James Marocco, senior pastor of King’s Cathedral and Chapels (Assemblies of God) on the island of Maui, Hawaii, has long known the power of vision. It takes vision to pastor for 38 years and plant more than 150 campuses.

Marocco first came to Hawaii in 1976 as part of the pastoral team at First Assembly of God in Honolulu. In 1980, a church on Maui invited him to serve as its pastor. With fewer than 100 people attending each Sunday, some might have seen the small size as a hurdle. Marocco saw it as an opportunity.

“I preached on vision to 80 people my very first Sunday,” Marocco says. “I told them we would be a church of 6,000 someday. At that time, the biggest church on Maui was only 200.”

But Marocco knew the vision was from God, so he believed in it. And so did the congregation. The next week, attendance doubled. Within a year, it was 700 weekly. What began as simple obedience to an inspiring vision was bearing fruit.

Today, King’s Cathedral has 168 campuses in Hawaii, Alaska, and the U.S. mainland, as well as in 11 other countries. Vision is still the key to keeping the pace. In 2005, the church completed its “12/12/12 Vision,” which involved starting Parent Affiliated Churches in 12 nations, 12 locations in the continental U.S., and 12 extensions in Hawaii.

“Your vision will either restrict you or propel you.”
— James Marocco

“Your vision will either restrict you or propel you,” Marocco says.

The success of that first vision led to the next step, “120/20 Vision.” In 2012, the church met the new goal of 120 campuses and 20,000 in attendance weekly. Despite the many campuses, languages and leaders in one church, the focus remains on mission.

“When you’re one church with the comradery we have, it’s absolutely amazing the unity we have,” Marocco says. “We are united by vision.”

Three times a year, pastors and leaders from the Parent Affiliated Churches come together in Hawaii for a time of training, encouraging and celebration. Topics include life groups, prayer and evangelism. Such gatherings not only help equip staff members but unite them as well. That unity is what makes vision so attainable, says Marocco, who continues to trust God for the future.

“By 2020, we are believing God for 100 mainland congregations, 200 international congregations and 30,000 disciples in attendance weekly,” Marocco says, laying out the new “1 2 3 Vision.”

Vision often requires sacrifice from the leader. Years ago, King ’s Cathedral launched its first Parent Affiliated Church on the island of Molokai. Sensing God calling him to plant there, Marocco asked repeatedly for a pastor to serve that congregation.

“God finally told me, ‘I want you to do this,’” he says.

So, after preaching two services on Sunday morning, Marocco would board a small plane and fly to Molokai for an afternoon service in a school auditorium.

“We couldn’t even afford a worship pastor,” Marocco says. “So I led worship on my ukulele.”

That humble willingness to do whatever it takes has exemplified King’s Cathedral from the start. It is also integral to the ongoing success as a multiplying church.

This article originally appeared in the September/October 2018 edition of Influence magazine.