Honolulu Church of Christ

Historical records are not available to establish an accurate of the beginning of the Church of Christ in Hawaii, and little is known about the progress of the church until its first full-time minister began work in 1940. The following history has been pieced together from information provided by Mrs. John A. Wetterau, Sarina Platt, Albert Vincent and others. We realize that many details of the work unknown to us could be provided by others. We therefore wish to use this as a ’starter’ and request that those who have additional information to provide it for future revisions. Revisions will be made annually when additional information is available. Christians in Hawaii today appreciate the dedication of those whose love for the Lord contributed to the continuance of the church during the past years. (Leon H. Burton and Albert V. Vincent, editor ver. 1991)

[Current research is being done into James McBride’s appointment by President Abraham Lincoln as “Minister to the Kingdom of Hawaii” from 1863-1866. McBride was well known for his evangelism, and had served as an evangelist for several years prior to his appointment to the political post in Hawaii. Here is an excerpt from an article on McBride at http://ncbible.org/nwh/ProMcBrideJ.html…¬† Dr. McBride was probably busy planting churches while stationed in the Sandwich Islands. In 1880, a curious paragraph appears in the Christian Standard, published in Cincinatti, Ohio: “The late heathen people of the Sandwich Islands now contribute annually for the support of the gospel beyond their territories some $24,000. Some churches average more than four dollars per member. One church sustains five foreign missionaries.” Is this a reflection of the work of James McBride?]

It is believed that the first congregation was established in Hawaii by military families in the vicinity of the army base at Schofield Barracks in Wahiawa in 1912. The only name associated with the very early years of the church in Hawaii is a brother named Luangpap. Reports of his work had been read by sister Wetterau prior to her arrival in Hawaii in 1933. At the time of her arrival, the church was meeting in facilities at Leilehua High school in Wahiawa. Brother Bowman was helping to lead the work at this time, however it is recorded that the membership fluctuated greatly due to reassignments of military personnel.

After meeting in Leilehua High School for more than a year, the church was informed that brother Luangpap had planned a return to Hawaii. But after his arrival it was learned that brother Luangpap was returning for the sole purpose of selling his property in Kaimuki. Services were held in his home until he departed Hawaii. Brother Bowman had earlier terminated his work with the church for personal reasons.

A congregation numbering sixteen to eighteen members met in a member’s home on Pensacola street after brother Luangpap’s departure. As the number of military members was again depleted in 1936, and the remaining members were only brother Bowman and the Wetterau family, worship assemblies were discontinued until the Fall of 1938.

When the Wetterau famly learned that several young military men were interested in assembling for worship, it was only a short time until there was a group of eight meeting for worship on the porch of a building on Alakea Street. After a few Sundays, the young men received permission to use a small hall in the Army and Navy Y.M.C.A. in downtown Honolulu as a place of worship. The membership began to increase. A very dedicated sister Sarina Platt, arrived in 1939 and began assisting in the work. Interest and attendance increased and arrangements were made to meet in the Y.M.C.A. Auditorium. Forty-two were present for worship on July 21, 1940 and several were baptized.

As the work continued to grow, the need for a full-time, externally supported minister became more apparent, and a congregation in Fresno, California, was requested to lend assistance. Brother Jesse Stephens was sent in 1940 to lead the work and local congregation in Honolulu provided $60 to help defray the cost of travel. Due to the attendant noise level at the Y.M.C.A., the congregation began meeting in the Lincoln School auditorium across from the Honolulu Academy of Arts on the corner of South Beretania Street and Victoria Street. Sister Wetterau ended her summary (dated May 18, 1941) of these events by reporting that the assemblies were increasing in size, there were more civilian members (but still fewer in number than military members), and there was a great need for a permanent meeting place for the congregation.

On Sunday, December 7, 1941, the church was scheduled to meet at Lincoln school. The attack at Pearl Harbor occurred as brother Stephens was broadcasting his regular Sunday sermon on KGMB radio. During the confusion, brother Stephens made his way to the Salyards’ home on Young Street. Honolulu was placed under martial law and many civilian residents left for the mainland since an invasion was thought to be imminent. It is recorded that brother Stephens and many members, especially military dependents were relocated to the mainland. Property valued in Honolulu dropped to unbelievably low levels.

For the next few years the church was without the services of a full-time minister, and a curfew prevented the members from assembling after dark. It is recorded that sister Sarina Platt assumed a very important facilitator role during this time by serving as building custodian, treasurer, pitch-setter for songs, distributor of the Gospel Advocate and the Firm Foundation publications, and a general ’sparkplug’ for the congregation. It is estimated that more than 3,000,000 military personnel transited Hawaii during the war years, many of them seeking the meeting place of the saints while they were here. The church grew!

By late 1942 Osby weaver became the minister of the congregation, and in 1943 the property at 1732 Keeaumoku Street in Honolulu was purchased. The property was paid for in full ($35,000) within three years. The generosity of Christian servicemen during the war years greatly influenced the positive growth of the church. Much of the work was sponsored by men in the Pacific Fleet; some sent their pay to the church; a group on Guadalcanal sponsored the local radio broadcast. It is recorded at sister Platt once remarked, ‘Through our doors passed the best Christians in the world.’

When the war ended, many who had left Hawaii returned. Homer Hailey became the minister of the congregation in the late 1940’s; he also held a Bible Chair at the University of Hawaii. Other paid workers during this time were Bill Patterson, Len Spencer, Haskell Chessir, and Lee Ella Wallace. Howard White became the minister in 1947 after brother Hailey’s departure. By the early 1950’s, the church had permanent members representing the full range of Hawaii’s ethnic groups.

It was through the leadership of Frank B. Shepherd, minister for the Honolulu congregation, and the Trustees for the property ‚Äì Albert V. Vincent, Lee Payne, Eugene Layton ‚Äì and the help of Christians on the mainland, that a permanent place of worship became possible. The Watamull residence (often called ‘the mansion’) on the property at Keeaumoku Street that had been used as a place of worship was torn down in 1953, and by 1955 a building was completed which continues to serve as the assembly place for the saints in Honolulu until this day. The downstairs area of the building was an open concrete slab where classes would ‘find a corner’ to meet and study. In 1966 the construction of educational facilities began and the slab was transformed into an attractive and effective set of classrooms and other work areas. The Lee Payne family was especially helpful and generous in this project and other. Frank B. Shepherd assisted with the establishment of other congregations on Oahu, including the building of meeting places. His efforts aided the work at Kailua (1954), Wahiawa (1955), Pearl Harbor (1956), and Waipahu (1957).

In 1965 Ivan Stewart brought sixty workers to Hawaii from the mainland to conduct the first major campaign for Christ on Oahu. A second campaign was conducted in 1969 involving ninety-six workers from the mainland and Japan.

The property at Keeaumoku Street adjacent to the church building was purchased in 1968 at a cost of $68,000. The two-story house on the property was renovated at a cost of $7,000 and continues to serve as the minister’s residence today. It was also in 1968 that the first elders were installed to shepherd the flock at Honolulu. Ves Townley, Carl Woods, and Jimmie B. Smith served in this capacity. Others who have served as elders for different lengths of time since 1968 are: Herbert Shiroma, Leon Burton, Howard Horton, Robert Stewart, Lip Crothers, Jim Davis, Billy M. Smith, Pat Aguda and Gary Walker. Herbert Shiroma served as an elder for about twenty years, the longest term of all. The eldership was dissolved in June 1995 due to a lack of qualified men.

Those who have served as trustee for the property since the early 1950’s are: Albert V. Vincent, Lee Payne, Eugene Layton, Jimmie B. Smith, Herbert Shiroma, Leon Burton, Ralph Chang, Ralph Schultz.

Those who have served as minister for the congregation since 1950 but were not mentioned earlier are: Ben Shropshire, Benjamin Guillermo, Eugene Winter, Harvey Shipp, Albert Lovelady, Wendell Broom, Danny Cline, Graham McKay, C.E. McGaughey, Ted Ogle, Steve Thiede, Billy M. Smith, Steve Hasbrouck, Tim Pyles, Larry Toledo, Howard Horton, Al Maxey, Bill Driver, Scott Self and Iona Paga.  At the present, we’re currently searching for an evangelist and his family to work with the congregation here.  We are currently shepherded under the leadership of Leon Burton and Pat Aguda.

The permanent Christians who continue to worship with the Honolulu congregation since the late 1940’s and early 1950’s have great appreciation for all of those whose labor in the past have left a legacy of generosity and faith, in particular the Skillman Avenue congregation in Dallas, Texas, and the Central Church of Christ in Los Angeles, California. The sacrifices for our Lord and special love and care for the saints in Honolulu. Many have expressed in different ways through the years to generate a sense of spiritual pride in being a member of the congregation at Honolulu. We want to mention in closing the late Eugene and Helen Salyards whose many years of hospitality positively influenced hundreds of Christians who spent time in Hawaii. Their model is one that Christians everywhere should emulate. As a final gesture of their love for the church and the saints, they willed their entire estate to the Honolulu Church of Christ. Praise be to our Father for the Salyards and the many others like them who have been such a blessing to this congregation of His people.