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TOP JOBS

EDITOR’S NOTE: Tyler resident Jason Ghrist, 31, was raised in Kenya at the Lighthouse For Christ Mission.

By JASON GHRIST
Tyler Morning Telegraph Special

It’s no secret that Dr. Roger DeHaven of Tyler, now retired, served as an eye doctor in Kenya. His friendship with the late Dr. Bill Ghrist, founder of the Lighthouse for Christ Mission, provided him the opportunity.

It was their friendship that led Dr. Ghrist’s son, Timothy — current director of the Lighthouse — to plant the organization’s roots in Tyler. Now serving half the year in Kenya and half in Tyler, Timothy Ghrist keeps the vision of the Lighthouse alive — to heal blindness physically and spiritually.

According to his memoirs, Bill Ghrist contracted a rare infection in his leg when he was a boy. The prognosis was not good — amputate the leg or die. Ghrist’s mother took him to another physician who believed the leg could be saved. Ghrist prayed begging God to save his leg, promising to become a missionary doctor one day if his leg and life were saved.

Ghrist eventually married his high school sweetheart, completed medical school and became an accomplished ophthalmologist in California. But he recalled his childhood promise to God. The result led to the selling of his practice, his home and the relocation of his family to Kenya.

His desire was to help people with no opportunity for excellent medical care. The Lighthouse has fulfilled this capacity in Mombasa, Kenya, since 1969.

“The primary cause of blindness in a place like Kenya is cataracts, a treatable disease.” said Ghrist. “Even in total blindness, a relatively simple surgery can restore sight.” For many Kenyans, this is miraculous.

Ghrist cared, he said, for more than people’s physical well-being. He cared about their souls. He felt an urgency, often quoting words spoken by Jesus,

“Work while it is still day, for night cometh when no man can work.”

Similar to accounts of Jesus healing the blind, Ghrist hoped to heal physical blindness and to tell of God’s love and provision for salvation.

Unfortunately, after 14 years of service, night did come for Dr. Bill Ghrist. He contracted cancer, received treatment in the U.S., but died four months later at age 55 in 1983.

His son, Timothy Ghrist, has worked in Kenya ever since. In a June interview from Africa, he said, “I had always hoped to work with my dad in Kenya. As it turned out, Dad asked if I would be interested in taking over just before he died.”

In true fashion, like his father, Timothy Ghrist and his wife Toni have overcome significant obstacles in going to Kenya. Mrs. Ghrist has profound physical challenges from an aneurism which resulted in a subdural hematoma in the birth of their firstborn son. They had two young boys, Jason, Joshua, and she was pregnant with their third, Joel.

She regularly shares her story with medical patients of how God’s love impacted her life despite her challenges; limited mobility in her hands, Parkinson’s-like symptoms which include constant often painful muscle tension as well as shaking, and more.

But Mrs. Ghrist says she doesn’t want people to feel sorry for her.

She said during the interview, “I try to give thanks in everything and give God glory. It’s been a lot of trusting in the Lord for strength.”

Ghrist said, “We both strongly felt called to be here and felt unless health prevented us from being here, that we choose to stay.”

As active members of Tyler’s Grace Community Church, the Ghrists receive support from the church, as well as individuals from the Tyler community. Included on the board of directors of the Lighthouse Mission is Mike Breedlove of Breedlove Financial, Rick Allen, CPA, A.D. Harms, a retired engineer from Letourneau University, and Grace Community’s Associate Pastor Steve Rumpf. Linda Ellis, wife of the senior pastor of Chandler’s First Assembly of God, is mission secretary. And Dr. Roger DeHaven is a consultant to the Board.

“We’re thankful for all the people that believe in this ministry and their sacrificial support that allows Lighthouse to continue to serve the Lord,” said Ghrist.

The Lighthouse flourishes with state-of-the-art technology, offering excellent medical care all for no profit. The clinic also reaches out to rural communities. Staff members travel to remote areas to screen for various eye deficiencies. Glasses are provided to those with poor eyesight and surgery is offered to those with cataracts.

“One man had never seen his newlywed wife due to cataract blindness.” recalled Ghrist. “When we asked him what he thought of his wife the first time he saw her, he exclaimed, “She’s beautiful!”

Mission director Ghrist says he hopes to ultimately work himself out of a job, entrusting the work to God and the Kenyans themselves.

“I’ve always worked at raising leadership so I would have the option of letting go,” Ghrist laughed. “I never planned on doing it for the rest of my life. We’ve now been here for 25 years!” He paused then added, “Things run more smoothly now when I’m not here and for that I’m grateful.”

The clinic is currently staffed with Kenyan doctors trained largely by DeHaven. This is an exciting development for the mission, because up until that point the clinic relied solely on the willingness of American doctors to donate time and service.

Ghrist, an ordained minister, trains pastors of many small churches across the coastal region of Kenya that grew from the five churches planted by his father.

Now Timothy Ghrist’s son, Joshua, along with his wife Maggie and their two boys, live in Kenya carrying on the legacy as well.

“In a way, I got what I wished for,” said Ghrist. “Even though I didn’t get to work alongside my dad, I do get to work with my son.”

The Lighthouse plans to hold its annual “Swing for Sight” fundraising golf tournament at 1 p.m. Oct. 12 at the Eagle’s Bluff Country Club.

For more information about the Lighthouse, visit on the Web at www.lighthouseforchrist.org or contact Linda Ellis at 903-593-2157.