Interview with Jake and Emily McIlvaine from our series of Interviews of and commentaries by members of the LCH church family.

Jake and Emily McIlvaine

“We knew that Lutheran Church of Honolulu was where we wanted our daughter baptized. The fact that she was born a month prior to the expected date worked out for us because we are soon being transferred to Ventura County, California. It allowed both sets of our parents to be here also.” This is how Emily and Jake McIlvaine reviewed the recent baptism of their daughter, Aylin, who was nestled quietly in Jake’s arms as we talked.

High school sweethearts from Wadsworth in northeastern Ohio, the couple shows the energy and adventure of leadership. It seems to be a part of their character. After all, Jake had been senior class president while Emily was president of the Student Council, class of 2000. Now they are ready for more adventure as the U.S. Navy has arranged the next assignment for Jake, a Naval Academy graduate.

While at LCH, the couple quickly jumped into responsible roles together as Sunday School teachers for children in the early primary grades. “It was a challenge at times,” they admitted. “The kids are bright and quick, like to have fun and play. We would try to incorporate some of that energy into Bible quiz games.”

“The people at the church are open and friendly,” they added. “We have made some significant friendships with a number of them. Social times, dinner dates, and golfing with other duffers.” Jake had been a member of an ELCA church in Ohio, Emily a Methodist. Jake arrived in Honolulu first during which time he began coming to services after discovering LCH on the website and finding it was a convenient distance from where he lived. Nvertheless, it was not simply the proximity of the church that they liked. Jake’s church experiences had included Episcopal, Methodist, Roman Catholic, and other churches. They both agreed that LCH was their favorite church community among all the church experiences they had had.

We are going to miss Emily and Jake and their youthful energy, bright spirits, and commitment. We wish them all the best in their new community.

Jake and Emily were interviewed by Fritz Fritschel
July 8, 2010

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