OUR HISTORY
2002-PRESENT
2002 Lighthouse Is Founded
In 2002, Lewis and Kristen Burke, along with their two sons, Sterling and Benjamin, were released from their Church in East Tennessee and commissioned to minister in the Kingdom of Cambodia.
2003 Heritage House
First opening its doors in 2003, Heritage House - Home for Children was born out of the overwhelming need for safe housing for orphans and abandoned children in Cambodia. Through the years, Heritage House has been a home and family to 29 children.
2019 The Next Generation
In 2019, Sterling and Mary Katherine Burke relocated to Cambodia, lending their support to Heritage House and initiating groundwork for ministering to Cambodia's unreached communities.
The Story Of Lighthouse Missions In the Kingdom of Cambodia
The founding of Lighthouse Ministries traces back to a moment that stirred the heart of Lewis Burke during his International Relations class at Carson-Newman University in 1994. An earnest lecture on the Khmer Rouge genocide in Cambodia left an unforgettable mark, igniting a vision to see the Gospel taken to the Kingdom of Cambodia.
For seven years, Lewis and his wife, Kristen, devoted their prayers to Cambodia. Their fervent petitions implored God for mercy upon the Khmer people and the arrival of missionaries to alleviate practical needs and that the Gospel would be clearly proclaimed in the nation. In 2002, prompted by the Holy Spirit and supported by their local church, the Burkes, accompanied by their young sons, Sterling (5) and Benjamin (2), left for Cambodia.
Their first year and a half in Cambodia exposed them to the plight of orphaned and abandoned children. Responding to this dire need, the Burkes opened their home in September 2003, welcoming the first child, founding Heritage House - Home for Children. This marked the beginning of a remarkable journey that would see the arrival of 29 children over time. The enormity of the impact stemming from a seemingly simple act of obedience surpassed their wildest expectations.
The seeds sown at Heritage House have blossomed into young adults dispersed throughout Cambodia. Their paths diverge into diverse vocations: from educators to university students, police officers to business professionals, and even a pastor who planted and shepherds a church. Each individual carries with them the foundational influence of their time at Heritage House—a testament to the power of faith and compassion in nurturing lives and building futures.
Today, Lewis and Kristen continue to work in Cambodia, alongside Sterling and his wife, Mary Katherine, proclaiming the name of Christ in the Kingdom of Cambodia, supporting the children of Heritage House (Now grown), and working to see churches planted in the people groups.