On women pastors and biblical authority: A Presbyterian reflection
But as Daniel Kirk perceptively notes in Jesus Have I Loved, But Paul?: A Narrative Approach to the Problem of Pauline Christianity, viewing the genders through this lens seems to give “the last word to the curse of the fall rather than to the redemption of Christ.” Kirk continues: Does not the subordination of women in the church “as a norm for all times and places undermine the scope and power of God’s redemptive work and of our own calling to make the church the living story of new creation”? These are important questions with which to grapple!
But as Daniel Kirk perceptively notes in Jesus Have I Loved, But Paul?: A Narrative Approach to the Problem of Pauline Christianity, viewing the genders through this lens seems to give “the last word to the curse of the fall rather than to the redemption of Christ.” Kirk continues: Does not the subordination of women in the church “as a norm for all times and places undermine the scope and power of God’s redemptive work and of our own calling to make the church the living story of new creation”? These are important questions with which to grapple!
==erika kirk======
JD Vance, Erika Kirk rally University of Mississippi crowd with call for conservative Christian revival
Vice President JD Vance and Erika Kirk, the widow of slain political activist Charlie Kirk, called for a generational realignment around conservative Christian values at the University of Mississippi on Wednesday. About 10,000 attendees packed into the Sandy and John Black Pavilion on the university’s Oxford campus. It was the latest stop on a tour of college campuses across the nation by the conservative grassroots organization Turning Point USA, founded by Charlie Kirk. “Your generation is living at a crossroads, and we are witnessing in real time the battle raging for the soul of your generation,” said Erika Kirk. (Mississippi Today 10/30/25) READMORE>>>>
Vice President JD Vance and Erika Kirk, the widow of slain political activist Charlie Kirk, called for a generational realignment around conservative Christian values at the University of Mississippi on Wednesday. About 10,000 attendees packed into the Sandy and John Black Pavilion on the university’s Oxford campus. It was the latest stop on a tour of college campuses across the nation by the conservative grassroots organization Turning Point USA, founded by Charlie Kirk. “Your generation is living at a crossroads, and we are witnessing in real time the battle raging for the soul of your generation,” said Erika Kirk. (Mississippi Today 10/30/25) READMORE>>>>
MAGA Christians Are Demanding Wives Stay Home — But There's 1 Big Problem
In an April 2025 episode of The Charlie Kirk Show, Erika Kirk, the wife of the slain conservative pundit, gave her thoughts on submission and the role of a woman in a “Biblical marriage.” “Your husband has to be the one that goes out into the world and builds and battles and comes home. Conquers,” she said as Charlie Kirk sat next to her. “[He] comes home and is like, this is my nest egg, this is what I worked so hard for, and the wife is like, ‘Welcome home, babe, whatever you need, we’re here.’” There are occasions when a man has to step in and stay at home ― she admitted that her own father did so briefly and that it was a “really sweet and really special” time in her childhood. Still, she said, her parents divorced, which proved her point: Generally, a marriage is stronger when the man is the provider. (Yahoo News 10/11/25) READMORE>>>>
In an April 2025 episode of The Charlie Kirk Show, Erika Kirk, the wife of the slain conservative pundit, gave her thoughts on submission and the role of a woman in a “Biblical marriage.” “Your husband has to be the one that goes out into the world and builds and battles and comes home. Conquers,” she said as Charlie Kirk sat next to her. “[He] comes home and is like, this is my nest egg, this is what I worked so hard for, and the wife is like, ‘Welcome home, babe, whatever you need, we’re here.’” There are occasions when a man has to step in and stay at home ― she admitted that her own father did so briefly and that it was a “really sweet and really special” time in her childhood. Still, she said, her parents divorced, which proved her point: Generally, a marriage is stronger when the man is the provider. (Yahoo News 10/11/25) READMORE>>>>
How evangelicalism’s theology of victory erases lament
When Erika Kirk stood before thousands at her husband’s funeral and declared forgiveness for his killer, the crowd rose in thunderous applause. Even those vehemently ideologically opposed to Charlie Kirk and his ilk called it “an incredible act of grace.” Pastors and pundits alike praised her as a model of Christian virtue. Max Lucado, who doesn’t often weigh in on political issues, wrote an op-ed for Fox News, saying, “She deserved the standing ovation she received.”Amid the horror of the loss and the horror of the display of unabashed Christian nationalism, plenty of folks seemed desperate to latch onto the one positive thing they saw come from Charlie Kirk’s murder — his wife, following Christ’s example, forgave his killer. (Baptist News Global 10/8/25) READMORE>>>>
When Erika Kirk stood before thousands at her husband’s funeral and declared forgiveness for his killer, the crowd rose in thunderous applause. Even those vehemently ideologically opposed to Charlie Kirk and his ilk called it “an incredible act of grace.” Pastors and pundits alike praised her as a model of Christian virtue. Max Lucado, who doesn’t often weigh in on political issues, wrote an op-ed for Fox News, saying, “She deserved the standing ovation she received.”Amid the horror of the loss and the horror of the display of unabashed Christian nationalism, plenty of folks seemed desperate to latch onto the one positive thing they saw come from Charlie Kirk’s murder — his wife, following Christ’s example, forgave his killer. (Baptist News Global 10/8/25) READMORE>>>>
Christians must decide whether to follow Trump or Jesus | Opinion
Last Sunday, at a packed stadium, Erika Kirk and Donald Trump gave opposite messages. She declared forgiveness for the assassin who murdered her husband, Charlie Kirk. “I forgive him,” she told the crowd to sustained applause. “I forgive him because it was what Christ did. ... The answer to hate is not hate.” She added: “The answer we know from the Gospel is love and always love. Love for our enemies …” President Donald Trump contradicted her. “I’m sorry, Erika,” he said. “I hate my opponent[s], and I don’t want the best for them.”
(Newport News 9/27/25) READMORE>>>>
Last Sunday, at a packed stadium, Erika Kirk and Donald Trump gave opposite messages. She declared forgiveness for the assassin who murdered her husband, Charlie Kirk. “I forgive him,” she told the crowd to sustained applause. “I forgive him because it was what Christ did. ... The answer to hate is not hate.” She added: “The answer we know from the Gospel is love and always love. Love for our enemies …” President Donald Trump contradicted her. “I’m sorry, Erika,” he said. “I hate my opponent[s], and I don’t want the best for them.”
(Newport News 9/27/25) READMORE>>>>
==rachel klinger-cain======
‘Vertical Morality’ Might Describe Why MAGA Christians Seem So Unchristian
The term has become popular in the social media sphere in recent years, thanks to viral videos from content creator and activist Rachel Klinger Cain. She told HuffPost she started using this terminology in her content a few years ago. “Vertical morality is just how I describe what’s called ‘divine command theory’ in metaethics,” she said. “I’m a teacher, so I’m always looking for ways to make complicated concepts a little more simple. It’s basically the idea that morality comes from authority above, which is what I was taught when I was raised within conservative Christianity.” Vertical morality stands in contrast to the concept of horizontal morality, another term Klinger Cain has broken down in her videos. (HuffPost 11/15/25) READMORE>>>>
The term has become popular in the social media sphere in recent years, thanks to viral videos from content creator and activist Rachel Klinger Cain. She told HuffPost she started using this terminology in her content a few years ago. “Vertical morality is just how I describe what’s called ‘divine command theory’ in metaethics,” she said. “I’m a teacher, so I’m always looking for ways to make complicated concepts a little more simple. It’s basically the idea that morality comes from authority above, which is what I was taught when I was raised within conservative Christianity.” Vertical morality stands in contrast to the concept of horizontal morality, another term Klinger Cain has broken down in her videos. (HuffPost 11/15/25) READMORE>>>>
==scott kluesendorf======
Mar 20, 2015: Wretched: Voddie Baucham and Scott Kluesendorf: Should we publicly display pictures of aborted babies?
Episode 1555
Episode 1555
==thomas knapp======
Thomas Knapp
I’m a fan of keeping the state separate from pretty much everything, especially religion. There’s pretty strong historical grounding for believing that’s what the people who created the system we live in intended. In addition to Jefferson’s letter to the Danbury Baptists, in which he posited a “wall of separation,” the 1796 Treaty of Tripoli is clear: “[T]the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.”
On the other hand, if we’re going to allow the federal government to exist at all, I’m with those guys, who also ordered that “no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.”
I’m not concerned with Johnson’s beliefs. In fact, since he’s a politician, I consider it foolish to assume that they bear any resemblance to his claims. For all I know he’s a closet Muslim, a secret atheist, or, most likely, a narcissist who sees God in the mirror when he shaves each morning.
His actions, however, are a different story.
When Johnson came to Congress, he swore an oath (in defiance of biblical command, by the way — Matthew 5:33-37) to “support and defend the Constitution.” That oath obligates him to certain things even if the Constitution contradicts his interpretation of scripture.
If it’s impossible to be true to both, he needs to pick one.
If he can’t bring himself to do the job as he swore to do it, he should resign rather than betray his oath, and certainly rather than seek and accept the position of Speaker.
Unfortunately, he seems to have missed 1st Corinthians 10:21: “Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils.”
--Thomas Knapp; Richmond Observer; OPINION: Religion and politics and Mike Johnson 11/8/23
On the other hand, if we’re going to allow the federal government to exist at all, I’m with those guys, who also ordered that “no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.”
I’m not concerned with Johnson’s beliefs. In fact, since he’s a politician, I consider it foolish to assume that they bear any resemblance to his claims. For all I know he’s a closet Muslim, a secret atheist, or, most likely, a narcissist who sees God in the mirror when he shaves each morning.
His actions, however, are a different story.
When Johnson came to Congress, he swore an oath (in defiance of biblical command, by the way — Matthew 5:33-37) to “support and defend the Constitution.” That oath obligates him to certain things even if the Constitution contradicts his interpretation of scripture.
If it’s impossible to be true to both, he needs to pick one.
If he can’t bring himself to do the job as he swore to do it, he should resign rather than betray his oath, and certainly rather than seek and accept the position of Speaker.
Unfortunately, he seems to have missed 1st Corinthians 10:21: “Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils.”
--Thomas Knapp; Richmond Observer; OPINION: Religion and politics and Mike Johnson 11/8/23
==Monte Knudsen======
July 13, 2023: Politico: DeSantis is hoping Iowa evangelicals can make his campaign born again
Monte Knudsen, a pastor at Faith Christian Outreach Church in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, compared DeSantis to Pence — the former vice president and evangelical who hasn’t broken out of the bottom tier this election — saying he would “have greater confidence in DeSantis because of his track record.”
Monte Knudsen, a pastor at Faith Christian Outreach Church in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, compared DeSantis to Pence — the former vice president and evangelical who hasn’t broken out of the bottom tier this election — saying he would “have greater confidence in DeSantis because of his track record.”
==rachel Kobrin======
"We must not let America slide further down the slippery slope toward a dangerous nexus of Christian nationalism and political power," Rabbi Rachel Kobrin
==william j kole======
William J. Kole, a veteran journalist and author, has a complex and evolving relationship with Christianity.
Initially baptized in the Catholic Church, his family was not observant. He later became an evangelical Christian, serving as a lay missionary for the Assemblies of God and a worship leader in evangelical churches. However, his political views were progressive, and he describes himself as a "misfit" within evangelical circles. Kole's faith journey was significantly impacted by his investigation into white evangelicalism and gun culture for his book, "In Guns We Trust: The Unholy Trinity of White Evangelicals, Politics, and Firearms". This experience led to a deconstruction of his faith, and he now identifies as an ex-vangelical. Although he no longer attends church, the person of Jesus remains compelling to him, and he is committed to reconstructing his faith.
Initially baptized in the Catholic Church, his family was not observant. He later became an evangelical Christian, serving as a lay missionary for the Assemblies of God and a worship leader in evangelical churches. However, his political views were progressive, and he describes himself as a "misfit" within evangelical circles. Kole's faith journey was significantly impacted by his investigation into white evangelicalism and gun culture for his book, "In Guns We Trust: The Unholy Trinity of White Evangelicals, Politics, and Firearms". This experience led to a deconstruction of his faith, and he now identifies as an ex-vangelical. Although he no longer attends church, the person of Jesus remains compelling to him, and he is committed to reconstructing his faith.
The Interview: William J Kole, author of ‘In Guns We Trust’
Veteran reporter William J Kole called the incident alarming, but not surprising. He’s spent the last year researching some Christians’ embrace of gun rights for his new book, In Guns We Trust: The Unholy Trinity of White Evangelicals, Politics, and Firearms, released on 14th October by Broadleaf Books. RNS spoke with Kole about why he doesn’t think guns belong in church, why some evangelicals are so enthusiastic about gun ownership and what he believes is at stake in gun reform debates. You wrote you were New England bureau chief for The Associated Press when the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School happened. How did that impact your view on faith and guns? “When that horrible massacre happened, it was traumatizing. Journalists are cynical, and we fancy ourselves as rather tough, and this broke a lot of us. Definitely there was an expectation nationally that it would be this transcendent moment where everything would change. And in fact, nothing changed. I was the first to show up for a service and a time of mourning and intercession for the people of Newtown, Connecticut. And I remember weeping in that service for Sandy Hook’s children and for our own kids. But it never really went beyond that stage, from the church’s perspective.”
(Sight Magazine 10/18/25) READMORE>>>>
Veteran reporter William J Kole called the incident alarming, but not surprising. He’s spent the last year researching some Christians’ embrace of gun rights for his new book, In Guns We Trust: The Unholy Trinity of White Evangelicals, Politics, and Firearms, released on 14th October by Broadleaf Books. RNS spoke with Kole about why he doesn’t think guns belong in church, why some evangelicals are so enthusiastic about gun ownership and what he believes is at stake in gun reform debates. You wrote you were New England bureau chief for The Associated Press when the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School happened. How did that impact your view on faith and guns? “When that horrible massacre happened, it was traumatizing. Journalists are cynical, and we fancy ourselves as rather tough, and this broke a lot of us. Definitely there was an expectation nationally that it would be this transcendent moment where everything would change. And in fact, nothing changed. I was the first to show up for a service and a time of mourning and intercession for the people of Newtown, Connecticut. And I remember weeping in that service for Sandy Hook’s children and for our own kids. But it never really went beyond that stage, from the church’s perspective.”
(Sight Magazine 10/18/25) READMORE>>>>
“There’s this narrative that the world, quote-unquote, is out to get us as evangelicals. It’s been around for a long time. But it’s this idea that there’s a hostility toward evangelicals and that they are being actively pursued by this intangible entity – which, to my mind, doesn’t even exist – who’s conspiring to take away their guns, take away their Bibles, come for their children and ultimately threaten their very way of life. It’s a very persistent narrative that many evangelicals cling to, and that’s why you even have so many evangelicals overlapping into QAnon conspiracies. Fear is really driving this gun culture, and this evangelical ethos of protecting one’s family and children from harm. It’s laudable, but it breeds this unrealistic arming of whole communities, of families. And there’s a lot of mythology there, too, because your home is less safe, not more safe, the moment you bring a gun inside. --William J Kole; In Guns We Trust
God, Guns, and Evangelicals: PW Talks with William J. Kole
For many American evangelicals, owning a gun isn’t just a part of their national identity. Rather, they see gun ownership as a kind of sacred, God-given right, interwoven into their spiritual DNA, argues journalist William J. Kole in his new book, In Guns We Trust: The Unholy Trinity of White Evangelicals, Politics, and Firearms (Broadleaf Books, Oct.). Kole spoke with PW about his deep dive into the world of guns and evangelicals, how it rocked his faith, and the troubling and hopeful stories he found along the way. (Publishers Weekly 7/23/25) READMORE>>>>>
For many American evangelicals, owning a gun isn’t just a part of their national identity. Rather, they see gun ownership as a kind of sacred, God-given right, interwoven into their spiritual DNA, argues journalist William J. Kole in his new book, In Guns We Trust: The Unholy Trinity of White Evangelicals, Politics, and Firearms (Broadleaf Books, Oct.). Kole spoke with PW about his deep dive into the world of guns and evangelicals, how it rocked his faith, and the troubling and hopeful stories he found along the way. (Publishers Weekly 7/23/25) READMORE>>>>>
==joseph kohm======
Jospeh Kohm
"The last two years have shown that our public discourse has taken a nose dive in terms of incivility, rage, mania [and] just craziness. This is a golden opportunity for Christians because this is what we are commanded to do. It's the standard set [for] us by all the prophets, all the New Testament writers and advocates and by Jesus, especially. It's a huge opportunity to live our faith and to show that we are the sane ones. It's one of the best messaging lines we have."
-Joseph Kohm, director of public policy at Family Policy Alliance 8.26.23
-Joseph Kohm, director of public policy at Family Policy Alliance 8.26.23
==rocky komatsu======
Rocky Komatsu
“There is so much that is unknown. We don’t even know all the challenges right now. Things move slower here, and we are isolated, so we do know there are going to be lots of needs for a long time. It feels very overwhelming.”“I was shocked................It showed walls of flame that had engulfed the entire community behind Front Street.......We couldn’t connect with friends on that side, because the power was out so there was no reaching them. The only thing we could do was pray............I went into Lahaina on a plane Thursday morning with supplies, then later that afternoon Jay and I went in a convoy of trucks loaded with more supplies. It looked like what you see on the news when a country goes to war. It looked like a bomb had gone off and destroyed the entire town. It was heartbreaking. There wasn’t a ton of smoke because the fire was slowly dying. It was very somber. It didn’t feel real. It felt like a nightmare. We brought in things like food, water, diapers, baby wipes, adult wipes. Later we switched to propane and generators.My friend preached an excellent sermon on suffering from Romans 5 the Sunday after the fire. The following Sunday I preached on lament from Psalm 13. We are just trying to equip our people to grieve in a biblical way—to be honest and transparent with others and the Lord about the pain and questions and confusion. Then, like David in Psalm 13, we want to move from pain and sorrow to trusting the steadfast love of the Lord.............We really do think lament will be a key help for us in this time—and not just for ourselves. We also want to help our community understand how to lament. We don’t want to minimize suffering or escape it or fall into despair. Instead, we go to God and we trust in the gospel. A lady started coming to our church the week before the fire. Her husband is a firefighter, and he was on a crew that got trapped in the fires and almost lost their lives............Gathering supplies to fly to Lahaina. He lived, and he came to church on Sunday with his whole family. He said, “It’s been a very long time but it’s good to be back.” His wife said something like “I cannot believe that after I turned my back on God all these years, he would save my husband’s life.” That’s a little seed of gospel hope........We were also able to help a family who lost their home. Their family is hosting three other families in their parents’ house. We were able to give them some supplies. The daughter ended up coming this past Sunday with her family. They were able to hear the gospel presented to them, to hear they can find hope in Christ. Another family was holding 28 people in their home. We have been able to drop off supplies to them, and several of our church members able to pray with them...........I’ve been able to pray with a lot more people right now.What the community is going to lean on is “Maui Strong,” which is the collective efforts and love of our community together and their resolve to build back Lahaina. We support it 100 percent, but we also know it’s not enough. A community without the gospel is not going to be any better off. We are hoping to pass out copies of Mark Vroegop’s Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy. I read his book three years ago and then led our church through a series on some of the psalms of lament. I think it has given us categories for processing what’s happened here and is helping our people to minister to our community.
We are really praying the Lord would use this to bring a revival of the gospel back to this community—that they would realize their hope cannot be ultimately in building back Lahaina but in coming to see Christ as the King who can bring true, lasting healing and peace. --Pastor Rocky Kamotsu on Hawaii after the fires.
We are really praying the Lord would use this to bring a revival of the gospel back to this community—that they would realize their hope cannot be ultimately in building back Lahaina but in coming to see Christ as the King who can bring true, lasting healing and peace. --Pastor Rocky Kamotsu on Hawaii after the fires.
