MILILANI – Sunday October 20th, right after church, people from every New Hope Central Oahu campus gathered together at the future home of the RISE Center to mark the ceremonial beginning of construction of the future headquarters of NHCO.
As the large crowd gathered along the ridge of the bowl, Pastor Mike called down pastors, staff, board members, and VIPs to be recognized at the base. Pastor Mike told the story of one incredible miracle after another of how the church has been blessed by this property, and he introduced the key players and personalities at each step of the way.
After he told the story, he produced a Hawaiian O’o stick that would be used to ceremonially break the first ground of the project. He explained the the stick is made of Koa, which is a wood of the Acacia family of trees. He went on to make the incredible connection that Solomon’s temple and the ark of the covenant were both made from acacia wood as well, so the choice of koa was particularly appropriate.
Pastor Mike at that pointed asked for his father and his son to join him at the mic. He explained about why the name of the building project was Legacy of Hope, and how our hope is that the future building would be used for hundreds of years to further the hope of Christ from one generation to the next. He explained that in 50 years time Pastor Mark’s son Judah would be has old as Pastor Mike is now.
With that perspective it was time for Pastor Mike to do what we had gathered there to do, and with a swift lunge he plunged the O’o into the ground and turned up the first piece of turf signifying the beginning of the building of the RISE Center, which is to be a legacy of hope for Oahu families for generations to come.
Actual construction should proceed before the end of the year and is projected to last 12-15 months. NHCO hopes to take possession of the property intake to have Christmas Eve services in the building at the end of 2020.
