Serving the central and southeastern Pennsylvania area, Lighthouse TV, a television ministry broadcasting programs for the whole family, is airing content every day to educate, inspire, and draw viewers to a closer walk with Jesus Christ.
With two full-power broadcast stations, WBPH-60 in Philadelphia and WLYH-49 in Harrisburg and Lancaster, ten low power stations across the state, and online streaming options, Lighthouse TV is reaching an audience size of 3.5 million homes within the Pennsylvania area and across the globe.
In the late 1970s, Lighthouse TV founder Pat Huber began producing Christian programming in the Pennsylvanian Lehigh Valley on Twin County Cable, today known as Astound, powered by Residential Communications Network (RCN). She hosted and produced Sonshine People, a talk-variety show, and Sonny Farms, a children’s show that aired on the local public-access cable station.
“Pat would later become aware of the National Religious Broadcasters,” said Margaret M. Huber, president of Lighthouse TV. Huber is married to Pat Huber’s son Daniel Huber, Lighthouse TV vice president. “At the time, the NRB was meeting at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C.––this was a four-hour drive and Pat made the trip. There she met with Christians from around the country who were operating full power, Christian television stations.”
Through NRB connections, Pat befriended Russ and Norma Bixler, founders of Pittsburgh-based WPCB TV, who played a monumental role in the early stages of Lighthouse TV.
“Through the help of Russ and Norma and others at the NRB, Pat and her husband Joe were encouraged to file for a license for a TV station in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in the Philadelphia market,” said Huber. “After many years of legal battles and much help with legal fees from WPCB and others, in November of 1986, Pat was finally awarded the license to build the TV station in Bethlehem.”
In 2018, Lighthouse was rebranded as Lighthouse TV. Huber credited many likeminded supporters, including the NRB, for its origination.
“Without a doubt, Lighthouse TV would not exist were it not for the helping hand of the family, friends, faithful volunteers, the National Religious Broadcasters, the TV committee of NRB and of course Russ and Norma Bixler of WPCB TV in Pittsburgh PA,” said Huber.
Lighthouse TV provides programs in a variety of genres, including Bible teaching, health and lifestyle, local sports, news from a biblical worldview, and educational shows for children.
In conjunction with local churches and pastors who have Gospel-centered messaging, the station airs several programs that engage with key biblical and cultural issues of the day.
“We are so happy to partner with local churches who have a solid biblical message and are willing to share and work with us to bring that to our viewers,” said Huber.
Some shows on Lighthouse TV are produced in the region, like “The Christian and the Culture,” hosted by three Philadelphia pastors (Bishop Eric A. Lambert, Pastor Brian Weatherspoon, and Pastor Tim Baldwin), who discuss the ever-changing cultural challenges to the Christian worldview and how believers are to respond. NRB member programs carried on Lighthouse TV include In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley, Grace to You with John MacArthur, Leading the Way with Dr. Michael Youssef, Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah, Love Worth Finding with Adrian Rodgers, Pathway to Victory with Dr. Robert Jeffress, CBN Newswatch, and more. Vacant airtime is filled with Song and Scripture from Radiant TV.
Reflecting on the obstacles the station has surmounted over the years, Huber recalled, “We signed the station on the air in 1989 and a major snowstorm knocked us off air the very next day––signs of a difficult road ahead.”
Huber shared that selecting content of “lasting eternal value” can be a challenging mission to fulfill.
“One of the most difficult areas we face is keeping all of our programs aligned with Scripture,” she said. “That is a daily struggle in deciding what to air and more important, what not to air. Saying no to guests and programming is very difficult but something we must do to stay true to Scripture.”
Huber credited many timeless Bible teachers and prominent Christian broadcasting voices that “helped shape our message and light our path.”
“We cherish the work of R.C. Sproul, originally from Ligonier, Pennsylvania, A.W. Tozer, another Pennsylvania native, Joni Eareckson Tada, Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones, and Charles Haddon Spurgeon,” Huber listed.
The station’s philosophy on excellence in Christian communications is simple: “Keep the most important thing the most important thing––lifting up Jesus Christ,” said Huber. “Find those nationally and locally who are true to God’s word and partner with them to air and create solid biblical content.”
In a word of encouragement to those beginning their broadcasting ministry journey, “Despise not small beginnings,” Huber said.
“We can do our job, but God will give the increase in His time,” she added. “Remember, you won’t see the majority of the fruit of your labors until we meet in Heaven, so faint not! . . . Stay on mission and in due season you will reap a harvest for the kingdom of Jesus Christ,” said Huber.
Lighthouse TV has been an NRB member since 2002, and Margaret Huber has been a member of the NRB President’s Council since 2019. To learn more about Lighthouse TV and find ways to watch, click here.
