Foundation Casa de Luz
Home
A Brief History of Foundation Casa de Luz
A Vision is Born: Dr. Harry and Marilyn Brautigam arrived in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Central America in 2003 to fulfill Dr. Harry’s appointment as the newly elected president of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration. This appointment as leader of a large financial institution was a role God used to place Dr. Harry and Marilyn in a strategic position to be used by Him for a work of eternal significance. At about the same time that Dr. Harry and Marilyn arrived in Honduras, local Honduran pastor, Arnaldo Rodriguez, and his small congregation of Honduran believers were praying for God to provide an opportunity for ministry in an underprivileged area of Tegucigalpa, the capital city of Honduras, where the humble church held its services.
 The area in which the church was located, Las Palmas, was spiritually and economically needy. Young children, living in at-risk situations, were especially in need of quality, Biblically-based childcare. A place was needed where some of the poorest children in Honduras could learn about God’s love and where their basic need for safe supervision, food, and an education could be met. Utilizing Dr. Harry’s position within the bank, God orchestrated a way for Dr. Harry and Marilyn to become acquainted with Pastor Arnaldo. That acquaintance flourished into friendship and, over time, that friendship grew in strength and depth. Through that providential relationship the vision for Foundation Casa de Luz was born! From Small Beginnings: In 2005, Foundation Casa de Luz opened its doors to a small handful of toddlers and preschoolers in a tiny, rented house in the inner-city neighborhood of Las Palmas. Volunteers from Pastor Arnaldo’s church cared for the first group of children. In 2008, Foundation Casa de Luz extended an invitation to Ed and Valerie Schubert to become the first full-time missionaries to serve in leadership with the Foundation. Ed and Valerie pledged a commitment to Foundation Casa de Luz in April of 2008. One month later, beloved founder, Dr. Harry Brautigam, passed from this earth into eternity after he succumbed to injuries sustained in the tragic crash of a commercial airliner in the Tegucigalpa airport. The entire nation mourned the loss of this wise, articulate, engaging man. The Vision Continues: In the wake of the devastating passing of her husband, Marilyn Brautigam returned to her home in the United States to live near her grown children. But, the calling God had placed on the hearts of Dr. Harry and Marilyn for the children of Honduras did not die in that airplane crash! By God’s grace, leaders had already begun to be established to carry on this beautiful work among the poor of Honduras. Pastor Arnaldo Rodriguez, a man who had been an integral part of the original vision-casting process, committed to continue lending leadership to Casa de Luz. Newly-appointed Casa de Luz missionaries, Ed and Valerie Schubert, reaffirmed their pledge to mentor and guide the young ministry. Several other key Hondurans pledged their support to the growth and vision of Casa de Luz, ensuring that the doors would remain open to serve the at-risk children of Honduras. Incredible Growth: In January of 2010, Casa de Luz opened a second ministry campus in the small town of Zambrano, Honduras, initially ministering to 40 children. In 2013, the board of directors voted to break ground for a new children’s ministry building to be located in the marginalized inner-city neighborhood of Las Palmas, just blocks from the church and the original Casa de Luz building. This new building was made possible through the generous donation of land to Foundation Casa de Luz by Neil and Ginny Gerald, Marilyn Brautigam’s brother and sister-in-law. On April 18, 2015, Marilyn Brautigam, along with the board of directors of Casa de Luz and 150 excited guests, inaugurated the new Foundation Casa de Luz Christian Education Center in Tegucigalpa, Honduras! Currently, Casa de Luz operates two ministry sites- one inner-city campus and one rural campus- where 150 at-risk children receive quality childcare. Programming at each campus varies slightly but services include: hot nutritious meals, preschool and early childhood education, Biblical instruction, and the opportunity to grow in a safe, loving, creative environment staffed by loving, competent caregivers. Ministry Partners and Local Leaders: From its inception, Foundation Casa de Luz was joined by National Institute for Community (NIFC) in its mission to at-risk children in Honduras. NIFC is a not-for-profit organization based in Romeoville, IL which provides financial oversight and accountability for Foundation Casa de Luz. NIFC, and its director, Mike Vickery, consistently champion for the children and families of Casa de Luz. In addition, over the past eleven years, Foundation Casa de Luz has formed partnerships with various U.S. churches and organizations to accept missionary interns and short-term mission teams as part of the ministry focus. Marilyn Brautigam and her brother and sister-in-law, Neil and Ginny Gerald, continue to faithfully promote, and actively raise funds for Foundation Casa de Luz while residing in the United States. They are joined every year by families and friends who, although they may never meet the children of Casa de Luz, support them with their generous donations. Pastor Arnaldo Rodriguez remains in loving service to the families of Foundation Casa de Luz by serving on the local board of directors of Foundation Casa de Luz. Pastor Arnaldo, along with Ed and Valerie Schubert, Ruth Campos, Dixie Rosales, Sofia Martinez and Keyla Luque, serve as the presiding board of directors for Foundation Casa de Luz. Illuminating the Path: Looking back over the history of the ministry of Foundation Casa de Luz, one can easily see God’s direction, favor, and goodness. God took His own vision for the children of Honduras and placed it into the heart of a local Honduran pastor and his congregation and then merged it with a calling upon the hearts of Dr. Harry and Marilyn. As a result, two marginalized neighborhoods, full of at-risk children, now have a point of “light” and “illumination” amid the darkness of poverty, illiteracy, and hunger. God is truly doing amazing things in Honduras as He uses Foundation Casa de Luz to transform the lives of children and illuminate the path for Honduran families!

Copyright © 2022 Foundation Casa de Luz

Foundation Casa de Luz
A Brief History of Foundation Casa de Luz
A Vision is Born: Dr. Harry and Marilyn Brautigam arrived in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Central America in 2003 to fulfill Dr. Harry’s appointment as the newly elected president of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration. This appointment as leader of a large financial institution was a role God used to place Dr. Harry and Marilyn in a strategic position to be used by Him for a work of eternal significance. At about the same time that Dr. Harry and Marilyn arrived in Honduras, local Honduran pastor, Arnaldo Rodriguez, and his small congregation of Honduran believers were praying for God to provide an opportunity for ministry in an underprivileged area of Tegucigalpa, the capital city of Honduras, where the humble church held its services.
 The area in which the church was located, Las Palmas, was spiritually and economically needy. Young children, living in at-risk situations, were especially in need of quality, Biblically-based childcare. A place was needed where some of the poorest children in Honduras could learn about God’s love and where their basic need for safe supervision, food, and an education could be met. Utilizing Dr. Harry’s position within the bank, God orchestrated a way for Dr. Harry and Marilyn to become acquainted with Pastor Arnaldo. That acquaintance flourished into friendship and, over time, that friendship grew in strength and depth. Through that providential relationship the vision for Foundation Casa de Luz was born! From Small Beginnings: In 2005, Foundation Casa de Luz opened its doors to a small handful of toddlers and preschoolers in a tiny, rented house in the inner-city neighborhood of Las Palmas. Volunteers from Pastor Arnaldo’s church cared for the first group of children. In 2008, Foundation Casa de Luz extended an invitation to Ed and Valerie Schubert to become the first full-time missionaries to serve in leadership with the Foundation. Ed and Valerie pledged a commitment to Foundation Casa de Luz in April of 2008. One month later, beloved founder, Dr. Harry Brautigam, passed from this earth into eternity after he succumbed to injuries sustained in the tragic crash of a commercial airliner in the Tegucigalpa airport. The entire nation mourned the loss of this wise, articulate, engaging man. The Vision Continues: In the wake of the devastating passing of her husband, Marilyn Brautigam returned to her home in the United States to live near her grown children. But, the calling God had placed on the hearts of Dr. Harry and Marilyn for the children of Honduras did not die in that airplane crash! By God’s grace, leaders had already begun to be established to carry on this beautiful work among the poor of Honduras. Pastor Arnaldo Rodriguez, a man who had been an integral part of the original vision-casting process, committed to continue lending leadership to Casa de Luz. Newly-appointed Casa de Luz missionaries, Ed and Valerie Schubert, reaffirmed their pledge to mentor and guide the young ministry. Several other key Hondurans pledged their support to the growth and vision of Casa de Luz, ensuring that the doors would remain open to serve the at-risk children of Honduras. Incredible Growth: In January of 2010, Casa de Luz opened a second ministry campus in the small town of Zambrano, Honduras, initially ministering to 40 children. In 2013, the board of directors voted to break ground for a new children’s ministry building to be located in the marginalized inner-city neighborhood of Las Palmas, just blocks from the church and the original Casa de Luz building. This new building was made possible through the generous donation of land to Foundation Casa de Luz by Neil and Ginny Gerald, Marilyn Brautigam’s brother and sister-in-law. On April 18, 2015, Marilyn Brautigam, along with the board of directors of Casa de Luz and 150 excited guests, inaugurated the new Foundation Casa de Luz Christian Education Center in Tegucigalpa, Honduras! Currently, Casa de Luz operates two ministry sites- one inner-city campus and one rural campus- where 150 at-risk children receive quality childcare. Programming at each campus varies slightly but services include: hot nutritious meals, preschool and early childhood education, Biblical instruction, and the opportunity to grow in a safe, loving, creative environment staffed by loving, competent caregivers. Ministry Partners and Local Leaders: From its inception, Foundation Casa de Luz was joined by National Institute for Community (NIFC) in its mission to at-risk children in Honduras. NIFC is a not-for-profit organization based in Romeoville, IL which provides financial oversight and accountability for Foundation Casa de Luz. NIFC, and its director, Mike Vickery, consistently champion for the children and families of Casa de Luz. In addition, over the past eleven years, Foundation Casa de Luz has formed partnerships with various U.S. churches and organizations to accept missionary interns and short-term mission teams as part of the ministry focus. Marilyn Brautigam and her brother and sister-in-law, Neil and Ginny Gerald, continue to faithfully promote, and actively raise funds for Foundation Casa de Luz while residing in the United States. They are joined every year by families and friends who, although they may never meet the children of Casa de Luz, support them with their generous donations. Pastor Arnaldo Rodriguez remains in loving service to the families of Foundation Casa de Luz by serving on the local board of directors of Foundation Casa de Luz. Pastor Arnaldo, along with Ed and Valerie Schubert, Ruth Campos, Dixie Rosales, Sofia Martinez and Keyla Luque, serve as the presiding board of directors for Foundation Casa de Luz. Illuminating the Path: Looking back over the history of the ministry of Foundation Casa de Luz, one can easily see God’s direction, favor, and goodness. God took His own vision for the children of Honduras and placed it into the heart of a local Honduran pastor and his congregation and then merged it with a calling upon the hearts of Dr. Harry and Marilyn. As a result, two marginalized neighborhoods, full of at-risk children, now have a point of “light” and “illumination” amid the darkness of poverty, illiteracy, and hunger. God is truly doing amazing things in Honduras as He uses Foundation Casa de Luz to transform the lives of children and illuminate the path for Honduran families!

  •  

A Brief History of Foundation Casa de Luz
A Vision is Born: Dr. Harry and Marilyn Brautigam arrived in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Central America in 2003 to fulfill Dr. Harry’s appointment as the newly elected president of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration. This appointment as leader of a large financial institution was a role God used to place Dr. Harry and Marilyn in a strategic position to be used by Him for a work of eternal significance. At about the same time that Dr. Harry and Marilyn arrived in Honduras, local Honduran pastor, Arnaldo Rodriguez, and his small congregation of Honduran believers were praying for God to provide an opportunity for ministry in an underprivileged area of Tegucigalpa, the capital city of Honduras, where the humble church held its services.
 The area in which the church was located, Las Palmas, was spiritually and economically needy. Young children, living in at-risk situations, were especially in need of quality, Biblically-based childcare. A place was needed where some of the poorest children in Honduras could learn about God’s love and where their basic need for safe supervision, food, and an education could be met. Utilizing Dr. Harry’s position within the bank, God orchestrated a way for Dr. Harry and Marilyn to become acquainted with Pastor Arnaldo. That acquaintance flourished into friendship and, over time, that friendship grew in strength and depth. Through that providential relationship the vision for Foundation Casa de Luz was born! From Small Beginnings: In 2005, Foundation Casa de Luz opened its doors to a small handful of toddlers and preschoolers in a tiny, rented house in the inner-city neighborhood of Las Palmas. Volunteers from Pastor Arnaldo’s church cared for the first group of children. In 2008, Foundation Casa de Luz extended an invitation to Ed and Valerie Schubert to become the first full-time missionaries to serve in leadership with the Foundation. Ed and Valerie pledged a commitment to Foundation Casa de Luz in April of 2008. One month later, beloved founder, Dr. Harry Brautigam, passed from this earth into eternity after he succumbed to injuries sustained in the tragic crash of a commercial airliner in the Tegucigalpa airport. The entire nation mourned the loss of this wise, articulate, engaging man. The Vision Continues: In the wake of the devastating passing of her husband, Marilyn Brautigam returned to her home in the United States to live near her grown children. But, the calling God had placed on the hearts of Dr. Harry and Marilyn for the children of Honduras did not die in that airplane crash! By God’s grace, leaders had already begun to be established to carry on this beautiful work among the poor of Honduras. Pastor Arnaldo Rodriguez, a man who had been an integral part of the original vision-casting process, committed to continue lending leadership to Casa de Luz. Newly-appointed Casa de Luz missionaries, Ed and Valerie Schubert, reaffirmed their pledge to mentor and guide the young ministry. Several other key Hondurans pledged their support to the growth and vision of Casa de Luz, ensuring that the doors would remain open to serve the at-risk children of Honduras. Incredible Growth: In January of 2010, Casa de Luz opened a second ministry campus in the small town of Zambrano, Honduras, initially ministering to 40 children. In 2013, the board of directors voted to break ground for a new children’s ministry building to be located in the marginalized inner-city neighborhood of Las Palmas, just blocks from the church and the original Casa de Luz building. This new building was made possible through the generous donation of land to Foundation Casa de Luz by Neil and Ginny Gerald, Marilyn Brautigam’s brother and sister-in-law. On April 18, 2015, Marilyn Brautigam, along with the board of directors of Casa de Luz and 150 excited guests, inaugurated the new Foundation Casa de Luz Christian Education Center in Tegucigalpa, Honduras! Currently, Casa de Luz operates two ministry sites- one inner-city campus and one rural campus- where 150 at-risk children receive quality childcare. Programming at each campus varies slightly but services include: hot nutritious meals, preschool and early childhood education, Biblical instruction, and the opportunity to grow in a safe, loving, creative environment staffed by loving, competent caregivers. Ministry Partners and Local Leaders: From its inception, Foundation Casa de Luz was joined by National Institute for Community (NIFC) in its mission to at-risk children in Honduras. NIFC is a not-for-profit organization based in Romeoville, IL which provides financial oversight and accountability for Foundation Casa de Luz. NIFC, and its director, Mike Vickery, consistently champion for the children and families of Casa de Luz. In addition, over the past eleven years, Foundation Casa de Luz has formed partnerships with various U.S. churches and organizations to accept missionary interns and short-term mission teams as part of the ministry focus. Marilyn Brautigam and her brother and sister-in-law, Neil and Ginny Gerald, continue to faithfully promote, and actively raise funds for Foundation Casa de Luz while residing in the United States. They are joined every year by families and friends who, although they may never meet the children of Casa de Luz, support them with their generous donations. Pastor Arnaldo Rodriguez remains in loving service to the families of Foundation Casa de Luz by serving on the local board of directors of Foundation Casa de Luz. Pastor Arnaldo, along with Ed and Valerie Schubert, Ruth Campos, Dixie Rosales, Sofia Martinez and Keyla Luque, serve as the presiding board of directors for Foundation Casa de Luz. Illuminating the Path: Looking back over the history of the ministry of Foundation Casa de Luz, one can easily see God’s direction, favor, and goodness. God took His own vision for the children of Honduras and placed it into the heart of a local Honduran pastor and his congregation and then merged it with a calling upon the hearts of Dr. Harry and Marilyn. As a result, two marginalized neighborhoods, full of at-risk children, now have a point of “light” and “illumination” amid the darkness of poverty, illiteracy, and hunger. God is truly doing amazing things in Honduras as He uses Foundation Casa de Luz to transform the lives of children and illuminate the path for Honduran families!
A Brief History of Foundation Casa de Luz A Vision is Born: Dr. Harry and Marilyn Brautigam arrived in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Central America in 2003 to fulfill Dr. Harry’s appointment as the newly elected president of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration. This appointment as leader of a large financial institution was a role God used to place Dr. Harry and Marilyn in a strategic position to be used by Him for a work of eternal significance. At about the same time that Dr. Harry and Marilyn arrived in Honduras, local Honduran pastor, Arnaldo Rodriguez, and his small congregation of Honduran believers were praying for God to provide an opportunity for ministry in an underprivileged area of Tegucigalpa, the capital city of Honduras, where the humble church held its services.
 The area in which the church was located, Las Palmas, was spiritually and economically needy. Young children, living in at-risk situations, were especially in need of quality, Biblically-based childcare. A place was needed where some of the poorest children in Honduras could learn about God’s love and where their basic need for safe supervision, food, and an education could be met. Utilizing Dr. Harry’s position within the bank, God orchestrated a way for Dr. Harry and Marilyn to become acquainted with Pastor Arnaldo. That acquaintance flourished into friendship and, over time, that friendship grew in strength and depth. Through that providential relationship the vision for Foundation Casa de Luz was born! From Small Beginnings: In 2005, Foundation Casa de Luz opened its doors to a small handful of toddlers and preschoolers in a tiny, rented house in the inner-city neighborhood of Las Palmas. Volunteers from Pastor Arnaldo’s church cared for the first group of children. In 2008, Foundation Casa de Luz extended an invitation to Ed and Valerie Schubert to become the first full-time missionaries to serve in leadership with the Foundation. Ed and Valerie pledged a commitment to Foundation Casa de Luz in April of 2008. One month later, beloved founder, Dr. Harry Brautigam, passed from this earth into eternity after he succumbed to injuries sustained in the tragic crash of a commercial airliner in the Tegucigalpa airport. The entire nation mourned the loss of this wise, articulate, engaging man. The Vision Continues: In the wake of the devastating passing of her husband, Marilyn Brautigam returned to her home in the United States to live near her grown children. But, the calling God had placed on the hearts of Dr. Harry and Marilyn for the children of Honduras did not die in that airplane crash! By God’s grace, leaders had already begun to be established to carry on this beautiful work among the poor of Honduras. Pastor Arnaldo Rodriguez, a man who had been an integral part of the original vision-casting process, committed to continue lending leadership to Casa de Luz. Newly-appointed Casa de Luz missionaries, Ed and Valerie Schubert, reaffirmed their pledge to mentor and guide the young ministry. Several other key Hondurans pledged their support to the growth and vision of Casa de Luz, ensuring that the doors would remain open to serve the at-risk children of Honduras. Incredible Growth: In January of 2010, Casa de Luz opened a second ministry campus in the small town of Zambrano, Honduras, initially ministering to 40 children. In 2013, the board of directors voted to break ground for a new children’s ministry building to be located in the marginalized inner-city neighborhood of Las Palmas, just blocks from the church and the original Casa de Luz building. This new building was made possible through the generous donation of land to Foundation Casa de Luz by Neil and Ginny Gerald, Marilyn Brautigam’s brother and sister-in-law. On April 18, 2015, Marilyn Brautigam, along with the board of directors of Casa de Luz and 150 excited guests, inaugurated the new Foundation Casa de Luz Christian Education Center in Tegucigalpa, Honduras! Currently, Casa de Luz operates two ministry sites- one inner-city campus and one rural campus- where 150 at-risk children receive quality childcare. Programming at each campus varies slightly but services include: hot nutritious meals, preschool and early childhood education, Biblical instruction, and the opportunity to grow in a safe, loving, creative environment staffed by loving, competent caregivers. Ministry Partners and Local Leaders: From its inception, Foundation Casa de Luz was joined by National Institute for Community (NIFC) in its mission to at-risk children in Honduras. NIFC is a not-for-profit organization based in Romeoville, IL which provides financial oversight and accountability for Foundation Casa de Luz. NIFC, and its director, Mike Vickery, consistently champion for the children and families of Casa de Luz. In addition, over the past eleven years, Foundation Casa de Luz has formed partnerships with various U.S. churches and organizations to accept missionary interns and short-term mission teams as part of the ministry focus. Marilyn Brautigam and her brother and sister-in-law, Neil and Ginny Gerald, continue to faithfully promote, and actively raise funds for Foundation Casa de Luz while residing in the United States. They are joined every year by families and friends who, although they may never meet the children of Casa de Luz, support them with their generous donations. Pastor Arnaldo Rodriguez remains in loving service to the families of Foundation Casa de Luz by serving on the local board of directors of Foundation Casa de Luz. Pastor Arnaldo, along with Ed and Valerie Schubert, Ruth Campos, Dixie Rosales, Sofia Martinez and Keyla Luque, serve as the presiding board of directors for Foundation Casa de Luz. Illuminating the Path: Looking back over the history of the ministry of Foundation Casa de Luz, one can easily see God’s direction, favor, and goodness. God took His own vision for the children of Honduras and placed it into the heart of a local Honduran pastor and his congregation and then merged it with a calling upon the hearts of Dr. Harry and Marilyn. As a result, two marginalized neighborhoods, full of at-risk children, now have a point of “light” and “illumination” amid the darkness of poverty, illiteracy, and hunger. God is truly doing amazing things in Honduras as He uses Foundation Casa de Luz to transform the lives of children and illuminate the path for Honduran families!