Maui, Hawaii 2008 Ladies Conference

Terry R. Baughman, Executive Vice President of Christian Life College, and his wife, Gayla, recently returned from a trip to Kahului, Maui, Hawaii. Gayla Baughman was invited to be the guest speaker at the Hawaii District Ladies Conference, March 27-29, while her husband used the occasion to recruit for the college and connect with some CLC alumni from the islands. The conference, themed “Splashes of Joy,” brought over 130 women from churches in Maui and Oahu as well as at least one from the mainland. Three women received the baptism of the Holy Spirit in the services. 


Debbie Sanders, the Ladies ministry president for the Hawaii District, coordinated the conference. Also in attendance were the District Superintendent’s wife, Jo Ann McGriffin, and several other ministers’ wives. CLC alumni in attendance at the conference were Cynthia Ballard (’94), Alona (Cortez) Gallegos (’99), who is married to Randy Gallegos (’98), Sis. Shepard, who is married to Greg Shepard (‘87), and Soshawna (Foster) Gray (‘02), who is married to Elton Gray (‘02). During the conference, the Baughmans met the mothers of three current CLC students: Krista Joy Wasson, Gabrielle Moeller, and Jarrin Canyon.  


On Sunday, the Baughmans ministered in song and the word with the Lahaina congregation where Thomas Bailey is the pastor. Hank Haupu, Jr. (‘00) is now the youth pastor for this assembly. The church in Lahaina has grown to the place that they now meet in two locations, the other being in Kahului about twenty-two miles across the island. Sunday evening both congregations joined together for a fifth-Sunday singing. The Baughmans joined the group and added their ministry in song to the evenings’ worship. 


In addition to the full schedule of conference events and church services the Baughmans took a couple of days for sightseeing. On Monday they went out on a whale watching excursion on a boat operated by the Pacific Whale Foundation (http://www.pacificwhale.org/ecotours/).  The Humpback whales migrate from Alaska to the warm waters around Maui during the winter months for birthing and mating. On the excursion several young whales were spotted with their mothers close by. It was a beautiful day for boating and the weather was perfect in spite of strong trade winds blowing white caps on the waves close to the shore in Ma'alaea harbor.


It was a privilege to visit Hawaii for the natural beauty and for the spiritual blessing. The fiftieth state is growing and the churches are experiencing revival!