Harvest Kumulani Church Unharmed by Maui Wildfires: 'By God's Grace'
- Milton Quintanilla Crosswalk Headlines Contributor
- Published Aug 15, 2023
A Hawaii-based church associated with Pastor Greg Laurie's Harvest Christian Fellowship church remains undamaged from the deadly wildfires in Maui, Hawaii. So far, the fires have destroyed more than 2,000 structures and killed close to 100 people.
Josh Morris, executive director of strategy and advancement at Harvest Kumulani, a Lahaina-based congregation of about 1,000 attendees, told The Christian Post in an email that the fires "have been completely devastating to several members of our Harvest Kumulani congregation, with several people who have lost their homes, and many more whose jobs are uncertain."
"The wildfires have impacted all our pastoral team personally," Morris noted. "We have been praying for, supporting, and loving the community of Lahaina over the past few days.
"Many of our teams are operating on little to no sleep and are doing everything we can to shine the light of Jesus to this hurting community," Morris continued.
Although "the congregation has been impacted by the wildfires, their hope remains secure in Jesus Christ and the comfort He offers to His church," he said.
Morris noted that the church "has not been damaged by the fires" and directed The Christian Post to the web page Harvest created to help send relief to the affected area.
"The main way we are asking for churches on the islands and on the mainland to help is through our Harvest Maui Relief Fund," Morris shared.
"This fund is created by Harvest Christian Fellowship and is designed to help the Maui community, the members of Harvest Kumulani, and ensure we can continue to preach the Gospel to this community in the aftermath of the wildfires."
As Christian Headlines previously reported, as of Sunday night, the death toll from the Maui wildfires jumped to 96 people. The tragedy is the deadliest wildfire incident in the United States in over a century.
Multiple aid groups, including the Evangelical humanitarian aid group Samaritan's Purse, have sent relief to affected areas.
The organization noted that it was airlifting 17 tons of relief supplies, "including solar lights and hygiene kits, to provide immediate relief to survivors of the deadly wildfires."
The plane is "also carrying tools and equipment that will help our volunteers sift through ashes to recover valuables and treasured mementos for devastated homeowners."
“What has happened in Hawaii is nothing short of devastating,” Samaritan’s Purse president and CEO Franklin Graham said. “As the death toll has risen, my heart breaks for those who have lost loved ones and for the families who must now begin the long road to recovery. Please join me in praying for them and for our Samaritan’s Purse teams who are responding in Jesus’ Name.”
Related:
Maui Wildfire Death Toll Climbs to 96
Death Toll Rises to 55 as Maui Wildfires Rage On
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Justin Sullivan/Staff
