History of the Shelter

The Lighthouse Children’s Shelter began in November 2000 when a three-day-old baby girl came to live with the Betzer family. As American missionaries, David and Janis Betzer became actively involved in the HIV/AIDS crisis in Southern Africa through Africa Operation Whole, an organization designed to provide education regarding HIV/AIDS.

After six years in South Africa the Betzer family knew they must begin a practical and effective work to meet the needs of those suffering from the effects of this disease. David and Janis contacted the Neobirth Crisis Pregnancy Centre, founded and directed by Marie van Schalkwyk. They quickly learned that many children are given up for adoption or abandoned everyday in South Africa. A great number of these children are born to HIV positive mothers and have a 50 percent chance of contracting the virus.

There are believed to be a million orphaned children currently living in South Africa due to the HIV virus. David and Janis became a registered Place of Safety and opened their home to provide for an HIV positive or a healthy child in crisis. In November 2000, Hope Jabulile entered the Betzer’s care and was soon adopted into their family. The burden for caring for the children of South Africa did not diminish with Hope’s adoption. Seeking to create a safe and loving environment for children in crisis, the Betzer family partnered with another missionary couple, Wayne and Delight Peercy. Through very similar events the Peercy’s had also adopted a South African child and equally shared a great passion for providing for children in need.

Out of a common vision and desire to see abandoned and orphaned children receive love and hope, the Lighthouse Children’s Shelter was founded. Originally operating as a Place of Safety and caring for a maximum of 6 children, the Lighthouse is now a registered Shelter able to care for a maximum of 35 children 0-6 years of age.