HONOLULU, Hawaii--Joseph Tkach, his wife, Tammy, and their children, Joe and Stephanie, visited the Honolulu church Aug. 30, which met at the home of Leonard and Fern Ballard on the north shore of Oahu.
Sixty people attended the service.
Mr. Tkach started his sermon by saying that it was the first time that he had ever preached without his shoes. (It is the custom to take your shoes off and leave them at the door when you enter a home in Hawaii.)
He said that for the first 300 years churches met in people's homes. The size of the early churches was usually between 30 and 50 people.
The main subject of Mr. Tkach's sermon was the parable of the talents in Matthew 25.
After services, members had a light meal of sandwiches and finger foods. After the meal, adults and teens entertained with music, dance and original poetry.
After the show, the Honolulu women had a women's ministry meeting with Mrs. Tkach.
At the women's ministry meeting, Mrs. Tkach asked: "What is your identity?"
She then used a bouquet of flowers to show that all have a place in the body of Christ.
As she removed the flowers one by one from the bouquet, she explained how Satan uses guilt and other devices to take us out of the body.
As she replaced the flowers, she said that we each fill a place in the church that no one else can.
On Sunday, about 40 members attended a picnic with the Tkaches and pastor Curtis May and his wife, Jannice, at Bellows Beach park on the east shore of the island.
The following weekend Mr. May baptized Melina Phears, 15, at Waikiki Beach. This was Mr. May's first baptism in Hawaii.
Honolulu members are still praying for a nonsalaried pastor for their congregation. Mr. May also pastors the Pasadena church, and is only able to attend once a month.
Sept. 16, 1997, WN, page 12
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