Twenty-nine years after eight Korean Adventists began meeting in the kitchen of the Manoa Japanese church, the Honolulu Korean Seventh-day Adventist Church building was dedicated to the worship of God and the advancement of His kingdom in a special dedication service on Aug. 14.

Joining the grateful members and Pastor Soontae Kim were Hawaii Conference President Arnold Trujillo and Secretary/Treasurer Ronald Lindsey in addition to former pastors, fellow Adventists and community friends.

The Korean church had a humble beginning in the kitchen of the Manoa Japanese Church in November 1975. Then Pastor Harold Kono encouraged and supported his Korean members, and the group grew during its nine years in Manoa.

In 1984, the group was organized as a company and moved to the chapel of Hawaiian Mission Academy. It was organized as a church in May 1991 and continued to meet in the chapel until August 2002 when it moved to its present Algaroba Street location.

"What is truly amazing about this church is the sacrificial spirit of its members,” said Trujillo. “Over the years, the members contributed to the purchase of their own church facility. On April 30, 2002, the Algaroba Street building was purchased for $1,500,000. While funds on hand and conference appropriations equaled about $745,000, there remained a balance of about $755,000. This entire balance was liquidated by March 15, 2004. That is miraculous testimony to the blessings of God and the sacrifice of our Korean church family.”