About Lighthouse
Also in this section: Lighthouse Committee
Also in this section: Lighthouse Committee
Lighthouse is a holiday week for children run by Christians from all the local churches in the Great Missenden and Prestwood area of Buckinghamshire, England. We now also have a daughter sites in nearby Hazlemere, Burnham and Princes Risbourgh. Our aim is to tell everyone about God's amazing love for us all. We believe that the Bible is God's Word to us and that it shows us how to live. Above all we believe that God sent His son, Jesus Christ, into the world to die and rise again, so that our sins might be forgiven and we might come to know Him. We know from our experience that God is able to provide a peace and hope, which cannot be found anywhere else.
We aim to present God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, to allow children to explore the Bible and to give opportunities for them to accept Jesus, their saviour, as their own special friend.
Lighthouse was started in Great Missenden in 1987, when a group of 6 Christians, from local churches, became convinced that God was calling them to work with children and young people from the area during the school summer holiday.
The organisers planned daily sessions of Biblical teaching and craft for children aged from 5 to 11. To stage the event they decided to hire a large marquee and erect it on the playing field in the village centre. A mainstage was built at one end of the marquee and two people volunteered to act as presenters for the week. To round off the programme of activities, they organised outdoor games sessions on the playing field. The organisers were amazed when approximately 370 children turned up on the first day and even more so when they came back every day of that first week! In the evenings the marquee was used to run activities for the teenagers of the area, many of whom had helped to look after the children during the day.
By 1989, the number of children wanting to attend Lighthouse had risen so much that it was necessary to divide the children up into age groups. There was also a demand for sessions for under 5s, so a separate programme was worked out for them on a half-day basis. A bigger marquee was needed and the village hall next to the field was hired to provide extra space. The number of children attending Lighthouse over the years has risen steadily so that in 1999 over 1999 children were registered and eleven marquees, plus the village hall and the local Baptist Church hall were all put to full use.
After praying about how to cope with the wonderful 'problem' of ever increasing numbers of children wanting to attend Lighthouse, the committee sought other locations nearby, that might be willing to run another Lighthouse event in the same week. A group of people in Hazlemere responded and so in 2000 Lighthouse Hazlemere was begun, with around 650 children in attendance. Lighthouse Hazlemere has taken a firm root and in 2003 had over 900 children. 2002 saw to more Lighthouse events, one in Burnham and one in Princes Risborough giving access to over 3000 children in 2003. The material used at the various Lighthouse sites is developed in conjunction with Lighthouse Great Missenden, so the children there participate in exactly the same programme as those in Great Missenden.
This has been a great development for Lighthouse and the organisers now see the planting of daughter Lighthouses as the way forward for the future. The hope is that ultimately all children should be able to experience the love of God expressed through Lighthouse.
Throughout its phenomenal growth the organisers have never lost sight of the fact that Lighthouse is an ecumenical Christian enterprise. A decision was taken in the first year not to charge children to attend. Fundraising takes place throughout the year, which also helps maintain the profile of Lighthouse locally, and donations are collected, but there is no compulsion to give. We firmly believe that no child should miss Lighthouse for financial reasons. Children of other faiths are welcome to attend, on the understanding that they must attend all sessions including Biblical teaching.
In every year God has provided for all the needs of Lighthouse. The organising committee would like to thank everyone who gives of their time, talents and money but most of all to thank God for His never-ending goodness to us all.