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Pastor Wayne Cordeiro
Training to paddle a canoe is no easy task, however, it proved to be an enlightening experience for me to watch Dr. Wayne Cordeiro and fellow team mates on the New Hope Canoe Club, Mike Nakahara & Gary Honuma, both well-versed in the art.
Using the same type of one man canes; Fuse canoes, this training is for the one-man, Starbuck's Ka'iwi Channel Relay held May 7, 2006, a 40.2 mile, relay race from Molokai's to Magic Island.
Almost everyone knows Dr. Cordeiro as Pastor Wayne. He's shares God's word with thousands in his congregation every Sunday and is also viewed by a countless multitude on his T.V. program, Connecting Point . Church Services are also fed to the masses, by satellite to those who cannot attend at the Farrington High campus.
The charismatic minister, who has brought many to the New Hope Church, usually trains with a 10 mile trek from Maunalua Bay in Hawaii Kai, to Magic Island, but will settle for having fun in the waves off of Waikiki, for the conditions are not favorable for the 10 mile workout.
Pastor Wayne has paddled one-man canoes for a year and a half, and has crossed the Molokai Channel four times in a six-man canoe. He pointed out that his church's canoe club is nearly five years old and has built camaraderie among his flock.
At the New Hope Church, he has spearheaded a program which embraces various sports and social activities.
For the canoe club, the dozen canoes were acquired by fund-raising and among the collection is a koa canoe for regattas.
The New Hope Church offers its members participation in canoe and surfing clubs for ocean sports, and also a hiking club, softball, volleyball, and soccer clubs!
Pastor Wayne's foundation for his church is his strong belief that it is a church for the people of Hawaii, where he is widely known as the People's Pastor.
When he came to Oahu from the Big Island in 1995, he was extremely busy getting the church established. After several years, he realized that he had been to the beach a few times to swim, and that's when he thought, “We live in Hawaii, and we hardly go into the ocean.”
He recalled an old rabbinical saying: “…one day God will hold us accountable for all the things he created for us to enjoy, but we refuse to do so.” He pointed out that God created a beautiful ocean, and for people not to take the time to enjoy the ocean or to smell the fragrance of roses works against us.
Through the many activities at the church involving the ocean and the land his flock is truly active in the community.
And, his flock, includes his wife Anna, his love and mother of three, Amy, Aaron and Abigail (all named with the letter “A” -- which Pastor Wayne noted that it would be prophetic to their grades in schools. -- didn't work, he smiled!).
Like Pastor Wayne, Anna loves Hawaii, although she hails from Oregon! That's where Pastor Wayne received his ecumenical training from Eugene Bible College and served with Youth For Christ, and as a staff pastor at Faith Center Foursquare Church before he returned to Hawaii.
He was a minister on the Big Island and returned to Oahu in 1995 where he established the New Hope Christian Fellowship, a Foursquare Church in Honolulu.
Over 7,800 people received Christ during the church's first six years. New Hope has grown to over 10,000 weekend attendees. Fifty-five churches have been pioneered under new Hope's church-planting, in the Pacific Rim including Hawaii, Montana, the Philippines, Japan and Myanmar. New Hope O'ahu is currently listed as one of the fastest growing churches in the nation.
Pastor Wayne and Anna are grateful for their own “flock” -- daughter Amy's in Oregon where she oversees the church warehouse and continues her work in computer's and takes care of some advertising.
Son Aaron assists Pastor Wayne as the Youth Pastor, and the youngest, Abigail is at Eugene Bible College in Oregon.
Pastor Wayne loves paddling. “It's good exercise…and you know that I'm with people constantly, and I love people, not only speaking to/with them, but counseling, teaching, training, and well -- I need some ‘alone time' -- we all forget from time to time that we are humans. The one-man canoe gives me the opportunity to paddle in the ocean and where I can talk to God.”
And as he has his private talks with the Big Man up above, Pastor Wayne often views dolphins, honu, whales and other creatures of the sea. This is his time to let his soul catch up! “This is a time to let your soul catch up -- the ocean is a place where I can let my soul catch up -- and it puts my heart back into the family -- my own, and the family of man!
It truly helps to be alone in the ocean and know where your heart and soul helps in your family, your job, and your life.”