In 2017, our Executive Director, Andy Zuberbuehler, received a call from an old friend, a social worker he had previously worked with. He came to him with a heartbreaking question:
“There’s a 3-year-old boy living in a juvenile prison because the government has nowhere else to place him. Is there anything we can do?” 

At first, the idea was to find a foster family who could take in the boy, but it quickly became clear that this was not an isolated case; many children like him were in desperate need of a safe, loving place to call home.

Andy took a powerful image, a photo of baby “Paul” on his bunk bed looking out the window. Only later, when he looked back on the image he saw, “Baby One” etched into a wall next to the baby. It was a sign. A confirmation that this child would be the very first baby entrusted into the care of the Lighthouse.

With only enough personal funds to sustain them temporarily, the Zuberbuehler family traveled to Malaybalay City in the Philippines. They rented a home and immediately began renovations to prepare it for children. Miraculously, all the essential appliances were donated, an answer to prayer and a clear sign of divine provision.

Once The Lighthouse received official accreditation from the government, baby Paul became the first child entrusted to our care.

In the very heart of Mindanao lies Malaybalay, the soul of Bukidnon, a land of awe-inspiring beauty. Where mist-kissed mountains rise above vast, fertile fields. This is Bukidnon, the “Food Basket of Mindanao,” 

Sadly, behind the serene landscapes and golden sunsets is a far more sobering truth.

Bukidnon remains one of the most poverty-stricken provinces in the Philippines. Beneath the beauty, nearly half of its people struggle to survive on less than $1.62 a day. Generations of farmers who feed the region live with empty plates. Children grow up under skies filled with promise, but dreams too often fade beneath the weight of hardship.

It is a place of contrast, where the land thrives, but its people are left behind. And it is here, in this silent crisis, where compassion, awareness, and action are constantly needed.

In 2020, through the generosity of our donors, the Timothy Project was able to acquire a 720-square-meter plot of land just outside the city center. Following the construction of a new Lighthouse building, all operations were relocated to our new home in April 2025. This location provides the children with significantly more space to play, including a playground and a volleyball net.

Although a purpose-built home is a huge victory, we are deeply aware of the growing need for even more space to provide a loving home for children who do not have one. As we look to the future, we remain committed to expanding and improving our facilities to meet this need.