Churches and Baptist Disaster Relief in Hawaii are ramping up their aid efforts to the people of Maui in the wake of the devastating fires there last week.

Maui churches are distributing essential supplies and providing spiritual care. One church is serving as a shelter for displaced residents. Two churches have arranged for flatbed trucks to take supplies from other parts of Maui to the Lahaina side and distribute them.

Relief Efforts

John and Gay Williams, co-directors of Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention Disaster Relief, are coordinating Baptist DR relief efforts. Among their tasks:

• Partnering with Maui Southern Baptist churches as they minister in their communities.
• Fulfilling the request by Maui County officials for Hawaii Pacific DR to support the effort to house first responders and essential workers.
• Assisting Maui County with survivor intake and providing other administrative assistance.
• Arranging for housing Disaster Relief volunteers who will come to Maui from other parts of Hawaii and from mainland states to assist in the relief efforts. The arrangements include shipping a DR shower unit from Oahu to Maui to be used at the housing site.

“The good news is our HPBC Disaster Relief ministry has a strong core of trained volunteers and great equipment,” the Williamses said.

How to Help

John and Gay have asked that individuals and churches refrain from collecting items to send to Maui unless it has been requested by Maui County officials. The area has already been overwhelmed by item donations, and currently many of the survivors have no way to receive or store donated items.

South Carolina Baptist Disaster Relief will send a financial donation to assist our brothers and sisters of Hawaii Pacific Baptist Disaster Relief in the fire response. Financial donations to Disaster Relief efforts can be made using the button below. Instructions are given for donating online or by check.

“The most helpful thing Baptists can do right now is to pray,” say the Williamses in Hawaii. “Pray, pray, pray.” Here is a Prayer Guide that will be updated as the disaster response develops.