How Lighthouse Began…
A view of the art-deco style lighthouse and breakwater bordering the Port Washington Harbor
It all started when…
In late 2017, pastors from five churches in the Port Washington and Saukville communities were discussing youth programming in their respective communities of faith. While programming for elementary youth seemed to be moving along well, there were significant challenges when it came to developing programming for middle and high school youth. They began asking members of their congregations to envision the idea of several local churches banding together to offer youth ministry activities.
In early 2018, meetings with representatives of the five churches were held to begin talking about how a group like this might work - how it would be governed, funded, staffed, and structured. A new shared youth ministry model seemed like an impossible task, yet many people felt strongly about making this new opportunity for youth of our communities into a reality!
Inception and Incorporation…
Fast forward to April 2018. Multiple meetings about what this group could look like turned into selecting two board members from each of the five sponsoring churches:
This board began meeting every two weeks with the goal of having something organized and activities planned by the beginning of the 2018-2019 School Year. As a board we found it very easy to get along and we were able to move quickly to engage the assistance of an attorney to help us build articles of incorporation. We would be supported by each of the five member churches financially through annual contributions or dues, but the idea was to build an autonomous, self-governed 501c3 non-profit organization. Thus we created the Port Washington-Saukville Ecumenical Youth Ministry or PWSEYM.
Divine Intervention…
Among the numerous questions and challenges to bringing this new organization into being, several things began to fall into place. We found a place to meet that did not require the group to split time among the various church buildings, and we were very excited to make the space our own. With the help of a Thrivent Financial Action Team grant, community fundraisers, and countless hours of donated time from volunteers, the Lighthouse facility underwent a huge remodel in 2019.
We also were able to hire a part-time Director and begin offering some youth programming. Things were off to a great start and the future was looking bright.
Where we are Today…
Unfortunately, like everything else, Lighthouse was greatly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, which caused all programming to be put on hold for nearly 2 years. However, despite the many struggles the pandemic brought, we feel as though Lighthouse has finally turned a new page.
2022 brought about a lengthy discernment process where we spent time in conversation as a board, as congregations, and reaching out to community members to help get things moving again. We reflected on our mission and vision, and have spent a great deal of time thinking about what Lighthouse is and what role it plays in the community. We also hired a new director in June 2022 and are excited for the leadership and fresh ideas she brings to the table!
Regular programming has resumed and we are looking ahead to experimenting with some new and exciting endeavors as well.
While we know we are far from having everything all figured out, we are thankful for all those who have helped us get to this point, and can’t wait to see what God has in store for this ministry in the years to come!
Photos From #GivingTuesday2018 Fundraiser
