It’s been three and a half weeks since our beloved Lahaina burned to the ground, and our hearts are completely broken. While Wati and I live on the neighboring island of Oahu, Wati grew up in Lahaina. It’s her hometown, where her family lives and her childhood memories were made. Members of the Lahaina Adventist church nurtured her faith and taught her to love Jesus. Without the people of Lahaina, Wati wouldn’t be the woman she is today.

Thankfully, Wati’s family is safe. Her mother was visiting out of state, and her relatives made it to safety. But their home and neighborhood were destroyed—every possession except the clothes on their back. It will take years to recover.

Our hearts ache for the many who were lost, including high school classmates and neighbors. The latest reports say 115 people perished in the fire, and several hundred are still missing. Many were the elderly and children who stayed home while parents went to work. Others were overtaken, trapped in their cars as they tried to flee. The suffering and fear they must have felt is unimaginable.

It’s agonizing to know that many lives could have been saved. At the beginning of every month, Maui tests its emergency sirens. The sirens are loud and effective. But during the worst emergency Maui has ever faced, the sirens stood silent.

Friend, it’s true and it’s personal: the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). The fire in Lahaina, swift, intense and catastrophic, is evidence of the enemy’s methods. Spiritually, the enemy wants us to be unaware, like the prey of a great cat (1 Peter 5:8).

As believers, we are the world’s warning siren. We must not stand silent! Our message of love can prevent the catastrophe of eternal loss. Despite the tragedy and trauma on planet Earth, there’s hope. Real paradise is waiting. Pain and suffering will end forever. The thief destroys, but Christ Himself says, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

If the Lord has put it in your heart to give, Maui needs help like never before! Our Hawaii-based, non-profit Revelation of Hope ministry has set up a “Maui Fire Relief Fund.” You can give your tax deductible donation here.

Mahalo nui for all your love and support,

Taj & Wati Pacleb