Ten-year old Alvin resident collects 600 coats for less fortunate

At ten years old, Alvin resident, Jace Dungan, is reaching out to Lighthouse Christian Ministries (LCM) for assistance in distributing more than 600 winter coats to our neighbors in need.  

Last Christmas, Jace and his grandfather, Mark Higdon, were driving through an underpass when Jace noticed a homeless family beneath the bridge.  Asking who they were and why they were there, Higdon explained that not everyone is as fortunate as they.  He told Jace that sometimes people just have some bad luck and needed a little help. 

One thing Jace noticed right away was they weren’t wearing any coats on that cold November day, and that’s when he went into action.  With help from his family, Jace began collecting coats.  Using social media and through word of mouth, Jace collected 235 coats that he donated to Lighthouse Christian Ministries to distribute free. Jace didn’t stop there, however.  He vowed to double that number of coats for this Christmas.  He recently made good on his promise by delivering a portion of the more than 600 coats he has collected.

“This is a wonderful problem to have this time of year,” said Tammy Eckart, Operations Director for Lighthouse Christian Ministries.  “Fortunately, we’ve had a fairly mild winter so forth, but we will get these coats into the hands of people who need them most.”

Twice monthly, LCM holds a mobile food distribution fairs at Spillway Park in San Leon and at K.E. Little Elementary School in Bacliff.  The plan is to distribute some of the coats during the food fairs as well as through other nonprofit agencies. 

This isn’t the first act of philanthropy for Jace and his grandad, whom he calls “Pops”.  At Christmas, Jace writes Christmas cards to soldiers serving overseas who can’t be home for Christmas.

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LCM Volunteers Work Hard to Assist our Senior Neighbors

Lighthouse recently received a call from a local senior to report her central air conditioning unit was not working and it was 89 degrees in her trailer, and 110 degrees in her small bathroom. She also advised she needed assistance with her electric bill which was high due to the use of fans and a small, undersized window unit that barely cooled her bedroom. She had already been rushed by ambulance to the hospital as a result of dehydration three weeks prior.

Lighthouse volunteers from the Senior Program met with the lady and she said she was in need of a new unit since the repair man had told her the A/C unit was not repairable. LCM gave her another fan to at least circulate the air. After making several phone calls to various recreational vehicle vendors, we were advised a new unit would cost more than $700 to repair the unit which did not include installation.

In the meantime, LCM was notified by her neighbors the starter in her car had gone out and she would be unable to talk with anyone to assist with her electric bill. She was on the cusp of getting her electric turned off.  LCM contacted a local auto repair shop and the owner repaired the starter at no cost. LCM volunteers located a recreational vehicle repair man who agreed to waive his normal $65 service fee to look at her cooling unit. After meeting with the repair man, he replaced two parts on her A/C at no cost.

Our senior neighbor was able to get her car repaired, have her electric bill paid, and now has central air conditioning, all to the glory of God and the assistance of Lighthouse Christian Ministries senior ministry.

Out of the Mouths of Babes: Nataly’s Story

Nataly is a mother of two.  A few years ago, although she was a member of a church, she felt there was something missing in her life.  Seeking something, but not knowing what that was, she joined a Bible study group for women, and heard the story of David.  Like David, Nataly felt the Lord had very definite plans for her life and for her children.

“I was a Sunday Christian,” Nataly said.  “I left my old church because I didn’t feel I was growing spiritually, and I began actively seeking God and His plan for my life.”

Nataly and her family visited several churches and by strange coincidence, as she thought, her children were invited to attend the Lighthouse Christian Ministries Kidz Dayz summer day camp at Bayshore Friends Church in Bacliff.  When September rolled around and the young family still had not found a church home, her daughter asked, “Hey Mom, do you want to go to my church?”

A bit shocked and confused by the remark, Nataly told her daughter she didn’t know she had a church.  She asked, “is this the same church where you went to summer camp?”  Fast forward four years and Nataly has found a church home for her family and God’s plan she was seeking.

“I prayed for a church where I could grow spiritually and also where my kids and I could become involved in church activities,” she said.  “A big part of my decision to join Bayshore Friends was because the people made us feel so welcome and loved.”

This summer marks the third year she and her children have been involved at the Kidz Dayz summer camp.  Nataly has become quite active in the church, acting as a translator for Spanish speaking members of the congregation, cooking meals for the Loaves and Fishes ministry, and working with the youth groups.

“Jesus said, ‘Leave the children alone, and don't try to keep them from coming to me, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’" – Matthew 19:14

Lighthouse Christian Ministries

Kidz Dayz Summer Camp

Be a  Kidz Dayz sponsor!

Kidz Dayz 2019 will be held July 8 through August 2.  Lighthouse Christian Ministries is making plans now for the annual summer camp.  The program was conceived out of necessity in 2014 to make available breakfast and lunch during the summer months for children who were eligible for the free and reduced school meals programs in Bayview, Bacliff, Kemah and San Leon.  Students who have completed K-5th grade are eligible to spend four weeks at a local church under the guidance of Lighthouse Christian Ministries staff and volunteers, but any child under the age of 18 is welcome to come and enjoy a free breakfast or lunch during serving hours.

Since its inception in 2014, more than 500 children have participated in Kidz Dayz.  Roughly 100 children daily enjoy breakfast and lunch while learning about new things.  They travel on field trips to The Aquarium, Bayou Wildlife Park, roller skating rink, and other venues.  A variety of guests such as artists, magicians, musicians, conflict resolution professionals, fashion experts, and sports figures are invited to make special presentations and entertain the campers.  The Kidz Dayz campers recently enjoyed a visit from a Harlem Globetrotter.

Since many of the parents struggle with transportation, On Point Transportation has graciously provided buses and drivers to get the kids to and from the Kidz Dayz summer camp.  Such an undertaking each summer also requires many partnerships with local churches and organizations for volunteers, chaperones and general helpers.  The Houston Food Bank and Galveston County Food Bank team up with Lighthouse to provide the food for the campers.  Aside from the nutritional support they receive while attending the 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. summer camp, each child is provided with Kidz Packz to supplement their nutritional needs on the weekends.

Your donation of $125 as a Kidz Dayz sponsor will allow one child to attend the four-week summer camp and provide them with more than 40 meals.  Friday field trip sponsorship opportunities are also available.  Your gift of $1,000 will send 100 kids on a field trip to Moody Gardens, Jumping World, Crocodile Encounter, or any of the scheduled Friday field trips during Kidz Dayz.  For many of our kids, this will be the highlight of their summer.  If you would like to volunteer your time, be a Kidz Dayz sponsor, a donation of snack items or supplies for crafts or other activities, contact Marissa Reiter at marissa@lighthousecm.org or call 281-339-3033, ext. 301.

Click here to become a Kidz Dayz sponsor. https://bit.ly/2Xoz5Au

National Day of Prayer

LCM Parking Lot

Thursday, May 2, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Jesus said, “Knowing their thoughts, He told them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for destruction, and a house divided against itself falls.”       

Luke 11:17

Christians Need to Pray for America

Many Christians are so disappointed and fed up with matters about America, they struggle even to pray for our nation, but whether we enjoy it or not, it is needed.

God is our hope; our last, great and only hope. Therefore, we need to pray like we believe this with all we are.  America needs to experience the next great move of God.  That is why we pray. That is why we will prioritize praying for America on our upcoming National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 2.

Prayer precedes every great movement of God biblically and historically. Therefore, we need to pray and ask God for a mighty, great spiritual awakening across America. That is why the National Day of Prayer is a nationwide movement of prayer for America.

“Love one another, just as I have loved you.” John 13:34

Christians need to follow Jesus’ teaching of loving one another. We need a Love One Another movement that begins in the church of Jesus Christ. We should love all people just like Jesus did and still does: willfully, sacrificially and unconditionally.

• The Bible is God’s infallible Word; it is Truth without any mixture of error.
• Jesus is the Son of God and the hope of the world; therefore, salvation is faith alone in Christ alone.
• We must focus our lives, churches, and futures on taking the gospel of Jesus Christ to every person in America and across the world.

We need to prepare future generations spiritually and vocationally for what God wants them to be and how He wants them to live for Him.

That is why we believe our greatest hope lies only in Jesus Christ, His Gospel, and the advancement of this Good News message reaching every corner of America and across this world.

While we call out to God for His Church to be revived by the Spirit and begin to love one another, resulting in coming together in unity, we need to simultaneously pray extraordinarily for the next Great Spiritual Awakening in America.

(Excerpted from: A Divided America: 3 Responses by Ronnie W. Floyd)

Lighthouse Christian Ministries

Kidz Dayz Summer Camp

Lighthouse Christian Ministries has been serving our community since 1997 through five core ministries; educational programs, short-term assistance, health and dental, a resale shop and outreach programs.  Each ministry has its own unique and various facets that enables Lighthouse to serve a multitude of diverse people and needs.  Arguably, the Outreach Ministry has the broadest range of programs and serves a wide array of people with an entire spectrum of needs.

Kidz Dayz, a summer day camp is perhaps the most ambitious program the Outreach Ministry undertakes each year.  The program was conceived out of necessity in 2014 to make available breakfast and lunch during the summer months for children who were eligible for the free and reduced school meals programs in Bayview, Bacliff, Kemah and San Leon.  Students who have completed K-5th grade are eligible to spend four weeks at a local church under the guidance of Lighthouse staff and volunteers, but any child under the age of 18 is able to come and enjoy a free breakfast or lunch during serving hours.

Since its inception, more than 500 children have participated in Kidz Dayz.  Roughly 70 children daily enjoy breakfast and lunch while learning about new things.  They travel on field trips to The Aquarium, Bayou Wildlife Park, roller skating rink, and other venues.  A variety of guests such as artists, magicians, musicians, conflict resolution professionals, fashion experts, and sports figures are invited to make special presentations and entertain the campers.  The Kidz Dayz campers recently enjoyed a visit from a Harlem Globetrotter.

Since many of the parents struggle with transportation, On Point Transportation has graciously provided buses and drivers to get the kids to and from the Kidz Dayz summer camp.  Such an undertaking each summer also requires many partnerships with local churches and organizations for volunteers, chaperones and general helpers.  The Houston Food Bank and Galveston County Food Bank team up with Lighthouse to provide the food for the campers.  Aside from the nutritional support they receive while attending the 8a.m. – 12p.m. summer camp, each child is provided with Kidz Packz to supplement their nutritional needs on the weekends.

Kidz Dayz is a monumental task for all involved and approximately 100 volunteers will be needed to provide support for the annual summer camp.  Kidz Dayz 2019 will be held July 8 through August 2.  Lighthouse Christian Ministries is making plans now for the annual summer camp.  If you would like to volunteer your time, make a financial contribution, a donation of snack items or supplies for crafts or other activities, contact Marissa Reiter at marissa@lighthousecm.org or call 281-339-3033, ext. 301.

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Lighthouse Christian Ministries History, So Far

 ^“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

Lighthouse Christian Ministries was originally founded as Bay Area Christian Services (BACS) in December 1997 after years of praying and preparation, led primarily by Bayview residents Chuck Gussler and Karl Newmann, pastor of Bayshore Friends Church.  A local businessman, who preferred to remain anonymous, committed to match all donations up to $10,000 to begin the Resale Shop and Gift Emporium that would provide revenue to continue the mission of the ministry. The original location for the ministry was at 1201 State Highway 146 in Kemah.

The name of the resale store changed to the Bay Area Trading Post and funded several community services at BACS.  The services included limited financial assistance for utilities and gasoline, food from local food pantries, a clothing allowance for families, job interview techniques, access to job boards, contact information to local employers and resume reviews.  The ministry made resource packets available for additional services available through area churches and organizations.  The packets included information on local programs and events for seniors, families and youth, referrals to parenting workshops, financial management and pastoral counseling to promote strong families and self-reliance.

The Bay Area Trading Post was such a success in Kemah a second resale shop was established in League City in July 2000 under the name Lighthouse Resale and Gift Shoppe.  Both resale locations closed when the BACS ministry expanded and moved into a larger building at 800 Grand Avenue in 2004. With the expansion, the ministry added an educational scholarship program and launched a medical services component while extending its reach through new partnerships with area churches and businesses.  In 2007 Hurricane Ike caused extensive damage to many residents in the community.  The BACS facility also sustained heavy damaged, but the ministry continued to provide hurricane recovery services to those affected.

In 2009, the newly rebuilt facility opened at the same location and the name of the organization was officially changed to Lighthouse Christian Ministries.  The facility expansion included a new medical clinic and room for new programs. Under the direction of newly appointed Executive Director, Erika Steele, LCM began expanding the services and the reach of the ministry.  Lighthouse continued to grow and expand by adding a Houston Food Bank Summer Nutrition program and a GED tutoring program. Partnerships with the local Lions Club provided free eye screenings and eyeglasses, and a Pregnancy Center providing services to pregnant women and mothers with children under the age of three.  Dental health services were added in 2013 to provide free or low-cost dental care through volunteer dentists.  The Kidz Dayz summer youth program was launched the next year and continues to provide 3,000 meals each summer. Mobile food distributions in San Leon and Bacliff became possible through a partnership with the Galveston Food Bank providing food to hundreds in the community.

Most recently, a tutoring program for the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test was created for neighbors who plan to join the military.  A community garden has been established at K.E. Little Elementary School to provide fresh vegetables for our community neighbors.  Ministry volunteers have established a Senior Gathering twice monthly at the Grand Avenue site for our eldest neighbors to fellowship, have lunch, and hear speakers present topics of interest. 

From its humble beginnings in 1997, Lighthouse Christian Ministries has remained true to its founding principles of service to the community and spreading Christ’s love to its neighbors and beyond.  In 2017, LCM provided $670,000 in food distributions and financial assistance, given $33,000 in scholarships, made available $300,000 in health care services, served 275 dental patients with $736,000 in dental care, and provided $50,000 in community services through their many outreach programs.

The mission of the ministry continues to be “Building relationships through service, to shine Christ’s love and hope in our community.”  As when the ministry was begun, a portion of the ministry funding is still provided by the Lighthouse Resale Shop which continues to offer quality donated household goods, furniture, antiques, collectibles and gently worn clothes at a fraction of the original cost.  Generous donors and loyal benefactors provide support for the ministry as well.

The LCM board of directors recently approved the purchase of a plot of land adjacent to the current location and discussions have begun to expand the LCM facility once again.  The Lighthouse Christian Ministries began with a courageous plan to spread the love of Christ to all our neighbors through our good works.  He has been with us and our tasks have been greatly rewarded through the years; and now He calls us to even greater works.  Through Him, the beacon of God’s love will perpetually shine in all our neighborhoods.

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Lighthouse Christian Ministries

Lighthouse Annual Report 2018

Through the generous donations and gifts for our friends and loyal supporters, the Lighthouse family of staff and volunteers has had an amazing impact for all our neighbors in the community.  Staying true to our mission, LCM is spreading Christ's love and hope in our community.

The link below will take you to the LCM web page for the 2018 Annual Report.  Please take a look and see what your volunteerism and gifts have done for so many in our community.

Lighthouse Annual Report 2018

Lighthouse Christian Ministries

Rosita Lopez – Dreams Can Come True

For most of us, graduating high school is a right of passage we simply take for granted.  But for some students, high school graduation never happened.  Life circumstances cut short their educational pursuits and replaced those dreams with a full-time job, an instant family, or a broken home.  Rosita Lopez was one of those students who never experienced the joy of walking across that stage and receiving the diploma.

Rosita had to give up her schooling in order to go to work at a young age to help support her family and never graduated high school.  But she never gave up her dreams of getting her high school diploma.  After working at the same company for more than 20 years, cutbacks dictated layoffs and Rosita found herself without a job.  That’s when she realized she needed that high school diploma in order to qualify for a new position.  But it was more than that for Rosita.

“At 63 years old, I needed to find a new job,” Rosita said.  “but it was also a matter of personal fulfillment and pride for me to finally accomplish something that had been nagging at me all those years.”

Rosita had never given up her dream of finishing her schooling and actively sought out a GED completion program.  She found the Lighthouse GED Tutoring program and immediately enrolled.  With all her life experiences, she progressed through the program very quickly and took her GED exam within a year of beginning the LCM tutoring program.  When asked to speak about her experiences in the program to the newer students, she had this to say.

“First, don’t wait until you’re 63 to begin this program,” she said with a grin. “These teachers gave me their personal time after class, I was able to send them emails on the weekend, and they sat and prayed with me when I needed it most.  If you do your part, these ladies will not let you fail.”

Approximately 25 students participated in the Lighthouse GED Tutorial program in 2018, and along with Rosita, three other students graduated from the program and passed their exam.  Those students were finally able to experience the excitement of accomplishing something so many of us take for granted.

Lighthouse Christian Ministries

Springtime Comes to the Community Garden

In 2015, K.E. Little Elementary School in Bacliff was selected as the site for a community garden that would be the start of a successful partnership between the school, Lighthouse Christian Ministries, and community volunteers.  The two-fold mission for the garden was to establish an outdoor laboratory for the students who attend K.E. Little, and to provide fresh produce for LCM to distribute. 

Initially established by Clear Lake Presbyterian Church, the garden enjoys the talents and gifts of countless volunteers who have instituted many innovative horticultural techniques.  The garden managers created a drip tubing watering system, solar panels, composting beds, and a system to capture and retain rainwater. 

The spring planting has been accomplished with tomatoes, lettuce, kale, spinach, collards, cilantro and bush beans.  In other beds we have cucumbers, zucchini, and peppers.  The newest venture for the garden is creating a butterfly and hummingbird habitat where the students and community can visit and experience first-hand the wonders of nature.

“All beds have been planted and warm weather is helping everything to grow. Lettuce and kale are taking off and some tomato plants are already four feet tall,” Don Hogarth, our resident gardening expert, announced last week. “We should look to start harvesting in late April. Also, many monarch butterflies have come and gone from our new butterfly habitat. The garden is thriving. Amen!”