Salvation and opportunity at the Lighthouse

By Wenee Yap

Wedged between a brothel and a mechanics' workshop in Granville is an unlikely source of salvation.

Every Friday night and Sunday morning, a predominantly African congregation gathers in the unassuming, peach-painted building to share "soul songs" and the Christian gospel.

Most members of the Lighthouse International Chapel come from war-ravaged Sierra Leone or other African countries such as Ghana, Kenya and South Africa. Some come from Asia, while others can trace their lineage to Russian aristocracy.

What unites them is their Christian faith and their belief in the equality of opportunity in Australia.

"My way of integration is 100 per cent through the church,'' said Alex Mwangi, a young Kenyan IT professional who started out working midnight shifts in a factory while studying to gain his qualifications.

"My pastor - a great leader - gave me tips on how to get a job and a place to stay,'' Mr Mwangi said.

"Also, a Christian is a Christian everywhere. We are all Christians and we all love God and that helps our integration in the community, the way of life here.''

The Granville church, one of three Lightouse congregations in Sydney, was established about ten years ago.

"I think a lot of Africans are disappointed when they come to Australia, because they leave behind all their Third World problems and are faced with a new set of problems - First World problems,'' said Larissa Kernebone, a church member for four years and law student at the University of Technology, Sydney.

"A lot come over as students. Many of the church are upper class Africans. They understand that education is what they need to get out of poverty.''

Another member of the congregation, who asked to be identified only as John, emigrated from Sierre Leone and worked at a factory for six months when he first arrived in Australia.

"If you just work as a labourer, there are no prospects, you'll be in the same position for the next 20 to 30 years,'' he said.

John is about to complete his electrical engineering studies at Granville TAFE. He was a Christian before he joined the Lighthouse Chapel congregation in Sydney.

"Without Christianity, nothing else makes sense. People who lead such selfish lives, even when they are learned - they're so messed up.''

John left Sierre Leone at a time of civil war and chaos.

"[There was] no order, nothing made sense, yet they were fighting,'' he said. "It's like what happened in World War Two - killing Jews, killing babies. It didn't make sense. You saw humankind as evil, demonic. You saw people chopping others' hands off. You saw them chop off the limbs of a two year old child. Nobody can define why they did it. Killing innocent people, everybody kills everybody. It's just evil."

"I've made Australia my home. It's nice here - the opportunities you have, you can go at your own pace. You can help people, even with the little you have. To give is more blessed than even receiving. I thank God I can do that.''

Officiating pastor Ibrahim Sankoh delivering his sermon.