Wildfires Ravaging Maui

We grieve the loss of life and the displacement of thousands caused by devastating wildfires that engulfed the historic town of Lahaina and scorched thousands of surrounding acres on the island of Maui, Hawaii.

The Rev. Andy Quient, Executive Minister of the American Baptist Churches of Los Angeles, Southwest & Hawaii (ABCOFLASH), describes the devastation as “astonishing” and especially “impactful, given the closeness of the Hawaiian people to each other and to the land,” which Quient knows first-hand from having lived there.

“Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ‘Aina i ka Pono” [The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness], says Quient. “God bless our entire ABC family for your prayers.”

“The grief from the loss of loved ones and community and the harm to the earth will linger and require our care for many years,” says the Rev. Lisa Harris Lee, ABHMS director of Healing & Transforming Communities. “Rebuilding after this disaster, given its breadth, will take our constant prayers, boundless emotional support and reportedly billions of dollars.”

How you can help:

Rev. Quient has confirmed that we do not have any ABC churches on Maui but gifts to OGHS will help support disaster relief teams from the ABC who go to serve. You can give through your church's regular American Baptist Mission Support through the One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) under the details section note Maui Wildfires. Please make your checks payable to ABCOPAD WMS and mail to ABCOPAD; PO Box 421; Hatboro, PA 19040. You can also donate online at www.abcopad.org. One hundred percent of designate OGHS gifts are allocated to domestic disaster relief.