The death toll is rising at an agonizing pace. Just over 110 people are confirmed dead, but roughly 1,000 people are still missing according to Hawaii Governor Josh Green. Less than half the burned region has been searched so far.

In a community grappling with grief, Child Evangelism Fellowship is ready to support families with their booklet for kids called “Do You Wonder Why?”.

Do You Wonder Why?, booklet by CEF. (Photo courtesy of Child Evangelism Fellowship)

CEF’s Matt Walton says, “It’s specifically to help children who are going through natural disasters or traumatic events that have those questions about, ‘Where is God in this? Why did God allow my house to be destroyed or loved ones to lose their life?’ So it deals with very, very difficult topics from a biblical perspective, but it gives clear answers and hope for kids who are dealing with this stuff.”

At this time, Maui is discouraging too many organizations and volunteers from coming and overwhelming the island. Instead, CEF wants to empower local Maui believers to be the hands and feet of Christ with these booklets.

“What we’ve offered is to purchase and ship those [booklets] to individuals and churches that have the manpower or the ability to connect with people who are directly affected by this,” says Walton.

Please pray for the children of Maui – and all Hawaiians – to fix their eyes on Jesus for comfort and hope.

Walton asks, “Pray that God opens doors for hope conversations about the Gospel for those that don’t know about Jesus. For those in those communities that God put there long before this ever happened, give them opportunity to share the light and the hope that comes from only having a faith in Jesus Christ.”

You can support CEF’s ministry here and have an eternal impact in Maui.

Header photo courtesy of wildfire devastation in Maui. (Photo courtesy of Hawaii National Guard/Flick: https://rb.gy/miqwz)

The deadliest U.S. wildfire in over a century began August 8 in western Maui and is two-thirds contained. The Hawaii National Guard activated about 258 soldiers and airmen for support duty in disaster zones.

“Words like apocalyptic and warzone and total devastation – none of those words can capture the destruction of history, culture, lives, and livelihoods on Maui,” Ron Hutchcraft of Ron Hutchcraft Ministries says.

Nearly 200 search and rescue workers and 20 cadaver dogs have processed less than half of the scorched structures in Lahaina. The fire destroyed roughly 2,000 homes and businesses.

“But there is one thing still standing – this banyan tree about 60 feet tall covers a whole block,” Hutchcraft says.

“It’s badly charred, and people aren’t sure what its future will be. But today, it is one symbol of hope amidst all this sadness and ruin.”

This banyan tree stands as a symbol of hope in a landscape of loss.
(Photo courtesy of Ron Hutchcraft Ministries)

Tortured beyond recognition, Jesus died on a tree at Calvary – the old rugged cross of redemption. He’s our only hope when the world around us falls apart. Read more on the latest Ron Hutchcraft Ministries blog.

Ask the Lord to help you turn current events into a Gospel conversation.

“As we look at what’s going on in our world, many moments like this become the focus of everybody’s attention. That often allows us to point to a promise of something everlasting, and that’s our Jesus,” Hutchcraft says.

Header image depicts buildings and structures destroyed by the Maui wildfires in Lahaina, Maui, August 15, 2023. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Matthew A. Foster)

We now know at least 100 people have died. Authorities expect that number to go up as crews go through the hardest-hit town, Lahaina. Over 1,300 people are still missing.

Hawaii, USA (Photo courtesy of Evan Brandt/Unsplash)

Mabel Todd, the widow of FMI founder Ed Todd, lives on the unaffected side of Maui. She says, “The horror of it is just overwhelming. There are a lot of stories of praise, of course, of people who were rescued. But there are so many more that didn’t make it. So it is really overwhelming and it just is making our island sad.”

Todd works at a local ministry school and says people are taking in displaced family and friends, showing Christ’s love in tragedy.

“Hawaiian people, Maui people are so generous and so giving. It wouldn’t matter how many had been displaced. They’ll make room for them in their homes, and that’s what’s happening even among our school families.”

Please pray for the Lord’s comfort for those grieving in Maui today.

“Prayer is the most important thing,” Todd says. “We’re praying for just the peace of God to come over this island and that somehow that anger will be repressed as people learn to trust in God’s grace and mercy.”

Header photo of fire spotting helicopter over the wildfires in Maui, Hawaii. (Photo courtesy of Kahunapule Michael Johnson/Flickr: https://rb.gy/s87vy)