Lighthouse Ministries Inc

LIGHTHOUSE MINISTRIES, INC. IS SET APART BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD TO COMMUNICATE THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST AND TO MEET THE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND OTHER NEEDS TO THE POOR AND AT-RISK POPULATION.

LIGHTHOUSE MINISTRIES, INC. CONSISTS OF LIFE LEARNING CAMPUS FOR THE POOR, HOMELESS, AND AT RISK IN WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA COMMUNITIES (LAKELAND, WINTER HAVEN/AUBURNDALE, PLANT CITY, BRANDON, YBOR CITY/TAMPA). OUR PURPOSE IS TO OFFER DIGNITY AND A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL FOR THOSE WE SERVE. WE OFFER OPPORTUNITIES WITH TWO OBJECTIVES: RESCUE AND RECOVERY. RESCUE INCLUDES OVERNIGHT SHELTER, HOPE CENTERS, COMPASSION CONNECTIONS, AND HOMELESS INTERVENTION. LIGHTHOUSE MINISTRIES, INC.'S COMMUNITY HOMELESS INTERVENTION PROGRAM PROVIDES DEDICATED CASE MANAGERS, RESOURCES AND FINANCIAL AID TO PREVENT FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS FROM BEING HOMELESS. IT ALLOWS LIGHTHOUSE MINISTRIES TO CARRY OUT OUR MISSION AND VISION WHILE ASSISTING INDIVIDUALS OR FAMILIES FROM BEING PLAGUED BY HOMELESSNESS AT A MUCH LOWER COST THAN THOSE REQUIRING LONG-TERM CARE. RESCUE SERVICES PROVIDED DURING 2021 THROUGH PROGRAMS INCLUDED: SHELTERING 522 NON-DUPLICATED INDIVIDUALS, PROVIDING 43,816 MEALS AND 18,752 NIGHTS OF LODGING. COMMUNITY HOMELESS INTERVENTION SERVED 329 CLIENTS AND HOUSED 79 CLIENTS. THE HOPE CENTER FOOD BOX DISTRIBUTIONS SERVED 4,228 FAMILIES, 7,838 INDIVIDUALS AND PROVIDED 163,420 MEALS.

THE RESIDENTIAL RECOVERY PROGRAM PROVIDED SHELTER, EDUCATION TO PROVIDE NEXT STEPS INCLUDING GED OR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, COLLEGE, VOCATIONAL, CERTIFICATION, AND EMPLOYMENT PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITIES BEGINNING WITH OUR EMPLOYMENT INTERNSHIP PHASE. RECOVERY INCLUDES WRAP AROUND SERVICES INCLUDING PRESCHOOL, LIGHTHOUSE XTREME KID'S CLUB, EMPLOYMENT, TRANSPORTATION, PASTORAL COUNSELING, LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, BIBLE TRAINING, AND PERSONAL BUDGETING AND SAVINGS INSTRUCTION FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING, THE RECOVERY PROGRAM PROVIDED IN 2021: SERVICES TO 53 MEN, 48 WOMEN, AND 28 CHILDREN, AND PROVIDED 14,247 DAYS OF CARE; ADULT EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT FOR 51 ENROLLED ADULTS, 13 GRADUATES, 12 WORKING TOWARDS GED OR HIGHER EDUCATION COMPLETION. THERE WERE 13 JOBS FOR LIFE GRADUATES AND 23 INTERNS EMPLOYED IN THE MINISTRY. OVER 251,600 MEALS WERE PROVIDED AND 111 MINISTRY-WIDE FAITH DECISIONS. LIGHTHOUSE PROGRAMS FOLLOW FOUR "PATHWAYS OF PROGRESS" THROUGH (1) SPIRITUAL GROWTH, (2) COMMUNITY, (3) INDUSTRY, AND (4) EDUCATION. THE 139 SHELTER BEDS, IN THE SPRAWLING LAKELAND CAMPUS, INCLUDE 66 RESCUE BEDS IN THE GOSPEL RESCUE MISSION FOR HOMELESS MEN, AND 20 BEDS FOR MEN IN THE RECOVERY LIFE LEARNING CAMPUS (ADDITIONAL RECOVERY), AS WELL AS 53 BEDS FOR WOMEN IN THE RECOVERY AND THEIR CHILDREN. MANY OF THE LIGHTHOUSE MINISTRIES' CLIENTS ARE HARD TO REACH INDIVIDUALS - OFTEN WITH COMPLEX BARRIERS TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY - WHO, WITHOUT THIS AGENCY, MIGHT OTHERWISE BE FORGOTTEN OR LEFT BEHIND. CLIENTS RECEIVE A SHOWER, CHANGE OF CLOTHES, CLEAN BED, DINNER AND BREAKFAST. CHAPEL IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE ACTIVITIES ON CAMPUS. IN ADDITION TO STAFF SUPPORT, INCLUDING CASE MANAGEMENT, THERE ARE EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS, INTERNSHIPS, COUNSELING, JOB SUPPORT, AND NEXTSTEP HOUSING ASSISTANCE. LIGHTHOUSE RUNS THE FOLLOWING: FOUR THRIFT STORES (HOPE CENTERS) AS A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE, LOCATED IN BRANDON, PLANT CITY, WHICH IS UNDER RENOVATION, LAKELAND, AND WINTER HAVEN, WHICH SERVES OVER 650 PEOPLE EACH DAY AT THESE LOCATIONS; TWO ADULT LEARNING CENTERS (YBOR CITY AND LAKELAND); A PRE-SCHOOL; AN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM; AND A HOMELESS INTERVENTION PROGRAM. OF THE 8,489 SERVED IN 2021, 79 OF THE HOMELESS WERE HOUSED OR STABILIZED, 101 LIFE LEARNING RESIDENTS WERE SERVED AND 51 ADULT LEARNING AND CAREER CENTER STUDENTS WERE EDUCATED (13 GRADUATED), AND 38 FORMERLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS WERE EMPLOYED. LIGHTHOUSE IS REPLICATING A SUCCESSFUL HOMELESS INTERVENTION PROGRAM AT THE LIGHTOUSE MINISTRIES KIMMINS FAMILY CAMPUS IN YBOR CITY. WE HAVE HIRED A GOSPEL-CENTERED LEADER AND STAFF WITH RESCUE MISSION STRENGTHS IN PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT, EVANGELISM, AND FUNDRAISING.

THE LIGHTHOUSE XTREME KIDS CLUBS HAS EXPANDED TO MULTIPLE NEIGHBORHOOD LOCATIONS IN LAKELAND WHERE STAFF CAN BRING AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS TO CHILDREN IN AT-RISK NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY. KIDS CLUB STAFF WORK WITH THE LIGHTHOUSE HOPE CENTERS TO PROVIDE SERVICES AND PRODUCTS TO THE FAMILIES IN THESE COMMUNITIES.

LIGHTHOUSE HAS A GUIDESTAR GOLD SEAL FOR EXCELLENCE AND TRANSPARENCY WITH A 6.05 MILLION BUDGET, 110 STAFF MEMBERS, 38 OF WHOM ARE FORMALLY HOMELESS AND/OR FORMER CLIENTS AND ARE COMMITTED TO CHRIST. LIGHTHOUSE ALSO COMPLETED THE CITYGATE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR MEMBER MISSIONS AND SUCCESSFULLY RECEIVED THE CITYGATE ACCREDITED DISTINGUISHED AWARD AND A CHARITY NAVIGATOR FOUR STAR RATING. THE MINISTRY ALSO RECEIVED THE MOODY BOLD STEPS AWARD IN 2020 PRESENTED BY DR. MARK JOBE, THE PRESIDENT OF MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE.