A LIGHTHOUSE TO THE NATIONS
In Christ, provide a brighter future for students and children with a top ranked nationally and internationally accredited Christian school in this region. In Christ, provide a Lighthouse Orphan Scholarship (for orphan students at the Christian school) with faith, hope, and love. In Christ, make strong Christian disciples, campus church, and churches fulfilling the Great Commission all for the Glory of God.
Currently: Christian School PreK-8th Grade
Future Expansion Plan:
K-12 Christian School
and beyond with visions & goals for a Christian University with campus churches pursuing the highest national and international accreditation to "teach all nations" with Christ-centered academic professional excellence and biblical foundations.
Joshua and Bernice are the Principal/Pastor & Vice-Principal at the Christian school and campus church in Asia. They love God, family, and children. They have five blessed children and an ever-growing number of children/students at the Christian school in Asia. They love serving and educating all children with a special heart for needy and orphaned children. Joshua and Bernice became born-again Christians at a young age. They studied in Christian and international schools since childhood. Joshua and Bernice seek to glorify God, fulfill His Great Commission, and expand God's Kingdom among all nations, even to the ends of the earth. They have combined years of experience in leadership, management, Christian ministry, pastoral service, international missions, church & Christian school planting, international education, international business, H.R., marketing, recruiting, finance, aviation, logistics, engineering, firefighting, medical, linguistics, TESOL, and international humanitarian projects. They studied English, Hindi, Spanish, Hebrew, and Greek at the university level.
Joshua is a USN and USAF veteran. He is a member of VFW, DAV, MOAA, the American Legion, Rotary International, Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education, and an Association of Christian Schools International certified teacher. As a former Assistant Professor at N.C. State University, he taught hundreds of college students and served as their academic advisor. In his previous career experiences, he led thousands of employees in multiple large organizations, managed billions of dollars in assets, and served millions of customers. Bernice earned a B.A. (Delhi University) and a Master's degree (SEBTS). She greatly cherishes her experiences serving God & America as a USAF officer's wife and beginning their family together. Joshua has multiple degrees, professional licenses, certifications, and certificates. He earned a B.S., Summa Cum Laude (Liberty University), M.A. in Intercultural Studies (SEBTS), MBA with a Graduate Certificate in Finance (Colorado State University), Masters Certificate in Human Resource Management (Villanova University), Education Specialist degree in Curriculum & Instruction (LU), and a Ph.D. in Education: Curriculum & Instruction (LU), graduating with high distinction.
Charlie Lewis is a businessman, entrepreneur, author, and teacher who lives in Thomasville, GA. Charlie is husband to Fran, his best friend of more than fifty years, and father to Zachary and Nicholas (married to Leah and Jennifer, respectively). In addition, Charlie and Fran have five bright and beautiful grandchildren. The Lewis family is a family of entrepreneurs. Charlie founded and presides over a national insurance company with over twenty-five thousand representatives. Fran, a graduate gemologist, lends her expertise to leading the numerous jewelry stores the family owns and operates from South Florida to Texas. Charlie is a USA veteran and pilot. Both sons and their wives have active leadership roles in the family businesses.
As important as his role as a businessman has been, Charlie understands his true purpose in life to positively impact the world in tangible ways. For this reason, he has invested his time and resources in multiple local, national, and international organizations that share his vision for creating lasting change and empowering people to improve the outcomes of their lives. These organizations range from churches and local charities to universities, national policy think tanks, and globally-focused faith organizations.
Beyond his philanthropic endeavors, Charlie is also active as an author and teacher. He has authored a series of books that lays out a plan and pattern for any person to experience success and fulfillment in his or her life. Using this series as a platform for his teachings, Charlie has traveled to more than 60 countries, sharing the values and principles of true success and the good news of the kingdom of God. His material has been translated into several languages and is currently used in Central American universities to foster societal change among students and professors. Charlie also hosts a local study group in his hometown of Thomasville, where he teaches and challenges participants to impact the culture in their spheres of influence.
Jonathan grew up in a home centered around Christian ministry with parents who taught the utmost importance of taking the Good News of Jesus to all of the people of the world. His parents’ Gospel witness led him to be converted to Christ at a young age and pursue his own call to Christian ministry. He holds degrees from King University, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry from Gardner-Webb University School of Divinity. He has spent over 15 years in pastoral ministry and is currently serving as a pastor at a church in North Carolina.
Jonathan has been challenged through his family connections, Godly friendships, and educational opportunities to view missions in local communities and around the world as the primary means through which God calls His church to bring glory to His name. His passion is for Christians in the churches he serves to be praying, connected, and giving to Gospel ministry in the darkest and most strategic places on earth.
God has gifted Jennifer with passion and expertise in the area of special education. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she graduated in 2007. She holds training and certification in various methods to meet the unique needs of students with learning disabilities so that they can attain academic and vocational success. Her mission fields are classes of students with autism at elementary Schools in North Carolina. Jennifer is profoundly interested in the spiritual development of children and adults with special needs. She is able to offer a very unique perspective in helping CAL to fulfill its mission to this population.
Jonathan and Jennifer are natives of Greensboro and High Point, NC. They currently reside near Charlotte, NC. They have five children who range from 13 to 4 years old. They pray daily for their children to become obedient followers of Jesus with hearts to share Him with the nations.
Tommy Tennison was raised in a broken home. He was saved at the age of 17 while in Army basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He is a USA veteran. Tommy and Audrey have four children, many grandchildren, and married for over 47 years. He attended Bible College for five years at two different Bible Colleges graduating with a Bachelor’s degree majoring in Bible and Missions. He has been actively serving in various capacities in the local church since his salvation. He has bi-vocationally pastored multiple churches. After 30 years serving in law enforcement, he retired as a Police Officer in 2016. Currently, Tommy enjoys working outside of law enforcement and serves as the pastor of a local baptist church. He has a special God given desire to serve in the Christian Academy & Lighthouse ministry as it will bring the Love of God to widows and orphans.
Audrey was raised in a Christian home and went to local church meetings every time the doors were unlocked. She was saved at the age of six. She was involved in helping with the children’s ministry as soon as she was too old to participate in them. She graduated with a Bachelor in Religious Education with a Christian Day School emphasis. Audrey has 22 years of teaching experience in Christian private schools. She also home-schooled their four children for five years. Currently, she leads the children’s ministry at their local church. After retiring, she has begun helping other people home-school their children. God has blessed her with a love and understanding for children.
Dylan is the CEO of Williams CPA & Associates. He has Bachelor degrees in Finance and International Business and a Masters degree in Accounting. He has 20 years of accounting experience in many different fields including nonprofit, retail, manufacturing, real estate and consulting. He is involved in BNI, an international networking group with a growing chapter in Thomasville and is driven to help small business owners reach their goals. Dylan is actively involved in his local church and has traveled on short-term missions to many countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, South America, and Central America. Dylan enjoys spending time with his wife and three kids and getting outdoors as time allows.