Mark & Dayna's Blog: Eastertide 2026

April 26, 2026

Eastertide 2026

Greetings in the wonderful Name of our Risen Lord Jesus!

Blessed Eastertide! That’s not a word I’ve used very much in fifty years of rejoicing in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. But this year that word has brought renewed focus to the wonder of what He has accomplished by His cross-work for us.

Our RECLAIM Director of Staff Care reminded us of the word Eastertide as she wrote for our April Concert of Prayer,

The Great Fifty Days of Eastertide

“Why 50 Days? Its actually quite simple. After the resurrection, Jesus spent forty days on earth before he ascended, and then there were ten more days after that before the Day of Pentecost. Luke writes in the first chapter of Acts that Jesus “presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.” In chapter two, we find the followers of Jesus gathered for the Day of Pentecost, which actually means “fifty”…So the Great Fifty Days are a celebration of the Resurrection of Christ and all that means for us, leading to the launching of the Christian Church and its mission on Pentecost.”

As a pastor I can be so busy getting stuff ready for the big celebration, my day is more about activity than adoration. Easter is over and I rarely have time to sit and ponder the wonder. Even after we have taken down our Easter banners and packed up our fancy dress are we still rejoicing in all that our Mighty Champion has achieved for His Church and the world!? I am trying.

Another thing that perked our Eastertide joy was today’s arrival of our local newspaper, the Kohala Mountain News. They printed two articles that I wrote about our community Easter activities….(yes, that's our son, Josiah, taking his turn carrying the cross in the above picture)

We were encouraged to be highlighted in this month’s RECLAIM Community News, they wrote….

“Mark and Dayna Blair praise the Lord for bringing them together to love each other and invite people into their lives. Dayna brings God’s aloha of kindness and giving, Mark offers Calvinism with a California chill.

In 1983, Mark and Dayna moved to Arua, Uganda after one year of marriage, to teach in St Paul’s Theological College (Ringili) of the Church of Uganda (Anglican). From Africa their family of five returned to pastor Dayna’s home church – where they met – in Hilo, Hawaii. Seven years later they moved with their teenage sons to Almaty, Kazakhstan where the boys graduated from high school. They served the first Christian theological seminary offering courses in Kazakh language! During those years they discovered the beauty of international Christian fellowship as Mark was asked to pastor the ICF Almaty.

After eleven happy years they moved from Almaty to Beijing, where they served in one of the English language churches in the university district – surrounded by 82 universities! Worship there was a taste of heaven “from every nation, tribe, people, and language.” Twelve years passed quickly! Five years ago, they moved home to Hawaii. A small church that supported them for many years invited them to come and live in their beautiful corner of the Big Island. They are seeing the Lord work even there.

Today, Mark and Dayna serve as part of Reclaim’s Staff Care team, using their experience as overseas workers and pastors to encourage Reclaim’s global staff.”