The wildfires that destroyed over 2,000 structures and killed nearly 100 people had no effect on a church in Maui that is part of Pastor Greg Laurie’s Harvest Christian Fellowship network.
However, members of Harvest Kumulani, a Lahaina-based congregation of about 1,000 regular attendees that recently celebrated seven years of being a Harvest campus, have suffered losses caused by the wildfires.
Josh Morris, Harvest’s executive director of strategy and advancement and a native of Hawaii, told The Christian Post via 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,” added Morris. “We have been praying for, supporting, and loving the community of Lahaina over the past few days.”
The wildfires that destroyed over 2,000 structures and killed nearly 100 people had no effect on a church in Maui that is part of Pastor Greg Laurie’s Harvest Christian Fellowship network.
Members of Harvest Kumulani, a Lahaina-based congregation with over 1,000 regular attendance that recently celebrated seven years as a Harvest campus, have sustained losses as a result of the wildfires.
Josh Morris, executive director of strategy and advancement at Harvest, who was born and raised in Hawaii, told The Christian Post in comments via 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,” added Morris. “We have been praying for, supporting, and loving the community of Lahaina over the past few days.”
Morris told CP that although “the congregation has been impacted by the wildfires, their hope remains secure in Jesus Christ and the comfort He offers to His church.”
“By God’s grace, our church property of Harvest Kumulani has not been damaged by the fires,” he said, directing CP to the web page Harvest set up 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 said.
“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.”
Last week, fires fueled by a dry season and winds from a nearby hurricane rampaged across the Hawaiian island of Maui, prompting a state of emergency and evacuations from the area.
The confirmed death toll in Maui County fires has risen to 96, with 93 fatalities, making them worse than the 2018 Northern California fires that claimed 85 lives.
President Biden approved a disaster declaration request, making federal funding available for those affected. Aid groups, including World Help, are collaborating with local partners to provide relief.
The island has been devastated by the wildfires, with many people losing their homes and livelihoods.