The Kona Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist Company was born in January 2006. Its mission is to take the good news of salvation and the three angels’ messages to the rapidly growing Spanish-speaking population of Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii.

As head elder Felipe Melendez puts it, “There are over 75,000 Spanish-speaking people across the islands. And we, as a company, working together with the conference, need to reach them. We have a responsibility to share the gospel with these people.”

But since the inception of the Kona Hispanic company, facilities and location have posed serious barriers to their mission. Due to the high costs of rent and real estate in Kona, the company has had to conduct its services in temporary meeting places 30 minutes outside of town, far from the Hispanic population.

They first met in a rented school classroom, then they had to meet outdoors under two portable tents. When it rained, they got wet. When the sun was blistering hot, they felt the heat.

Then in August 2007, a rare opportunity opened for the Hispanic company to lease space in the commercial district of Kona, which placed them in the heart of the Hispanic community. But the rental space needed a major renovation and the monthly rent was a major financial stretch for the small company.

Convinced that the Lord was advancing their mission, the company moved forward in the face of the new challenges. They selected Sept. 16-30, 2007, for their first evangelistic series to be held at this new location.

A volunteer team of Hispanic company members, led by Ceasar Zavala, undertook the renovation, completing the sanctuary section, which seats 70 to 80 people, in about four weeks. Although only 50 percent of the facility was finished, the Hispanic company conducted their evangelistic campaign as scheduled.

The visiting evangelist, Pastor Pedro Rascon, of the Calexico Spanish church in California, preached a 14-night series entitled, “La Vida Victoriosa” (The Victorious Life).

"God blessed the campaign and made it a huge success, says Melendez. “Eight people were baptized and an additional eight souls are interested and are studying to be baptized.”

“This is what ministry is all about!” exclaims Pastor Eric Alindogan, the district pastor for Kona. Immediately after the campaign, the Hispanic company launched four small groups, called “Ohanas,” across town as part of a “larger strategy to prepare the interests for baptism, to root and integrate the new converts, and to bring in more interests,” states Alindogan.