It’s important to know that Christians are everywhere in the world, and some of the bravest and saintliest are in countries we think of as Muslim – such as Egypt, Turkey, and Libya – or countries we don’t think of at all; like the Ivory Coast or the Congo. Christians are under attack now in those places to a degree never seen before, and all at once. Militant Islamic extremists are bloody-minded and hoping to gain power over Africa and the entire Middle East, and they despise dissenters. They’re working hard to wipe out all western influences, and they see Christians as the worst manifestation of the Western Tradition of civilization. Although most Muslims worldwide don’t share the extremist goal of a New Caliphate – or world empire – it doesn’t require more than a small percentage of Muslim radicals to sow violence, death, and chaos.
(see footnote below).
I’ve had the privilege in recent days of meeting many of the members of the Africa Lighthouse Baptist Church here in Charlottesville, and a more warm, friendly, and gentle group of people are not to be found anywhere. Almost all of them are immigrants from Kenya, Rwanda. Liberia, Tanzania, Togo, etc., and they waited many years for permission to come to the U.S. Some barely escaped with their lives, and arrived here with very little. But they’re grateful and anxious to work and succeed. Some of them have succeeded, and admirably, in the few years since their coming.
I’m living in the home of their minister, Rev. Peter Chege, for a few weeks, and we’re sharing food, perceptions, and spiritual awareness. I’ve always wanted to visit Africa, but was wary of the chaos and hardship there. Now it appears Africa has come to me, and I’m really enjoying it. God is moving us, wherever we live in the world, to gather together. All of us faithful people of good will need to support each other. (A Visitor)
This is what oone of the first time visitors who visited us on Sunday had to say about our church.
I came to America six months ago. I went to the church the very first Sunday I was here as is my custom. When I went to the American Church everything was so different. I could not understand the language, the people were all in a hurry and hardly no on one took time to notice me. I determined that I will not go back to church until I learn English. Then I heard about Africa Lighthouse Baptist Temple from an African colleague at work. I determined that I would go there the following Sunday. When I visted Sunday for the first time everything was so different from my past experience. I was right at home. The Pastor offered to pick me every Sunday to church. Now even when I have to work on Sunday, I have a church to send my children. Praise God.
If you are asking, why another church in town that is just one of the many reasons why. Please come and visit with us and experience the African Christian Atmosphere that will truly warm your heart. No mattter where you come from you will feel right at home. Because this is the church where everybody is somebody and Jesus Christ Is Lord. Amen