For centuries lighthouses have been used to help the maritime community navigate through rough and rocky seas.

Now Andrea Lightbourne-Webster is hoping a new non-profit organisation, Lighthouse Ministry Foundation, will serve a similar purpose by offering light, guidance and support for people grappling with a rough patch in their lives.

Launching officially with a kick-off event on Saturday, the foundation aims to help inspire individuals to recognise their God-given abilities so they can live more fulfilled lives.

It also aims to be a safe place where people can be heard, understood and encouraged to reach their maximum potential.

Dr Lightbourne-Webster said: “In Bermuda today there are myriad major events that have arisen resulting in loss in various forms, be it a job loss, relationship loss, loss of life or loss of joy, peace, trust etc.

“These losses often produce overwhelming pain. The Lighthouse Ministry Foundation is a non-profit bridging agency established to bring together helping professionals and spiritual leaders equipped for the task of providing empowering resources to encourage and empower individuals in need.”

While there may be some individuals uncomfortable with the thought of seeking help directly from professional agencies or in their more familiar circles like their social club, church or family, she believes the new foundation can be an alternate resource.

Dr Lightbourne-Webster will be hosting an official launch and ministry event at the Salvation Army Citadel, North Street in Hamilton, on Saturday from 9am until 2pm. People are invited to come out to network, learn more about the organisation and participate in fun group building exercises that show first-hand the impact the foundation’s services can have.

“The launch will give us a chance to share with the community about what we do,” she said.

“We’re not necessarily dealing with people with extreme problems, but it could be they are struggling with a personal relationship or family challenge or something is happening at their job and they just need a voice and some support.

“They may not be able to vent those concerns to their boss, for example or feel comfortable sharing their issues where they are well known, for whatever reason, or maybe they feel they will be unfairly judged in more familiar circles. Whatever the reason, the Lighthouse Ministry Foundation aims to provide a safe place where individuals will have neutral support, spiritual guidance and the professional help that they need.”

Dr Lightbourne-Webster felt a call to start a support organisation shortly after last Christmas.

The Bermuda College Senior Lecturer told The Royal Gazette: “After the turkey and ham were put aside last year I started to reflect on my sense of purpose. For most people it’s New Year’s Resolutions, but for me it was a time of personal meditation and spiritual reflection. As a result, the idea came to reach out and lend a hand to try to help people.

“It was around the time that the multiple murders took place [of Ricco Furbert and Haile Outerbridge last January]. I had a strong urge to genuinely to help in some way. The question in my brain was, “What can I do to make a difference?”

She also heard some well known community activists speaking on the radio, calling for a faith-based approach to addressing social ills and getting down to the underlying cause of the issues.

Her vision was then reaffirmed and a few volunteer workers supported her idea and she began meetings in her home.

She said: “For me it’s not about what church you belong to or what organisations you belong to, but rather a question of who needs help? So that’s the underlying premise of the Lighthouse Ministry Foundation.”

Dr Lightbourne-Webster said the foundation’s services were crucial in this day and age as more families continue to struggle in the economic downturn and other social ills continue to wreak havoc on our small community.

She believes there are many people who are suffering and just need an unbiased listening ear and guidance to point them back in the right direction.

“At one time your neighbour would come over your house and sit down and talk with you. Now you don’t know who your neighbours are or you might not want them inside your house.

“Neighbourhoods have changed, communities have changed and we are no longer the village we used to be. I think that is what The Lighthouse Ministry Foundation is hoping to recapture.”

The launch celebration event costs $29 (to cover the cost of workshop materials, light refreshments, giveaway gifts) and $35 at the door of the Salvation Army Citadel, North Street in Hamilton. Tickets are available at the Music Box, Blades Hair Salon (upper level of Washington Mall) and Love It Boutique (lower level of Washington Mall).

For more details, you can also e-mail info@lighthouseministryfoundation.com or call 292-6867.

Useful website: www.lighthouseministryfoundation.com