WAILUKU >> When he was called to serve at then-Iao Congregational Church in October 1992, the Rev. Jack Belsom thought he might stay for a few years to help resolve issues, as he had done at other churches.

But then he thought, “Do I really want to keep doing that or do something different and see if I can take the next step?” Belsom recalled, The Maui News reported Monday.

Nearly 23 years later, that “next step” has led the church to become an “Open and Affirming” congregation that welcomes lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender folks and includes many Micronesian families.

The preschool, which was closed when Belsom arrived, has been back in operation for 20 years. Youth are involved in planning and leading Sunday worship services at the 160-member church, now called Iao United Church of Christ.

Belsom, who retires Friday at age 70, has been the longest-serving pastor of the church, including when it marked its 100th anniversary in 1995.

At the Sunday worship service, Belsom’s last as pastor, many of the thanks offered were for Belsom and his work helping people, as the church has evolved over the years.

“We’re going to miss Pastor Jack,” said Lydio Kurr, who was among church members from Kosrae who sang farewell songs for Belsom.

“This man really opened his heart and gave us an opportunity,” said Youlida Yoruw, who is also from Kosrae. “This church really gave me a home.”

Gail Ideue, church moderator, said members have mixed feelings about Belsom’s departure.

“We are happy for him,” she said. “At the same time, we’re very sad for us. He’s been our leader for almost 23 years. We’ve really grown as a church. We are so grateful that the Lord led him to us. He’s a hard act to follow.”

Reflecting on his time as pastor, Belsom said, “The biggest thing that occurred was we made a decision to explore what it means to be the church and what God was calling us to do.”

“We can’t just read the Bible on Sunday,” he said. “Somehow, it’s got to be reflected in the work and the life.”

Soon after he arrived, church members discussed what needed to be done to reach out to others. “One of the issues was youth involvement,” Belsom said. “We made the decision that we would basically involve youth in planning the service and leading. Over the years, that’s just had a profound effect. It’s never a sense it’s just the old people’s church or kids don’t count.”

Several years ago, Belsom said the church became the first in the Hawaii conference to make the “Open and Affirming” declaration that it welcomes all regardless of sexual orientation, in line with the national United Church of Christ.

“We’re not the only one that’s open and welcoming,” Belsom said. “We’re the only ones that have made the declaration formally. That was an interesting journey too.

“Whenever you cross any boundaries and say, ‘Those people are not like us,’ and all of a sudden you get to know and work with them, you say, ‘They’re more like us than different.’ “

Belsom said one of the biggest changes began 13 years ago when the church welcomed Micronesians to use the facility in the afternoon. “And then some of them were coming in the morning to worship with us as well,” he said.

That led the church to start an after-school tutoring program for Micronesian youth two days a week at the church. Last school year, about 40 youth participated, working with volunteer tutors from the church.

One Yapese youth, who spoke minimal English when he arrived on Maui four years ago, was recently on the honor roll at Baldwin High School, Belsom said.

“I think part of it has to do with encouragement,” he said. “It’s really funny to call a Japanese lady aunty, but they started to do that. And the relationships are real. The folks doing the tutoring really care. That’s what we’re supposed to be about — showing how we care about each other.

“It wasn’t that you were crossing cultural boundaries but a discovery that someone from another generation, another culture even could care for you to make sure you could be the best you can.”

Ideue said Belsom has been the force behind the tutoring program, even going to pick up youths to bring them to the sessions in the church hall. Through a grant, the church has gotten computers for the tutoring program.

“Pastor Jack was the one helping with math, so now we’re wondering who’s going to help with algebra,” said 95-year-old Lillian Maeda, who is the longest standing member of the church, starting in 1930 when it was the Wailuku Japanese Christian Church.

She was the first woman to serve as church moderator and remembered how, before Belsom arrived, some ministers had stayed only a year or two. “When Pastor Jack came, he promised to stay longer,” she said. “Now it’s 23 years.”

She said Belsom has married two same-sex couples in the church.

The church has joined with Wailuku Union Church for the two-week Joyful Noise summer program that has youth performing a musical with a biblical theme.

“He’s so talented musically,” Maeda said.

Belsom, who was born and raised in New Orleans, served at UCC churches on Kauai before being called to serve the Iao congregation.

Recently, he attended a high school graduation party for a girl he had baptized. He had married the girls’ parents and buried her grandfather. “Basically, I have been here for a generation,” Belsom said.

He considers the cooperation with other churches, youth involvement in the church ministry and reopening of the preschool as “rather momentous.”

In another change, “we finally went from selling lemonade at the county fair to frosty pog,” he said.

“Ministry isn’t one-way,” Belsom said. “This congregation carried me through a divorce and a remarriage, carried me through treatment for lymphoma. That’s why the parting and the release is very difficult. You keep saying I really want to stay till this person graduates, then there’s this one. It goes on like that.

“But at some point, it just became very, very clear that it was time — time for me to do something with a little less time commitment and time for them to find someone to lead them to the next chapter. If you don’t do that, it becomes a personality cult and that’s not what we’re about. We’re directed toward serving God.”

Last Sunday, tents and chairs were set up outside the church for the “aloha hour” social that Belsom insisted be potluck.

He wore a baseball cap saying “And the Lord said Retire and I obeyeth and it was good” — a gift from hanai grandson Maverick Falan and his friend Tazmin Falan.

Maverick Falan, who was 12 when he arrived with his sister from Yap, said he was tutored by Belsom before graduating from Baldwin High School. He now helps coach track and field at Baldwin and works as assistant warehouse manager at Beach Activity Maui.

“We grew up in this church,” said Falan, who lives with Belsom and his wife, Caroline, in Lahaina. “We’re used to having him.

“He puts his own stuff on the side trying to help other people. He has the biggest heart.”

As part of the service Sunday, Belsom performed his “Parting Song” with grandsons Kawika Boro and Kahonukai Boro.

Kawika Boro, now a music teacher in Toledo, Oregon, remembered going to Sunday School and performing in church musicals at Iao.

“Music was just a huge part of my life and my grandpa was a huge part of it,” he said. “It’s sad to know that this part of the journey is pau, but he’s got much more to do. He’s got more people to influence in a positive way.”