Reverend Wayne Ibara

Pastor Wayne was born and raised in Waimea on the island of Kauai. He earned a journalism degree at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and worked a few years for a local paper before heading off to Fuller Theological Seminary. Before accepting the call to Makiki Christian Church in 1995, he served for several years at Los Angeles Holiness Church. Over the years he has served in a variety of Oahu Association and Hawaii Conference positions.

Reverend Yoshitaka Fujinami

Pastor Yoshi is originally from Osaka, Japan where he came to know the Lord as a youth at Kishiwada Bible Church which was planted by pioneer missionaries sent by Makiki Christian Church. After earning his B.A. in Pastoral Studies and a post-graduate certificate in Jewish Studies from Chicago’s Moody Bible Institute, Yoshi came to Hawaii in 1994 to serve as MCC’s Director of Older Adults Ministry. Shortly thereafter, he met Yumi who was serving as MCC’s worship pianist at the time and was married 1996. Shortly after the birth of their first son, the Fujinamis moved to Texas where Yoshi spent the next four years studying at Dallas Theological Seminary. Upon graduating with a Master of Theology (Th.M.) in 2003, he was called to Kalihi Union Church to serve as pastor to their Japanese fellowship. After raising their three sons, the Fujinamis have returned full circle to their home church of MCC where Yoshi has served as pastor to their Japanese ministry since April 2018.