GENERAL BUZZ:
TIMES UNION REVIEW:
The Lighthouse Cafe provides a positive hangout on Saturday nights
By BRIAN ETTKIN, Staff writer
First published in print: Friday, May 8, 2009
ROTTERDAM — Holy hip hop.
Philadelphia's Lost and Found rapped about Christ and salvation, addiction and temptation, as their drummer and deejay laid down beats that thumped through Bose tower speakers, and mood lights illuminated a church sanctuary for an audience of 20 to see. Another 15-or-so people chatted in the café in the adjoining room.
This is The Lighthouse Café, where on Saturday nights the Lighthouse Evangelical Free Church turns the Bridge Christian Church — which it shares three other congregations — into a coffeehouse for young people to socialize over free snacks and beverages and listen to live Christian music.
Some artists play heavy metal to serve the Lord. Others R&B, rock and the blues.
"There are Christians out there, they don't want drums, they don't want guitars," said Lighthouse Evangelical Free Church pastor Bob Mundell. "It's all Christian music, it all has good lyrics. It's just a matter of the beat."
Volunteers say the café provides teenagers with a positive place to hang out. The strongest thing served at The Lighthouse is Starbucks coffee.
After the alternator on their van died, the musicians rented another for the 41/2-hour drive to this gig, on which they lost money. There's no admission charge, and the bands receive only donations.
"When you rock for the Rock, you got to," one member of Lost and Found said.
Performers don't proselytize but are encouraged to share personal testimony, the café's manager, Jon La Joy, said.
Volunteers say about 40 people come the café on an average night, "but we want more," the head of fellowship, Paula La Joy, said.
"The Lighthouse is a gold nugget that Schenectady, Troy and Albany need to discover," said Mark Darrow, the owner and operator of Daystar Audio, who volunteers as the sound technician.
Volunteers run The Lighthouse Café, which is furnished with a couple restaurant-style booths, small circular tables with stools and a worn leather couch.
Youth Pastor Chris Todd of the Princetown Evangelical Presbyterian Church recently took his youth group to the café for the first time. "I wouldn't take kids from my youth group to an Eminem concert, but I have no problem bringing them here because of the church context and the content," he said, adding, "It's a nice thing to do on a Saturday night."
Brian Ettkin can be reached at 454-5457 or by e-mail at bettkin@timesunion.com.
