Soul song: Friday Night Prayer at the Lighthouse Chapel International

Originally published in Sydney's first African newspaper, est. Nov 2007.

Story: Wenee Yap
Nov 2007.

Between a brothel and a mechanic, two streets from rundown Granville station lies an unlikely source of salvation – every Friday night and Sunday morning an unassuming peach-painted two-storey building plays host to a mottled, predominantly African congregation who gather there to share a soul-songs, gospel and Jesus’ wisdom under cool fluorescent lights and a small but well kept sound system. This is the Lighthouse Chapel International. Most of its Sydney members come from war-ravaged Sierre Leone or more stable African countries like Ghana, South Africa and Kenya. Some come from Asia; others can trace their lineage to Russian aristocracy. What unites them is Christian belief and faith in the equality of opportunity Australia, a land of prosperous immigrants, has to offer to its newest arrivals.

“My way of integration is a 100% 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 IT qualification. He now works for Unilever. “My pastor – a great leader – gave me tips on how to get a job, a place to stay.” said Mwangi. “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.”

Founded in Ghana, the Granville church – one of three in Sydney – was established about ten years ago by Peter and Lillian Nsowah.

“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,” observed Larissa Kernebone, Masters of Law student at the University of Technology Sydney and member of the church for four years. “A lot come out as students. Many of the church are upper class Africans. They understand that education is what they need to get out of poverty.” Kernebone, who holds an undergraduate degree in Business and is currently helping to set up the Toongabbie Community Legal Centre, is a member of the church with her husband and often gives free tuition to churchgoer students despite her heavy work and study load.

Like Alex, John from Sierre Leone 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, 30 years.” John studies Electrical Engineering at Granville TAFE and is now two weeks shy of finishing. Soft-spoken and wise, John was a Christian before he joined the Lighthouse Chapel congregation in Sydney. “Without Him, nothing else makes sense. People who lead such selfish lives – even when they are learned - they’re so messed up.”

John left a Sierre Leone of civil war and chaos. “No order – nothing makes sense, yet they are fighting,” said John. “It’s like what happened in the World War – killing Jew, killing babies. It doesn’t make sense. You see mankind is evil, demonic. You see people chopping others hands off. You see them chop off the limbs off a two year old child. Nobody can define why they did it. Killing innocent people, everybody kills everybody. It’s just evil.”

“I make Australia my home. It’s nice here – the opportunity you have, you 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.”

With thanks to Alex, John, Jean, Larissa and all the members of Lighthouse Chapel International (Granville.)