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08303 April 18, 2008
Visionary Honolulu pastor honored
Dan Chun recognized for work in church growth and transformation
Louisville - The Rev. Dan Chun, senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu, [ www.fpchawaii.org<http://www.fpchawaii.o rg/> ] was honored April 3 in Honolulu for his work in creating and growing the Hawaiian Island Ministries (H.I.M) [ www.himonline.org<http://www.himonline.org/> ]. Dan and his wife, Pam, bega n this ecumenical organization 25 years ago to bring the churches of Hawaii together for encouragement, to provide tools for ministry and to promote collaborative Christian work.
Tom Taylor, deputy executive director for mission for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A), attended the H.I.M. conference - a gathering of nearly 4,000 people - at the Honolulu Convention Center. "What Dan and his wife have done for the churches and for the people of Hawaii through Hawaiian Island Ministries over these years is nothing short of astonishing. It shows what God can do through humble people sold out for the cause of Christ," Taylor said. In the conference opening ceremony, Hawaii governor Linda Lingle, Honolulu mayor Mufi Hannemann and Senator Norman Sakamoto honored pastor Chun with certificates and memorabilia for his longstanding leadership and service to the Hawaiian people.
The governor noted that pastor Chun has done many things to bring the Christians of Hawaii together, including immediately after the September 11 World Trade Center tragedy when the governor asked pastor Chun to organize a city-wide worship service to be held at Aloha Stadium. Several thousand people attended the service for comfort and prayer.
In response to the honors, pastor Chun - a slight and unassuming presence - began by saying that when he and his wife went away 25 years ago to a secluded hotel to hammer out what they believed God was calling them to create in the Hawaiian Island Ministries, he initially suggested that it be called "Hawaiian Ecumenical Revival"(H.E.R.). His wife (a strong leader in her own right according to Dan) won out, calling the ministry "H.I.M."
First Presbyterian of Honolulu - an Extraordinary Vision First Presbyterian of Honolulu is an extraordinary ministry. Dan Chun has served as senior pastor since 1994 in the PC(USA)'s most ethnically diverse church. Two years ago when pastor Chun and the leadership of that church realized that they were rapidly outgrowing their neighborhood property, they began searching for a new place to worship in Oahu's skyrocketing real estate market. They initially found nothing affordable for their congregation. Just when things seemed nearly hopeless, First Presbyterian's leaders found one of the only available properties on the island of Oahu large enough to meet their needs. Through an extraordinary series of events and answered prayers, they worked out a plan to purchase the 250-acre Ko'olau Golf Course.
In a move unprecedented in the Presbyterian denomination, the church moved the congregation to the facility, where it now partners with another agency to operate the golf course during the week. The church uses the large and beautiful clubhouse and meeting facility for its Sunday worship services and many mid-week meetings.
Many have hailed First Presbyterian of Honolulu's move as one of the most visionary and out-of-the-box directions for church growth and transformation ever followed. For the visionary leader, Dan Chun, however, such answers to prayer are only the beginning for what may God may do next.
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