In 1978, a small group of Christians living in Kailua Kona began meeting together at Sonny and Betty Ackerman’s home for weekly fellowship. Through the prayerful suggestion of Irene Lewers, Jerry Fry, who was the Senior Pastor of Calvary Community Church of San Jose, was asked to consider planting a church in the Kona area. Thus began a series of events, which spurred Pastor Fry and others to pray on this matter.
During one of many prayer meetings at the Mount Hermon Retreat Center
of Scotts Valley, CA, the seed for a church in Kona began to germinate. In
attendance, were Jerry Fry, Rick Howard, Campbell McAlpine, and David
Rees-Thomas. Through this group of leaders, the Lord confirmed the
appointment of David and Eliane Rees-Thomas to pastor the new group of
believers in Kona.
In 1979, Pastor David and Eliane with their two children, Michelle and
David, Jr., were sent to Hawaii to both pioneer and pastor the church that
God was growing. Before the arrival of the Rees-Thomas family in Kona,
Jerry Fry and Campbell McAlpine spent time with the home fellowship which was to become the core group of Calvary Community Church of Kona. When Pastor David Rees-Thomas began, the first meetings were held at the Kona Surf Hotel (now the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa). After four months of rapid growth, the church moved to the Kona Lagoon Hotel (though this hotel no longer exists, it once stood south of the Keauhou Outrigger Hotel on Ali’i Drive).
Regular Sunday services were held at the Longhouse of the Kona Lagoon Hotel until 1993 when the church moved to the current location on Leilani Street. This 15 acre parcel of land in the Kona Vistas Subdivision was a gift by one donor to the church.
There are many still active at Calvary Community Church Kona who are considered founding members of this congregation. Get to know them and share with them your love and appreciation for building a strong foundation and for weathering the many storms that have blown through this congregation. Our goal is to remain just as strong and steadfast in our commitment to God in this place.
our community values
Life through Lokahi
Lokahi is the Hawaiian word for unity. When we are in alignment under God, at peace with people, and stewarding responsibly what God has given us, then we have God's true definition of unity at work in our lives. We accomplish God's standard for unity when we administer these timeless principles in our lives.
We Believe that God is worthy of our very best. Therefore, a growing spirit of excellence should permeate every activity. Not perfection but excellence with consistent evaluation and a willingness to improve for the sake of the Kingdom of God are distinctive of growing ministries.
(Psalm 78:72; Daniel 5:12; Colossians 3:17; Ecclesiastes 10:10)
We Believe that every member is a minister who has been given gifts to be discovered, developed, and deployed. We are a gift-based, volunteer-driven church. Each believer will find his greatest joy and fulfillment when serving in his spiritual gifts and passion. Every believer is created for ministry, gifted for ministry, authorized for ministry, and needed for ministry.
(Mark 10:45; Ephesians 2:10; Romans 12; 1Corinthians 12:14-20)
In keeping with the Great Commandment, we believe every member should commit to a lifestyle of consistent spiritual growth with honest accountability. A genuine love for God is always the first priority. Every Christian should yearn for continual spiritual growth. Therefore, discipleship through small groups, accountability, and open honesty is critical to maturing in our faith.
(Mark 12:29-31; Acts 2:44-47; 1 Peter 2:2; 1Timothy 4:7, 8; Proverbs 27:17)
Aloha is our Lifestyle
ALO is Hawaiian for face or presence, and HA is the word for breath which indicates, life. The true essence of Aloha is found when you come into the presence of the One who gives life! It is the perfect love of God which He places in our hearts that enables us to love others the way the Bible commands. We accomplish God's ideal of aloha when we activate these principles in our lives.
(Romans 5:5; 1 Corinthians 13; 1John 4:12, 16-17, 19; Matthew 23:38-39)
We Believe that every person, Christian and non-Christian alike, is valuable to God and to His Kingdom. Because people are eternally valuable to God, they are to us as well. Responsible evangelism will always be our cause, and ongoing discipleship will always be the core of our ministry.
(Matthew 18:14; Matthew 25:45; 2 Peter 3:9)
We Believe that genuine love and caring relationships are key to the life of every endeavor.Refusing to give audience to a spirit of complaining, we will instead be courageous in solving every problem in a way that honors God and builds biblical character. We value healthy relationships by protecting the unity of the Spirit in our church.
(James 1:2, 3; 1 Peter 3:8, 9; 1Corinthians 13:8; Romans 16:17; Ephesians 4:3)
We Believe that the most effective evangelism happens through people inviting people. We believe that a life will reach a life. Each believer develops genuine relationships with friends and family and extends an invitation to them. Evangelism gets to be a normal, natural lifestyle of winning others to Christ, one by one.
(Proverbs 11:30; John 1:43-45; John 4:28-30)
'Ohana with One Heart
The word 'ohana is Hawaiian for family. God's plan for deploying his Lokahi and Aloha was through the forming of 'Ohana. From the time when the first man Adam and his wife Eve was created, God sanctioned this ideal union for love in family. This expression of 'ohana was God's established plan for now and for eternity.
We Believe that 'OHANA is God's design for effective ministry. One - Heart - Advancing - Networking - Assembling is how God intended for us to be effective ministers. Spirit-empowered serving with the willing hearted involvement of every person is vital to God's plan being accomplished.
(Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; Psalm 133:1; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1Peter 2:4-9)
We Believe that a simple presentation of Jesus Christ in creative ways will impact and transform lives. Relating to our culture through redeeming the arts while remaining true to the Scriptures is a balance we will always keep. This allows us to present the Gospel in such a way that reaches the heart.
(1Corinthians 9:22, 23; Acts 17:22-34)
We Believe in identifying and training emerging leaders who are fully committed to Christ and who will reach their generation with the Gospel. God is raising men and women who will take the baton of godly character, authentic faith, and servant-hearted leadership into the next generation.
(2 Timothy 2:2; 1 Timothy 3:1; Titus 1:5-9; Psalm 78:6, 7)
what we believe
About God
God is the creator and ruler of the universe. He eternally exists in three persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are coequal and are one God.
Genesis 1:1, 26, 27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2; 1 Corinthians 13:14
About Man
Mankind is made in the spiritual image of God to be like Him in character. Mankind is the supreme object of God’s creation. Although man has tremendous potential for good, he is marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called "sin." This attitude separates man from God.
Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1, 2
About Eternity
Man was created to exist forever. He will either exist eternally separated from God by sin or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is hell. To be eternally in union with him is eternal life. Heaven and hell are places of eternal existence.
John 3:16; John 2:25; John 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15; 1 John 5:11-12; Matthew 25:31-46
About Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to heaven’s glory and will return again to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Matthew 1:22, 23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14, 15; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4; Romans 1:3, 4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14, 15; Titus 2:13
About Salvation
Salvation is a gift from God to man. Man can never make up for his sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ through God’s offer of forgiveness can one be saved from sin’s penalty. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his/her life by faith.
Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8, 9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1