MARASCO FAMILY. Church Planting

Transcription

1 MARASCO FAMILY Church Planting

2 Thank you for taking the time to look at our ministry information booklet. We are the Marasco family, church planters preparing to start the Rock Point Baptist Church in the largely populated and Gospel-needy area of Central Oahu. For over a decade, we have been involved in church planting in one capacity or another. For five years I worked as the FBMI Team Missions Coordinator, where I was able to help with the establishment of several Establishing the Rock Point Baptist Church in Central Oahu church-planting mission teams overseas. For the last seven years, the Lord has allowed us the opportunity to help with the launching of over six churches here in America with FBMI Church Planting. One of those churches included the Pacific Baptist Church of Hilo, Hawaii, where I pastored for two years before transferring leadership over to a new man. We are in need of prayer and financial support, as I believe the Lord has placed on my heart to plant the Rock Point Baptist Church. We are praying for the Lord s leading and direction for partners in this endeavor and would be humbled if you would prayerfully consider making us one of your eternal investments.

3 Sam s Birthday: 3/12 Krista s Birthday: 12/4 Anniversary: 6/18/05 back to Hawaii. Even though having a broken home was not enjoyable, it allowed Sam and his brother to grow up both in California and Hawaii. Upon graduating from high school, Sam attended a junior college and earned an associate s degree in Administration of Justice while playing college football. Sam then transferred to University of Nevada Las Vegas and started attending Liberty Baptist Church. It was at this place that Sam began to notice the Lord working on his heart to serve in full-time ministry. While attending a Spiritual Leadership Conference in Lancaster, California, Sam heard Dr. Lee Roberson preach and after surrendered His life and plans to God. He was encouraged to attend West Coast Baptist College for more training. Krista was born in Springfield, Illinois, where she grew up in a Christian home. When she was five years old, Krista told her mother that she wanted to know for sure she was going to Heaven. They knelt together, and her mom led her to Jesus in their living room. When Krista was in the fourth grade, she surrendered her life to serve the Lord. After graduating form high school, she attended and graduated from Hyles-Anderson College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in elementary education. After graduation, Sam began working at Friendship Baptist Church in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, under Pastor James Reid. It was here where Sam would meet his future wife Krista, as she was visiting her sister. After OUR FAMILY counsel from Krista s pastor, Sam moved to Hammond, Indiana; and he and Krista were married in Both Sam and Krista started working on the staff at First Baptist Church of Hammond, where they have been involved as missionary church planters. God has blessed them with three amazing boys: Sammy, Karson, and Kanaan. Sam was born in Newberry Springs, California, where he also came to Christ during a church AWANA program. When Sam was four years old, his mother married Joe Marasco from Hawaii. Unfortunately, their marriage only lasted 11 years, and Sam s step-dad moved Sammy Karson Kanaan Birthday: 11/17/10 Birthday: 9/4/12 Birthday: 2/15/15

4 THE ISLANDS OAHU 953,207 KAUAI 66,921 The oldest island of Hawaii known for its dense forest and mountain ranges. Nicknamed The Garden Island. The most urban island in Hawaii. Filled with skyscrapers, freeways, North Shore surfing spots, and the world-famous Waikiki Beach. Hawaii has seen thousands of people immigrate to the islands from all over the globe. This has MOLOKAI 7,345 Known as The Most Hawaiian Island there are more people of Hawaiian blood than anywhere else. MAUI 144,444 The second-largest island in Hawaii. Popular for tourists wanting a variety of Hawaiian culture. NIIHAU 170 The smallest of the inhabited Hawaiian islands; it is privately owned and has limited visitation. created a melting pot of cultures. With less than 50% of Hawaii being Caucasian, Hawaii is a majority-minority state. This makes the islands rich in local flavor and traditions. Each island has its own distinct characteristics. RELIGION 58 % 2% HIGHEST % No Religion LOWEST % Independent Baptist GROWTH LANAI 3,135 Nicknamed Hawaii s Most Enticing Island. Known for its adventurous and various terrains. KAHOOLAWE Unpopulated Due to its lack of fresh water, this World War II bomb-testing site is only used for Hawaiian cultural purposes. HAWAII 185,079 The Big Island is still growing due to an active volcano regularly spewing lava. Except for major cities like Kona and Hilo, much of the island is undeveloped. POPULATION Oahu has grown by 117,000 in the last 14 years. Oahu has an area of 597 square miles, giving it a density of 1,661 people per square mile. COST OF LIVING Hawaii has the #1 highest cost of living in the U.S. Median price per housing unit is $599,000, and the median household income is $66,259.

5 OUR SUPPORT PASTOR WAYNE SURFACE Ohana Baptist Church Honolulu, Hawaii Very few think of Hawaii as a mission field, but it is. Missionaries do not come to the islands to vacation; they come to reach souls for Christ and build churches. That is why I am recommending to you Sam Marasco. He has committed to start a church in Central Oahu. I believe it is one of the greatest needs on the island. We are committed to helping the Marascos by providing financial support, workers, and even some of our members for this new work; and I encourage you to be a part of this opportunity. It is with great joy that I recommend for your consideration, Sam and Krista Marasco. They are choice servants of God and have a pioneering spirit for establishing indigenous, local New Testament churches. Their young ministry has resulted in full or part of over seven church plants, including one in Hawaii, the Pacific Baptist Church, which now has been turned over to another man and is continuing to grow. They believe that God is now calling them to start the Rock Point Baptist Church in the needy area of Central Oahu. Sam grew up in Hawaii and has unsaved family throughout the island. They also plan to start more churches in the future. I truly believe that an investment in their ministry is an eternal investment. PASTOR JOHN WILKERSON First Baptist Church Hammond, Indiana DR. DARRELL MOORE Agape Baptist College Stockton, Missouri It is my privilege to recommend to you the Marasco family. Hawaii is where Sam spent some of his childhood, and he still has family members who live in the area and need to be saved. In order for the Marascos to return to Hawaii and plant more churches, they must raise support. Please prayerfully consider having this wonderful family come and present their burden to your church so they can see more Hawaiian churches started. PASTOR JAMES REID Friendship Baptist Church Ewa Beach, Hawaii The unique location and history of Hawaii provides an interesting culture. Because of Sam s familiarity with Hawaii s cultural difference, he is suited to minister here. Sam taught in our Christian school for two years and saw many of his students come to Christ. He has family that lives here and has pastored a local church on the island of Hawaii. This gives him an advantage in adapting to the island life that others would not have. Please consider helping the Marasco family reach Hawaii with the Gospel. DR. JOHN GOETSCH West Coast Baptist College Lancaster, California Years ago Sam told me his burden for Hawaii. Having spent some of his childhood there, he couldn t seem to shake the idea of one day returning to plant a church. God has uniquely prepared him for this exciting opportunity. Hawaii is an expensive place to live and serve, and yet the needs of the people are great. The answer is God s Word, and I am confident that Sam will faithfully preach it for God s glory. SENDING CHURCH First Baptist Church 507 State St. Hammond, IN fbchammond.com John Wilkerson, Pastor MISSIONS AGENCY Fundamental Baptist Missions International 507 State St. Hammond, IN fbmi.org Missionary #160

6 OUR BELIEFS SCRIPTURE We believe the Bible to be the revealed Word of God, fully and verbally inspired by God. We believe the Scriptures to be the inerrant, infallible Word of God, as found within the 66 books from Genesis to Revelation. We believe God not only inspired every word, but has preserved them through the ages. The King James Version is the translation used in any and all ministries of Rock Point Baptist Church for English-speaking people. GOD We believe in the one true and living God, the Creator of all things. God is eternal, existing from everlasting to everlasting. This one true God consists of three: the Father, the Word (or Son), and the Holy Ghost, Who together in perfect unity are one. We are to have no other gods before Him. JESUS We believe that Jesus is the Christ, the virgin-born, sinless Son of God. We believe that Jesus is from everlasting, that Jesus is before all things, and that from the beginning Jesus was with God and was God. Jesus is the First and the Last, the Author and Finisher of our faith, and the Almighty. Without ceasing to be God, Jesus became flesh. Jesus is the only Saviour, the Head of the church, and the only Mediator between God and man. HOLY SPIRIT We believe that the Holy Spirit of God is a person Who has personality and all the attributes of Deity. The Holy Spirit has always been involved in the affairs of mankind. However, we believe He has a special ministry which began at Pentecost and will continue until the Rapture. This ministry includes convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Holy Spirit was also sent to regenerate, sanctify, seal, and fill all who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ. SALVATION We believe that God in His love provided salvation by sending His Son to become sin for us, taking the penalty of death upon Himself, dying in our place, shedding His own blood as the only acceptable atonement for our sin. Christ was buried and rose again the third day. This salvation is available as a free gift of God s grace to all who will receive Him by faith. At the moment one stops trusting in his own way and places his trust rather in Christ and His finished work, he is born of God and granted eternal life. FOR A COMPLETE DOCTRINAL STATEMENT, PLEASE VISIT: And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that SPIRITUAL ROCK that followed them: AND THAT ROCK WAS CHRIST. I CORINTHIANS 10:4

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