The Lighthouse

 

“And therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying,’ I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12

The need for primary and secondary schools in Burkina is at an extreme. Elementary classrooms have 80+ students with only one teacher! If a child completes 6th grade it is often necessary to leave the family and move to a larger village that has a secondary school with a seat available. There is quite often no parental, no adult supervision. Children fend for themselves to find and prepare food. If living with a relative they are often mistreated. This is the cost and the sacrifice of gaining an education. I have seen the children sitting at a small table and trying to read by candle light! A friend tells me of a group in the city sitting on a cement wall to get closer to the street lamp for reading light.

Television reports the horrors some young women endure just to remain in class. The same report tells of the challenges for a young woman to stay in school. She will be the one carrying water to bathe younger siblings. She is the one who will wash the clothes during mid-day break. She is the one who will help mom prepare the evening meal. She will be the one to wash the dishes. Thus, she will be the one falling asleep over her schoolbook.

The need for evangelical teachers and Bible-based Christian schools like our “LIGHTHOUSE” is designed to be are rare. Moreover, when a quality school is found the prices are out of reach except for the wealthy. That is where our ‘vision’ for the LIGHTHOUSE is different. We are committed to educate the orphans. We are committed to educate the child-at-risk. We are committed to limit class size so every student will know they are special and individual learning needs addressed. We are committed to place a primary and assistant teacher in each classroom. We are committed to reach the entire family with the Gospel message. We are committed, before our Beloved Lord to love each child as He loves us!

God has provided through generous donors the 6 classrooms we have.  Each year we have added a grade and now have 1st through 5th grades, with approximately 33 students in each classroom. We are ‘faithing’ God  in the years ahead for on-site secondary education. We are believing many of our LIGHTHOUSE students will continue on to the University. We are believing that many…most…dare we say all…students that come and remain at the LIGHTHOUSE for their education will turn to Jesus as their Savior and Lord! How can we seem to be so certain?

Celebrate with us! Praise the Power and Majesty of the Lord with us!

“ Ah Lord God! Behold, Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by Thy great power and by Thine outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for Thee.” (Jeremiah 32:17)