What is a Lighthouse Church
​
In the event of a natural disaster in our area, Church of Our Saviour has been identified through Samaritans Purse as a facility to set up headquarters for their humanitarian relief efforts. If there were to be a need for them to set up shop we would host volunteers and teams for the duration of the effort as they offer help to the surrounding community.
Church of Our Saviour named a Lighthouse Church
James Bannister, Junior Warden - April 26, 2018
​
Church of Our Saviour, 4416 Betsy Kerrison Parkway, Johns Island, has been designated a Lighthouse Church by Samaritan’s Purse, an international, non-profit, evangelical Christian humanitarian aid organization that helps people in physical need as a key part of its missionary work. Samaritan’s Purse was founded in 1970 by Franklin Graham and Robert Pierce. Its world headquarters are in Boone, North Carolina. For more information, visit samararitanspurse.org or phone 828-262-1980.
​
Church of Our Saviour earned the Lighthouse Church designation by meeting the criteria of necessary facilities and services required by Samaritan’s Purse. One of the major requirements met was the installation of a special high voltage electrical service box mounted outside the Church’s kitchen. This electrical power source would be used to operate one of Samaritan’s Purse disaster relief units – tractor trailers stocked with equipment and supplies – dispatched to hard hit areas where it sets up volunteer centers in partnership with local churches. The Samaritan’s Purse staff and volunteer teams then work to assist affected homeowners by cutting trees, tarping roofs, and performing mud-outs.
​
When Hurricane Harvey struck southwestern Texas in 2017, Samaritan’s Purse responded from five bases fielding nearly 10,500 volunteers and serving nearly 3,000 homeowners.
​
“We are proud to be designated as a Lighthouse Church for the local sea islands”, states Rev. Karl Burns, Rector of Church of Our Saviour. “It is our hope and prayer that we may never be called on to be a disaster relief center, but the reality is we live in a historically high flood and hurricane prone area and feel truly blessed to have the facilities to do so if needed”, Father Karl continued.
​
Church of Our Savior is a member of the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina and the Anglican Church in North America, offering traditional and contemporary worship services at 9:00 and 10:30 AM on Sunday, as well as many other mid-week prayer, worship, and social activities.