Pastor Jonathan’s passion is a love for God’s people. He wants everyone in the local church, from little children to seniors, to grow in knowing Jesus Christ. He believes in the transforming power of prayer and values Christian community as a Biblical expression of the living power of the Holy Spirit.

Jonathan and his wife Tricia have three children and one granddaughter. Their family has lived in various cultures and has ministered in repeated multi-dimensional contexts in Canada, Europe, Central America, and Africa. He has previously served as pastor to two different churches in eastern Canada and as a missionary with his family in Albania during a turbulent period.

Although born in Honolulu, he was raised in Canada, graduating with awards from West Hill Collegiate Institute in Toronto and the Baptist Leadership Training School in Calgary. He earned his BA in history from the University of Western Ontario in London and his Masters of Divinity with awards from Acadia Divinity College in Nova Scotia. Now, God has intervened to call his family back to the church of his heritage at Kalihi Union. He has completed doctoral studies in cross-cultural research in prayer and evangelism. Jonathan is more hands-on than academic and enjoys the outdoors, music, sports, gardening, and various hobbies.

Pastor Kendal’s wholehearted desire is to see everyone actively involved in personal evangelism, local outreach, world missions, and making disciples. He seeks to empower the church to share the gospel of Jesus Christ via prayer, provision, or participation.

After receiving his Bachelor of Biblical Studies after hearing the call to come to Kalihi Union Church in Oct. 1999, Kendal initially served as Kalihi Union’s youth director. Over the years he assisted with four short-term mission teams to the Philippines and has also led and served on mission teams to Vietnam, Japan, Kauai, and New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. While living on Umi Street in Kalihi and with a love for this community, he initiated the Kalihi Cares ministry and continues to help facilitate many of the community outreach events. In January of 2023, Kendal was ordained through the EFCA and serves as an associate Pastor, with the title Pastor of Connection.

Jesus is Kendal’s first love, but his wife JoAnna, his favorite partner in ministry, comes a close second. He cherishes their family and is proud to be a fourth-generation Chinese American, born and raised in Hawaii. In his free time, he enjoys geeky things, including comic books, good cutlery, and the creative arts.

Read about Pastor’s road to ordination >

Pastor John Barrow was born and raised in Kobe, Japan. John’s mother is Japanese and his father is from the United States. John attended an international school for his primary and secondary education.

In elementary school, John began attending a church in Kobe, where he professed his faith in Christ and was baptized.

I started attending Sunday School at KUC when I was in the first grade (I actually attended the KUC Preschool as well!). I accepted Christ at a church camp in middle school and was baptized in high school (Side trivia: Pastor Bill Steeper baptized me, Pastor Jonathan’s dad!).

I have served KUC in a variety of ways — Summer Fun (as a Volunteer, Leader, and Assistant Director), Youth Sunday School Teacher ( Jr. High, High School, College & Young Adult), sang in Youth Choir, and was in several Youth Choir productions, discipled High School, College, and Young Adults, served on Drama teams, and was a part of several search committees.

I have been married to Amy, my wonderful wife, for 25 years and have 2 children—Nathanael (13) and Elisabeth (16). Nathanael and Elisabeth have also grown up at KUC, and you can often find them, along with Amy, watching the toddlers and kindergarten kids during Sunday service. I have been serving as an Elder at KUC since 2023 and was recently elected as Vice-Moderator.