Volunteers from First Baptist Church of Jackson, Mo., load food to take to a homeless shelter. Along with other volunteers, they transported food and served a meal at the shelter during Collide in Oahu, Hawaii, June 28–July 4. Pictured (left to right) are Diane Miinch, Larissa Petzoldt, Cassandra Bollinger and Dana Overbeck.
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — From June 28 through July 4, waves of close to 150 volunteers hit the shores of Oahu, Hawaii, for the first-ever co-ed student-missions event sponsored by Woman’s Missionary Union.
The event, dubbed “Collide/Lima Kokua,” drew high-school students of both genders to the Aloha State “to give them the opportunity to make a difference in the world for Christ,” said Suzanne Reece, national WMU ministry consultant for the student team.
The Southern Baptist Convention’s women’s auxiliary coordinated the event in conjunction with Hawaii WMU and the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention.
In partnership with 17 island churches, students and leaders served at 17 ministry sites and participated in ministry projects, such as vacation Bible school for homeless children, backyard Bible clubs, painting, trash pick-up, church information distribution, prayer-walking and other projects.
The week-long event was originally called simply “Collide,” but both national WMU and Hawaiian organizers wanted a name that would reflect their partnership and goals. Lima Kokua, Hawaiian for “helping hands,” became part of the name as a result.
Rogelio Maciel (far right) of First Baptist Church of South Houston, Texas, takes a quick break from painting with other volunteers at Cornerstone Fellowship in Mililani, Hawaii, as part of Collide/Lima Kokua, June 28–July 4.
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The name was particularly fitting for Rogelio Maciel, 13, of First Baptist Church of South Houston, Texas. “This was my first time doing a missions trip, and I went to help out with other people and show many people about Christ,” he said. “The thing that meant most to me was seeing the kids in VBS learn about Christ. And when they grow up, they will teach others.”
“I got to play with the kids and teach them about God. It was amazing to hear their answers and comments about God,” Alicia Esquivel, 16, also from the South Houston church, said. “I enjoyed learning from the kids that I was teaching.”
In addition to hands-on missions projects, Collide/Lima Kokua participants also enjoyed a Hawaiian dinner, group worship experiences and cultural education. They had the opportunity to listen to the music of Ikaika Higa, an Hawaiian who serves as a semester missionary with Baptist Campus Ministry at the University of Hawaii.
Allison Jackson of Beulah Baptist Association in Roxboro, N.C., serves during Collide/Lima Kokua, June 28–July 4, at Aina Haina Baptist Church in Honolulu. She and other volunteers cleared land and built and prepared three large flower beds at Wailupe Elementary School.
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Volunteer leaders called this first event well-planned and organized. “All the groups had the opportunity to connect with the churches they were assigned to work with ahead of time, making the week more productive and familiar,” said Diane Miinch, a group leader from First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, Mo.
“Collide 2008 was the most inspirational missions trip I have ever been on,” said Allison Jackson, 14, from Beulah Baptist Association in Roxboro, N.C.
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