Hauser Happenings

HMCM Promo

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New Developments

2007-09-13T19:41:00.000-10:00

I would like to bring you up to speed as to what your giving has gone towards. For the last year something new has been developing with ministry to the military here in Hawaii. A Navy CDR, Bryan Burt, with the P-3 community, contacted me with an interest in getting the various para-church ministries together for a monthly fellowship and share time. Out of that came the idea of offering a military track at the Hawaiian Island Ministries (HIM) yearly conference. HIM was developed by the pastor of the 1st Presbyterian Church of Honolulu to help equip pastors and church leaders in their ministries. It attracts about 6,000 people every year and is growing. During the three day conference (Thru - Sat) there are six general sessions and anywhere from 70-90 seminars on various issues concerning ministry. I brought the idea to Bryan and he and I began to see if we could develop a military track for the seminar portion.

As a result we developed an organization, that we first named Hawaii Military Ministries (HMM), now called Hawaii Military Christian Ministries (HMCM). It started with just para-church ministries and now is made up of four para-church ministries, military chaplains including the Deputy PACAF chaplain for the Air Force, the Navy Region chaplain for Hawaii, and the 3rd Marines regimental chaplain. We have a growing number of churches as well; 1st Pres of Honolulu, Faith Baptist, International Baptist, and Kailua Community.

At the conference we offered three seminars in the following areas:

"Ministering More Effectively to Military Families in Your Church"
"Knowing and Working with the Military Chaplain"
"Critical Care for Our Returning Combat Veterans"

It turned out to be a great success as the Lord blessed the work. We hope to offer a full six seminar track at the next conference in April focusing more on "how to develop a military ministry in your church." Our Combat Stress/PTSD seminar will be taught by a Dr. Archibald Hart, a clinical psychologist who is an expert in the field.

As a result of this, we are now involved with a major prayer ministry in connection with the K-Bay Regimental Chaplain and various units deploying. How it works is each church adopts a portion of a deploying unit/battalion and sees them off when they deploy, giving them various care packages. Then, they keep them in regular prayer in their churches while they are deployed, communicating with their chaplains and/or various individuals as opportunity presents itself, and sending needed care packages. Finally, various members from the participating churches will greet them in the hangar the day they return. Hopefully, the unchurched will find the church praying for them as their home church, but most of all, that they will sense the presence of the Lord while they are gone.

We are about to launch a "Professional Mentoring Program." As a result of standing up a Wounded Warrior Battalion at K-Bay, we are developing a list of various professionals representing various career fields from local churches. We will brief/train these folks in the area of combat stress and then, as the request is made for a certain career field, we will match a professional with a wounded warrior. The hope is that this would lead to spiritual issues as well where that wounded warrior might come to know the Lord as their Savior, or in the case of a believer, to know Him deeper.

Recently I was asked to offer a seminar to the Wounded Warriors on life mapping called "Master Planning Your Life." It was through the 2/3 chaplain, but became a 3rd Marine program. I had to neutralize a few religious things but it was not devoid of the spiritual, but in fact it became a focal point. I was then asked to teach the same thing with CREDO but I could be more "religious" with it there. Both proved to be not only helpful to the participants, but helped me develop the seminar on a broader range.
Char's PWOC Bible study on "Enhancing your Marriage" is having a significant impact on some of the wives. Because of confidentially I can't go into any specifics, but I can say there are some very important breakthroughs going on in the lives of many of the ladies and their marriages, praise the Lord.

Finally, in October, we will start a Bible study at the chapel on base with hopes of attracting those who will not go off-base for a study. We will be using the "Truth Project" material (see thetruthproject.org).

So that is what has been happening and we want to personally thank you for helping make that happen through your giving and prayers.

Wounded Marine Seminar

2007-08-01T10:46:00.000-10:00

Ray just had opportunity to do a two day Life Mapping (called Masterplan) seminar with the new Wounded Marine program here at K-Bay. There were 12 men present plus their company commander, Battalion chaplain, and the new Regimental chaplain. At one point the Divisional chaplain from Okinawa came in and sat through about an hour of the seminar.

In determining where each man was in regard to their relationship with God, about 9 of the 12 indicated that God really wasn't playing any part in their lives. That included their company commander (so much for positive follow-up). Coupled with this, the event was mandatory so it made it a neutral field when it came to religion. So he were talking to a group who mostly were unconcerned about spiritual things and he didn't have the freedom to teach the seminar like he would if it was a voluntary event.

However, Ray was able to indirectly share spiritual things through two different areas. When he worked on developing a purpose statement Ray's assistant, SSgt Casey Pater, a Marine who is a mature Christian and whom he has taken through the seminar, we used our purpose statements as examples as we developed this area of the seminar. Because God is central to our statements, explaining how we came to use the words we did, allowed us to indirectly plant seeds of spiritual truth. Then, as we moved through the seven major areas of life, we were able to develop the spiritual area as we related biblical principles of morality and guarding one's heart (as taught in Prov 4:23-24) without quoting Bible verses or other religious words (that was difficult).

Overall it seemed to be helpful to them from the comments they shared with us. As a result, related in part to doing the seminar, we were invited to a dinner with Navy Chaplains in Hawaii and their visiting deputy chief of Navy chaplains/Chaplain of the Marine Corps. This should give us better exposure and a sense that we are here to help.

We hope we will have more opportunities with the Wounded Marine Program in the future as more men will be added to this group. Ray will be doing the seminar again for CREDO Hawaii (Chaplain's Religious Enrichment Development Operations) in August with a smaller group. It will not a mandatory event so he will have more latitude with the material.

Saying Good-bye to the Ocasio's

2007-07-30T20:00:00.000-10:00

Matt and Elena have been stationed at Kaneohe Bay Marine Corps Base for over 5 years. They have become one of our key couples in this ministry and it was with great sadness that we said good-bye to them on June 15.

We have watched them grow in their walk with the Lord as they faced different trials and challenges. We rejoiced as they stepped out of their comfort zone and moved into leadership positions. Their hearts are sensitive to the Lord and they have a great desire to please and obey Him. We have seen their faith grow as they faced the obstacle of infertility, and then how they gave all the glory to God as He presented them with two precious girls, Isabel Marie and Priscilla Gabrielle (Gabbie). We will miss them so much and we hate the fact that we won’t get to watch them daily as they grow up.

They gave this ministry incredible support. We could always count on them if we needed help. Their financial support humbled us and we thank God for His provision through them.

It gives us no greater joy than to know that they will take what they have learned here and use it to minister to others.

Memorial Day Picnic 2007

2007-06-02T18:44:00.001-10:00

On Monday, May 28th, 60 miltary and family members gathered at Kapiolani Park in Waikiki for our annual Memorial Day picnic. We reserved a site under a huge banyun tree which gives us instant shade all day. Vollyball tournaments are a highlight, espsecially when the teams are all SNCO's against all other teams. The SNCO's won!!

Ray brought a great devotion on "Things to remember on Memorial Day."... 1) Remember our patriots; 2) Remember our hereos; 3) Remember our freedem and 4) Remember the Lord Jesus Christ. We sang, we ate and we played and we honored the military members among us, enjoying the freedom made possible by the sacrifices of others.

Congratulations Graduates

2007-05-17T13:36:00.000-10:00

This week we were honored to attend the graduations of two key people involved in our ministry...Matt Ocasio and Jodi Pater. Matt is a Marine who graduate from Chaminade University of Honolulu with an AS degree. He attended classes in the evenings, while working full time and being a husband and father of two girls. His wife, Elena, has been so supportive and encouraging to him through all the long hours of classes. We're sure proud of his accomplishments.

Jodi Pater, is Casey's wife. Casey is our worship leader at the House. Jodi finished her degree just in time before having their first baby, Aden, in June. She graduated from Hawaii Pacific University with a BS in Computer Science. Casey and Jodi have plans to separate from the Marine Corps so Casey can attend Multnomah Bible College. We sure appreciate them.

Farewell

2007-04-25T17:56:00.000-10:00

2nd battalion 3rd Marines, who just returned from Iraq, did so without 23 of their own. We attended their memorial service held on base. All of those who fell had family members in attendance. Their command-ing officer spoke of their contribution to the effort of bringing peace to Iraq. It was an emotional moment for him when he read a letter from the Mayor of the city in which these men fell, expressing his appreciation for the sacrifice that was made on their city's behalf. It was a touching moment to feel a level of loss these family members were experiencing. It reenforced our passion to be here for them, reaching out with the good news to those preparing to deploy once again.

Welcome home 2nd Battalion 3rd Marines

2007-04-25T13:20:00.000-10:00

What we've been up to

2007-04-25T12:06:00.000-10:00

Char has been leading the Protestant Women of the Chapel program for the base chapel, teaching a weekly women’s Bible study in which she just finished leading the Patriarchs. She continues to hold a monthly book club. They have recently finished book #65. She continues to be the one who holds the details together for the house ministry that would other wise eventually vanish through the cracks if it was up to me. God was right on when He said "It is not good for Ray to be alone!"

When the Da Vinci Code was hot and heavy I taught a series dealing with the issues surrounding it. We used it at the House, in the chapel adult Sunday school, and with a group of senior Air Force Officers at Hickam AFB. Our key guy and worship leader, SSgt. Casey Pater, joined me in developing and teaching the series with the Marines. This was an opportunity to build into his life and develop ministry skills. He did an outstanding job covering the falsehood of Gnosticism and the reliability of Scripture. It appears that Casey and his wife Jodi will probably attend Multnomah Bible College preparing for full time ministry. They would be a good couple for Cadence someday. :-)

More recently we went through a study on “Biblical Wisdom” with the Hickam AFB couples. Being with these folks brings a different experience in military ministry. They are closer to our age and have simular life experiences. They tend to be better versed in scripture and more experienced in their walk with the Lord than the younger folks at the Marine Corps base. As as a result, it takes us to a deeper level of Bible study and provides a contrast we really enjoy.

Also the contrast between Marines and Air Force is somewhat different. We had a Bar-B-Q with the Air Force folks and played “Killer Crochet.” Killer Crochet has a different meaning for the Marines then for the Air Force. The Marines enjoy and take great pride in sending their opponents ball flying off into the surrounding fields. The Air Force people are just as competitive but in a kinder and gentler way. I don’t know if this is a good thing or not, but I really do enjoy crochet with the Marines!

We mentioned Doug in our last prayer letter. He was one of the infantry Marines who was involved in the urban assault on Fallujah, a history making event for the Marine Corps in how well they did with so few casualties. Doug was a great help to me in gaining a better understanding of what a person goes through in the killing of another human being, up close, in combat. Perhaps some of you know what that means. From what I have read and learned from Doug and a few others, I thank God I haven’t had to process that in my military experience. For those of you that have and perhaps are still going through it, you have my prayers!

Recently Doug finished his enlistment in the Marine Corps and is home in Georgia. He keeps in touch with us a couple of times a month, for which we are honored. He will be spending a week with us in May. Doug exemplifies that there is still significant ministry that Cadence needs to have with those men and women who have recently transitioned out of the military and into civilian life. The Cadence K.I.T. (Keep In Touch) program was developed just for that very reason. Many seem to go through a level of depression and a sense of uncertainty and purposelessness when they first get out. This is especially true for those who have experienced combat and the camaraderie that was experienced in those situations. Before Doug left I had the opportunity to take him through a “Master Planning” seminar that seems to be helping him bring a Biblical focus and purpose to life and focus beyond his combat experience. It is something that draws from both outside and inside the person.

Dylan and Carlos are two of the Marines we had the opportunity to minister to here. Both have been out of the Marine Corps for a couple of years. Dylan has just finished his third year at Multnomah and is doing well, and I must say that Multnomah has done well in training him. He was here recently and spoke at our Friday night fellowship. It was with a little pride, and much amazement, that we listened to Dylan teach and effectively challenge all of us.

Carlos, too, when he was here a few months prior, and on his honeymoon, spoke on obedience and challenged us as well. Both of these guys had been key men in the ministry and both make us feel that God used us to make a differrence. We are excited to see how God is going to use these two men to make a difference in the lives of others. As that commerical might say, "living in Hawaii 'expensive!' Keeping up with the Marines, 'next to impossible,' being allowed to be part of God’s instrument in launching lives for the sake of the gospel, 'priceless!'”

We know we were not the only ones used to impact these young lives. In a large way, those of you who have been supporting us and praying for this ministry carry much of the blessing as we have been standing on your shoulders in sharing the gospel and our lives with the military community. Thank you, again!

Kevin Joyce is another young Marine we have mentioned in our newsletter. If you remember, Kevin was killed in Afghanistan. Not too long ago there was a memorial service held on base for the five who had died there. From the various testimonies given at the memorial service about these five men, it was told how Kevin was one of the greatest encouragers of his fellow Marines and how he was always vocal about his faith. After the ceremony was over the men from the battalion who had been standing in formation, were dismissed. Most of them approached the memorials and formed circles around the symbol of these fallen Marines I noticed that the largest circle was at Kevin’s memorial. It illustrated in a visual way how God used Kevin and his faith to touch many of his fellow Marines while deployed to Afghanistan.

In the last couple of years I've been investigating the issue of “passing the baton.” We have no plans to stop or retire anytime soon, but this issue is one we want to give more attention to before there is no time to give. Please pray with us as we think through the above issues as an extension of your ministry to military men women and their families. How can we best equip them to face battle and what footprints should we leave behind for them to follow. That foot print is Christlikeness, to be sure, but how should that take shape? What are the key elements? What does it specifically mean for these we minister to? Should the Lord allow us to continue on for another 10 to 15 years how should they be different as we slowly begin to move aside and let this generation pick it up and carry on? Specifically, what does that mean for our ministry with Casey and many other unnamed people who are part of that next wave of God's warriors to enter the battle for souls? Would you please pray for that concern, specifically?