Interview by Amanda Poil, Children and Families Enabler with Raewyn Johnson, Children & Families Ministry Leader – Buller Parish

What is the Lighthouse and how does it run?
Lighthouse is a children’s and family church service held at 4pm each Sunday afternoon during the school term at St John’s, Westport.

What need did you see and why did you choose this format over a morning service?
St John’s used to have a Sunday School at the 10am service, but as family numbers dwindled, there was often only one child attending—usually the Vicar’s son. Matt and I knew there was still a need for children and families to come to know God, so we decided to try a different format. (See the April 2023 article.)

Who attends?
Many of the children who attend come from non-church families. Some have prior knowledge of God, many didn’t before coming. One child comes with his great-aunt, a member of St John’s. Others come because they know someone else attending. We’re an intergenerational church with pre-schoolers, 80-year-olds, and all ages in between. We also invite teenagers from Ignite Youth Group to help out—running the sound desk, scoring games, or serving as “Zonk! Master”.

What makes it work so well?
We have a strong team of volunteers who welcome families as soon as they arrive. Lighthouse is interactive and energetic: action songs, kids acting out the message, memory games like Zonk!, and POINTS for team competition—something the kids love.
Once a month, the church provides a full meal for the families; on alternate weeks, we share a potluck meal. The buzz of conversation around the tables shows how kai builds connection. The Kiwi culture of gathering around food is alive and well at Lighthouse.

What is your heart for the children and families who attend?
I want children and families to feel they belong to the Lighthouse “whānau”, where we learn together about a loving Father and grow in our love for Him. I want our tamariki to grow up with hope—a hope that sustains them through teenage years and into adulthood. I want them to know Jesus as a friend they can talk to anytime, anywhere.
Prayer is part of every Lighthouse service. It’s beautiful hearing children grow in confidence to pray out loud. One evening, Brenda’s great-nephew (age 9) got into the car and said, “Oh! I didn’t pray for Grandma to get well!”—so they stopped right there and prayed together in the car.

How often do you have communion? What’s your vision for making it accessible to children?
Matt: We have communion once a term.
We create a sacred space within the Lighthouse service by moving into the sanctuary. Children kneel around a special table while adults form a circle of chairs. I lead a simple liturgy, giving thanks and using Jesus' words over the bread and cup.
Children are often captivated—it’s the adults who sometimes need reminding to focus. Some tamariki help distribute the bread and juice, and we finish with open prayer.
Lighthouse isn’t just about learning about Jesus—it’s about worshipping Him and becoming disciples. Communion draws us into that mystery. It's a shared sacrament that helps people of all ages encounter Jesus in a way that goes beyond knowledge.

We’ve also baptised one of our young people at Lighthouse and hope to celebrate more. Lighthouse is not just outreach. It is Church—a congregation where God’s word is preached, sacraments are celebrated, and people of all ages are coming to know Jesus.

What would you say to another church considering something similar?
I’d say: give it a go. It’s a big commitment—every Sunday afternoon during term time—but the rewards are huge. We’ve seen real growth: kids praying, quoting Scripture, helping each other, and just doing life together.

You need a team. We have volunteers from St John’s and other churches. One mum now cooks our monthly meal. Others greet people at the door, help with activities, serve in the kitchen, or supervise kids.
Get yourself a good programme—we use Mark Griffiths’ Detonate, Fusion, and Impact series. Each segment is under 10 minutes, which suits our kids, many of whom have learning challenges. We alternate stillness and activity—songs, stories, games. Next term, we’ll write our own series on Christian faith and baptism, using the same format we've developed over the past few years.

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