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ZEBULON - On April 26, 2014, Pike County Times had the opportunity to attend the kick off celebration for the Lighthouse Foundation, an organization based upon Matthew 5:14-16 which says, "14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." (NIV)
The Lighthouse Foundation and the "I Will Live" campaign were begun by Kenyatta Hines who graduated from Pike County High School in 2008. Kenyatta is the daughter of Urhonda (Hines) Harris, who taught in the Pike County School system and was honored with a memorial at the "I Will Live" campaign for the Lighthouse Foundation.
At the beginning of the celebration, friends and family were recording messages on film for Kenyatta, who has been deployed with the Navy and is currently serving on the USS Harry Truman. There were many smiles and hugs as friends and family came together to celebrate the work that Kenyatta is preparing to do for others. On the slideshow presentation, a slide read: I want to inspire people. I want someone to look at me and say, "Because of you, I didn't give up."
Vince Miller told Pike County Times about taking Kenyatta to the recruiting center and that she jumped in with both feet. He was proud to be a part of the celebration for Kenyatta. Lisa Hines told Pike County Times that Kenyatta is on a mission to advocate youth and be a beacon of light for them. And it was a happy reunion for Kenyatta and her friends and family that day when Kenyatta surprised friends and family by attending her own kick off celebration. Family members described Kenyatta as well during the question and answer session with Kenyatta. Mrs. Maude Hines told me that, "Whatever she set her mind to do, she's gonna do it!" Susan Chaney said that she knew Kenyatta was an unusual child and destined. "I am proud of you, I love you as my own, and what God has for you, Kenyatta, it is for you," Susan said.
Kenyatta told supporters that she was "blessed to inherit my Mom's friends: Tia Jakes and Gina Fry." She described them as her two Mom's who helped raise her after her Mom's death. She told the audience with a smile, "I am living." The inspiration for the Lighthouse Foundation is "the fact that I've been through so much darkness in my life that God reminded me that I'm alive and I still have to shine."
Kenyatta told Pike County Times more about her organization and how it came about. "After being deployed on board the USS Harry S Truman, there were many days and night that I would look at God's beautiful creation and wonder how far could I be able to see without the light from the sky. You see when we travel by sea, we totally depend on the lights on the ship or other forms of guidance from the navigation team to be able to give us support so that we can see throughout the sea," she said. "I had been praying to God for some time about me starting my own nonprofit organization. I've always had the heart and pleasure to help others. I finally made up in my mind that I was going to take a leap of faith and start the nonprofit."
She said that the easy part was making up her mind about starting a non-profit, but the hard part was coming up with a name. "I'll never forget the day when God spoke to me and said name your nonprofit, "The Lighthouse Foundation". I was getting off work on deployment and I was watching the sun set and I was amazed at how beautiful and just how great God is. It's impossible for us to see "The light" without God's help, "she said. "I'm a firm believer that no matter how difficult situations may be, there's always light at the end of the tunnel. My motto for The Lighthouse Foundation is "Be the light even in the midst of darkness". I want to inspire the world that you can and will shine!"
Kenyatta said that she has been through several dark moments in her life. She lost her mother to suicide in 2009 and was homeless in the same year. She didn't have a job for almost 6 months and was evicted from her first apartment in 2010, the same with another apartment in 2012 as well as her car being repossessed in the same year. "So I definitely know how it feels to be in dark places," she said. "I believe that the pain is always a part of God's plan, because take a look at me now, I'm proudly serving in The United States Navy, I just bought a brand new car and I'm getting ready to go house shopping as I prepare to make Virginia my new home while serving in the Navy. God has blessed me so I would like to be a blessing to others."
The Lighthouse Foundation is a non-profit organization that will do hands on projects as an avenue for the community. Kenyatta wants to feed the homeless and said that she is currently working on a Thanksgiving Drive and that the Lighthouse Foundation is going to adopt a family for Christmas. She and supporters will be running the Peachtree Road Race this year as well.
For more information on how you can be apart of The Lighthouse Foundation please email me at Kenyatta.V.Hines@gmail.com, call 770-584-9237 or check out our website at www.lighthousefoundation.co.
Lighthouse Foundation Founder Kenyatta Hines is pictured left along with family and friends in surrounding pictures.
