Lighthouse in dark, for now – Christian ministry looks for new home

By JAMES CLARK

Pool, air hockey and video games are among the many activities available at the Lighthouse. Crosley Smith, 8, and Jaren Watts, 6, shoot a game of pool.

When Lighthouse Ministries founder Nathan Smith was told his Christian-based center for kids would have to leave its current location in the old Northgate Skate Center, he said he was looking for a sign of what to do.

Smith said he even thought of closing Lighthouse Ministries completely. Then he saw a graffiti message that was written on the wall outside the Lighthouse entrance.

The message said in part, ‘The Lighthouse has served as a place not only to hang out but as a place to belong and for kids to come and feel safe. This ministry has served many and will continue to be known as the first place that these children experienced Christianity. I will never forget the look of pain I saw in the eyes of these children when they were told this place would close ‘

Smith first opened Lighthouse Ministries seven years ago to provide teens with a place to have fun in a Christian environment. It was first located on Sparta Street before moving to the old Northgate Skate a couple years ago. Tuesday was its final night.

Homeland Community Bank, which is experiencing steady growth, owns the property and needs the space to expand.

Warren County High School senior Matt Brady, a Lighthouse regular, says he’s sad to see the place close.

‘It stinks. It really does,’ said Brady, who enjoys skateboarding at the Lighthouse. ‘I’ve been coming here for five years and I come all the time. But we’ll find a new place. I have trust in Nathan.’

The center had some after-school traffic, but the bulk of its activity came on Friday and Saturday nights when crowds approached 100.

‘I want to be here for the kids and I want to be here for the community,’ said Smith. ‘But we haven’t gotten a lot of support. I’ve been doing this seven years and I feel like most people know we’re here. But even with that, I only have three regular donors a month and three churches. It’s sad.’

With no place to go, Smith says he plans to put all his equipment in storage until he can find a new location. However, that won’t be easy.

Among items inside the Lighthouse are four pool tables, two air hockey tables, about 20 video games, roughly 200 pairs of roller skates, and several skateboard ramps. Smith said he’ll use the labor of several Lighthouse regulars to help him move all the stuff in the coming weeks.

‘It would be nice if we had a place to move instead of having to move to storage and then move again,’ said Smith. ‘Since we’re a 501(c)(3), I’ve talked to some people about donating land or donating a building to us as a tax write off, but nothing has happened yet.’

Smith said despite the adversity it’s his goal to reopen.

‘I don’t know if people think this is just a place to skateboard and play games, but it’s a place to make a difference,’ said Smith. ‘We teach kids about God and a lot of them tell me this is the first place they heard about Jesus.’