As Maui grapples with destruction, they’re asking ‘why?’ My answer is ‘who.’

By now, we’ve all seen the images of utter devastation wrought by the Maui wildfires, as the flames were carried by the winds down the hills into homes and businesses. But it’s quite another thing to walk the grounds, as I did recently while visiting our congregation in Maui.

I have so many memories of coming to Lahaina since the 1970s. I knew every square inch of this little town and its familiar haunts. Dinner at Kimo’s. Visiting the Stoke House. The Hurley Store. Relaxing on a bench under the world-famous banyan tree in the little city park. Meeting people on Front Street from all walks of life — and from literally all over the world.

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Earlier this summer, on a gorgeous Maui evening, Cathe and I rode a Vespa down Front Street, seeing old friends and savoring the memories of some of our favorite places.

But now it’s all gone. It’s an otherworldly sight. And worst of all is the incomprehensible loss of life — of men, women, and children. As of this writing, we don’t even have a firm estimate of how many perished that terrible day. At last count, the death toll was 115. But with all the people still missing, it’s bound to go much higher.

Touring the grounds of the burn sites, I was reminded of walking the grounds of the World Trade Center one day after September 11, 2001. The rubble was still burning and you could see how the devastation affected the first responders. We set up places for people to get food and prayer, and we had an incredible response of people asking for prayer. So many would simply ask “Why?” More specifically, “Why did God allow this to happen?”

I think many people in Maui are asking the very same question. But during times of tragedy, we should be asking some different questions. We should be asking, “Who?” As in, “Who do we turn to in times of trouble?”

The local government? That national government? Yes, of course. But human leaders and human answers will always disappoint and fall short. The real answer is Jesus Christ. When a crisis hits, no matter what it is, you can turn to “the God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:4). You are not alone in your suffering. He is the One who will get you through. Even though the people of Maui have suffered immensely, my job as a pastor isn’t complicated. It is to point them to Jesus as the answer.

The other question we should be asking is, “What?” Specifically, “What should I do now?”

This community has spiritual needs; they also have practical needs — food, water, shelter, medicine, and help to rebuild their homes and lives. They also need to grieve and have funeral services. Most of all, they need the hope of Jesus Christ. I believe our church in Maui is uniquely qualified to rise to this occasion.

In fact, I believe that this church was placed there by God, just 10 miles away from the devastation, for “such a time as this.” Harvest Kumulani has roots going back over 40 years. Our staff and church members have been serving this community and proclaiming the gospel for many years. Incredibly, we have seen over 2,000 people get baptized on the island of Maui in the past seven years alone.

The majority of our congregation on Maui works and lives in and around Lahaina, meaning that many at Harvest Kumulani lost their homes, jobs, or both in one night. But our church has a great sense of ohana; which is Hawaiian for “family.” They’re pulling together, and they’re caring for each other in creative ways.

They’ve opened up facilities for people to find clothing and find other practical help. Our friend, Dave Mello, has opened up his pizza shop for free pizza and free prayer. We’ve seen “the power of pizza” in action, as this outreach has already touched so many lives.

We praise God for the initiative that Harvest Kumulani has taken, but they still need our help. We have set up the Harvest Maui Relief Fund to provide support for our church’s local relief efforts, and thanks to a generous response we’ve been able to offer swift help to this hurting community.Over the past few weeks, our team on the ground has been able to meet immediate needs with food, water, clothing, housing, and other tangible displays of love. We have also had pastors working around the clock ministering to people, praying with them, and helping people with everything from finding housing to answering life’s toughest questions.

Now, as we pivot to looking to the future, we are working closely with organizations like Samaritan’s Purse, Operation Blessing, and others to aid in the work they are doing. In addition, we have outreach plans of our own. We want to reach people where they are with the message of Jesus and the hope He gives.

What is hope? An acronym for hope is Holding On With Patient Expectation. We want to bring help, hope, and perspective to people. For those who don’t know Jesus, the hope of the gospel. And for those who believe, to let them know that they are loved and that we are there to help them.

Sadly, the Maui devastation has already been pushed out of the headlines and the evening news by a thousand other stories — political intrigues, the escalating crime crisis, and the ups and downs of various celebrities. Many have allowed this tragedy to fade from memory as summer winds down and the school year begins.

But we won’t do that. We have had the people of Maui on our hearts for over four decades, and that won’t change. We’re here for the long haul, and we’re here to point people to Jesus.

Although so much has been lost on the island of Maui, I believe what remains is a strong foundation. For our congregation, it’s the foundation of Jesus Christ. 

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