Laurie

KAPALUA – Two well-established churches, more than 2,500 miles apart, will be joined together in the coming days, resulting in “Harvest Kumulani,” the newest campus in the Harvest family.

The merger was initiated by Kumulani Chapel’s senior pastor, Ricky Ryan, who will remain as campus pastor, with Jim Felechner functioning as executive pastor under the leadership of Harvest.

According to Ryan, Kumulani Chapel – founded over 30 years ago in West Maui – shares a common background with Harvest Christian Fellowship, which is pastored by Greg Laurie. Ryan said, “This makes so much sense to us because we hold the same core values and ministry philosophy. Pastor Greg has been with us from the beginning and through every season of our church’s history. I love and respect him as a friend and view him as my pastor.”

Kumulani’s congregation of approximately 700 people was informed of the changes on Sunday, June 12.

Both church entities wish to protect the island culture and “small church” atmosphere of the Hawaiian congregation.

“In California, we have as much to gain in learning from their operations as they have in accessing the resources a big church has to offer,” said Paul Eaton, administrative pastor for Harvest.

Harvest Kumulani will receive a live video stream of Laurie’s message every Sunday and incorporate other Harvest ministries, such as the Valor and Virtue Bible studies for men and women.

Harvest Christian Fellowship currently has church campuses in Riverside and Irvine, California, with satellite locations streaming Sunday services in the California cities of Eastvale, South Corona, and the Woodcrest area of Riverside.

The church also has a Spanish-speaking location in Riverside, Cosecha Companerismo Cristiano. The Maui campus will be its first outside of California.

Laurie is the senior pastor at Harvest Christian Fellowship, one of the largest churches in the U.S. Laurie is also the founder and evangelist for Harvest Crusades and Harvest America, evangelistic outreach events that have drawn some 5.6 million people to stadiums and arenas around the world since 1990.