LIBERTY UNIVERSITY

UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUPS: THE CHILDREN AND YOUTH OF BELIZE

A PAPER SUBMITTED TO DR. DESMOND J. (JIM) O’NEILL

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR

THE COURSE ICST 500

LIBERTY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

BY

DAVID W. RHODES

LIBERTY ID L22933379

FLORENCE, SC

Friday, December 18, 2009

SITUATION BELIZE:

REACHING

AN

UNLIKELY

UNREACHED PEOPLE

GROUP…THE CHILDREN!

BY

DAVID W. RHODES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1

PART 1: BACKGROUND INFORMATION

OVERVIEW------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1

HISTORY--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2

ECONOMY------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3

EDUCATION----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3

PEOPLE AND CULTURE-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5

SOCIAL DYNAMICS------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6

RELIGION ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7

ISSUES AND CONCERNS------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8

PART 2: SURVEY OF MISSION WORK

CURRENT STATUS OF THE CHURCH--------------------------------------------------------------

9

MISSION ORGANIZATIONS IN BELIZE----------------------------------------------------------- 11

iii

ISSUES WITH SHORT TERM MISSIONS----------------------------------------------------------

13

DOMESTIC DENOMINATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS------------------------------------------ 14

PART 3: PROPOSED STRATEGY

PROPOSED STRATEGY OVERVIEW-------------------------------------------------------------- 15

CHILDREN AND YOUTH MINISTRY IN THE SCHOOLS------------------------------------ 16

CHILDREN AND YOUTH MINISTRY IN THE SCHOOLS ----------------------------------- 17

FUNDING THE PROGRAMS------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18

CHILDREN AND YOUTH MINISTRY IN THE SCHOOLS ----------------------------------- 19

CONCLUSION ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20

iv

INTRODUCTION

Belize is an extremely small third world country in Central America that is blessed with

amazing natural beauty, and is rich with ethnic and cultural diversity. Belize is without question

a country of children, with over 50% of the population under the age of eighteen and increasing

significantly each year. It has often been said that Christianity in Belize can be summarized as

being “a mile wide and a half inch deep”. Lacking the presence of any viable, sustainable, and

organized Children and Youth Ministry programs, the children and youth of Belize are a lost

people group that are not being effectively reached in a systemic manner with the Good News

and salvation of Jesus Christ. The information in this report will provide the history and

background necessary to understand the need and foundation for a radically new approach that

will reach and save an entire country and generation.

PART 1: BACKGROUND INFORMATION

OVERVIEW

Belize, formerly known as British Honduras, is located in the southern portion of the

Yucatán Peninsula in Central America; it borders Mexico to the north and Guatemala to the west

and south and faces the Caribbean Sea to the east. Belize is very unique in that it is

geographically part of both the Central American and Caribbean sub-regions of the Americas.1

The coast is low-lying with swamps, mangroves, lagoons, and sandy beaches. The Maya

mountain range lies to the west and south in the country, rising to over 3,000 feet at some peaks.

While Spanish and other local languages are spoken, Belize is the only country in Central

America where English is the official language.

1 ? Atlas of Belize (Cubola Productions: 29th Revised Ed. 2006), 6.

1

With a total population just over 307,000 (2009 estimate) the population density is lowest

in Central America along with one of the lowest in the world.2 This is destined to change in the

future as Belize has the highest population growth rate in Central America at 2.21%. This is also

one of the overall highest rates in the western hemisphere.3 This escalating growth rate is a

significant factor to be understood in the context of this paper.

HISTORY

Belize was historically dominated by the Mayans and was their center of the great empire

for the better part of a thousand years. The Spanish arrived in the 16th century and used the area

primarily for logging. During the next two hundred years, many British and Spanish pirates

inhabited the area, battling for naval supremacy. Finally in 1798, the British navy defeated the

Spanish and laid official claim to the area. In 1862, Britain formally named the territory “British

Honduras,” a title that lasted until 1981 when a peaceful independence was granted and British

Honduras became Belize.

2 ? CIA World Factbook. [Home page on-line];available from www.cia.gov/library/publications/ the-world-factbook/geos/bh.html3 ? Ibid.

2

ECONOMY

Belize has a very small economy of just $2.5 billion, ranking them 178 th in the world. It is

comprised of agriculture exports (bananas, citrus and sugarcane), aquaculture exports (shrimp)

and tourism which is the largest aspect.4 Gross domestic product growth had been averaging a

healthy and modest 4% prior to the recent global downturn in 2008. There continues to be major

concerns with Belize’s large trade deficit and completely unrealistic 70% foreign debt ratio. The

United States is the largest trading partner, with almost 40% of all imports coming from them. A

key and important short term strategy is to improve the poverty situation by means of foreign

donors and charitable organizations.5

EDUCATION

The Belizean public school system is best described as a loose conglomeration of

education subsystems. The government system is founded on the British education system and is

grouped into three levels: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Belizean children begin their eight

years of government funded primary education with two years of "infant" classes (infant one and

infant two), followed by six "standards” (standard one, standard two and so on). Secondary

education, which is not offered by the government as a free service, is divided into four "forms”

(first form and so on). Less than one third of students go on to any level of secondary

schooling.6 This factor plays a significant role in the long term strategy outlined in this report.

Primary schools are predominately built, maintained, and staffed (70% of salaries paid by

the state) by religious institutions, with the overwhelming majority having been established by

4 ? Ibid.5 ? Ibid.6 ? Belize Lifecycles, World Trade Press, 3.

3

the Catholic Church in the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s. Of the almost 300 local village schools, over

90% of the enrollment is accounted for by denominational run organizations.7 Schools are very

simplistic and basic in structure, with either block and mortar or wood lapboard construction.

Most of the primary schools would be condemned by American standards.

Pre-schools have also begun to take hold in part by the individual strategies of domestic

Christian organizations. Of the approximate 100 pre-schools in operation, only 5 are government

owned, with the remaining being church and community owned and managed.8 Most pre-

schools focus on two and three year olds and charge modest enrollment fees.

A joint partnership of church and state continues to manage the overall school system.

The Belizean state continues to lack control over virtually all levels and aspects of education. It

is recognized that foreign institutions continue to supply the majority of funding for maintenance

and expansion of formal education. These institutions provide financing, staffing, curriculum,

planning, and higher education. As the demand for education outpaced the capacities of the

churches, interdenominational cooperation grew and the state assumed a more central role. Still,

denominational representatives retain considerable influence on the managing boards of private,

nondenominational institutions.

In one of the most ironic situations ever witnessed, these “religious” schools in most

cases do not have any consistent or organized religion teachings. The Belize constitution clearly

stipulates that religious communities may establish "places of education" and states that "no such

community shall be prevented from providing religious instruction for persons of that

community." Although there is no state religion, the educational system maintains by statute a

strong religious curriculum. The curriculum ties "spirituality" with social studies courses. It

7 ? J. Alexander Bennett, Education in Belize (Belize City: The Angelus Press, 2008), 190.8 ? Bennett, Education in Belize, 136.

4

requires in both public and private schools that students from kindergarten through sixth grade

receive 220 minutes of religious instruction and chapel every week, but school exit exams do not

have a section on religion.9 The sad reality is that religion is not being taught at religious

schools. That approximately 85% of the primary school age children are enrolled in school,

gives an indication that there is a strong demand for education. It is unfortunate that it has been

estimated that at least 46% of the children enrolled in primary school never complete the eight

years of schooling in the set time.10

PEOPLE AND CULTURE

Belize is the most sparsely populated nation in Central America. Slightly more than half

of the population lives in rural areas in over 600 small villages. About 25% of the total

population lives in Belize City. Belize City this is the principal port, commercial center, former

capital and the largest city in the country. A staggering 40% of the population is comprised of

persons younger than 14 years of age, and is growing at an alarming rate. Moreover, 51% are

under the age of 18, while only a mere 5% of the population is reported over the age of 60. 11

Most Belizeans are of multiracial descent. Roughly 50% of the population is of mixed

Mayan and European descent (Mestizo); 30% are of African and Afro-European (Creole)

ancestry; about 10.0% are Mayan; and about 5% are Afro-Amerindian (Garifuna).12 The

remainder includes European, East Indian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, and North American

9 ? Belize-International Religious Freedom Report 2006, Released by the United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor10 ? UNESCO Country Reports, [Home page on-line];available from http://www.unesco.org/education/wef/countryreports/belize/rapport_2_4.htm11 ?CIA World Factbook. [Home page on-line];available from www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bh.html 12 ? Ibid.

5

groups. English, the official language of Belize, is spoken by virtually all except the Honduran

and Guatemalan refugees who arrived during the past decade. Spanish is the native tongue of

about 50% of the people and is spoken as a second language by another 20%.13 The various

Mayan groups still speak their indigenous languages, and an English-Creole dialect similar to the

Creole dialects of the English-speaking Caribbean Islands is spoken by most. Each people group

has very distinct social and cultural traditions. However, they all share a love for large families

and generally have a casual disregard for legally binding marital relations, which has led to a

total collapse of the traditional family structure. This structural collapse has continued to fuel the

population explosion which is spiraling out of control.

SOCIAL DYNAMICS

Belize by virtually any definition is a third world country, yet dramatic change and

progress has taken place over the past three decades. The country has adopted with popular

support, the practices and ideologies of development and consumerism. The rapid growth of

educational opportunities at the secondary level along with exponential government employment

growth has created a sizable middle-class that did not exist a decade ago.

Not all of the recent growth and changes have been positive. Many have noted the

breakdown of traditional notions of authority, respect, and propriety and the obsessive

fascination of Belizean youth with North American material culture. Many blame mass

emigration for the dissolution of the Belizean family and the subsequent rise in juvenile

delinquency and crime. Emigration to metropolitan countries such as the United States is a

serious issue as those with the highest education and the most ambition are the ones leaving.

Compounding this issue is the immigration of uneducated and poor migrant workers from

13 ? Ibid.

6

neighboring countries. Like other developing nations, Belize continues to face the ongoing

challenge of balancing the expanding needs and desires of a rapidly growing population at a time

when the country possesses limited natural, financial, and human resources.

RELIGION

Christianity is the predominant religion of Belize, and nearly 60 percent of Belizeans

reportedly belong to the Roman Catholic denomination. However, due to the heavy British

influence, Belize has a larger Protestant population than any other country in Central America.14

Other significant denominations include Anglicans, Pentecostals, Baptists, Methodists, Seventh-

Day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Mennonites. The Maya and Garifuna practice their

own fascinating mixture of shamanism and Christianity. A minority of Hindus, Buddhists,

Baha’is, Muslims, Rastafarians, and Mormons are also present in the religious makeup of Belize.

Interestingly, as Belize was a British colony for such a long time, there has been very

little Anglican influence. The Constitution of Belize guarantees freedom of religion to all its

citizens making religion-based discrimination illegal. Despite the legally secular nature of the

state, the Governor General is required to appoint one member of the 13-seat Senate as directed

by the multi-denominational Belize Council of Churches and the Evangelical Association of

Churches.

Interaction between churches, and religious organizations, and the Belizean government

has always been informal, yet recognizably powerful. For decades, the Catholic Church

overwhelmingly dominated the political landscape.15 Schools have been a key element in this

influence. Church run schools, once again mostly built and maintained by Catholics, have been

14 ? Adventure life .com, Home page on-line];available from, www.adventurelife.com15 ? Tim Merrill, ed. Belize: A Country Study (Washington: GPO for the Library of Congress, 1992)

7

in Belize since the early colonial era. While there has been some recent political softening, both

major political parties continued to endorse the church-state partnership in education. This

partnership places most primary and secondary schools under church control along with

governmental “oversight” and funding (70% of teacher salaries).

ISSUES AND CONCERNS

The overall quality of life in Belize pales in comparison to that of the United States. The

annual per capita income in Belize is approximately one-sixth of the U.S. average, and infant

mortality rate is almost five times as high. All of the general indicators for income and infant

mortality fall well below the averages for other Central American countries.16 As measured by

the United Nations Human Development Index, quality of life in Belize is also well below the

majority of the English-speaking Caribbean and in the entire Western Hemisphere, Belize ranks

above only Bolivia and Haiti–the two poorest countries in terms of access to adequate sanitation

(mainly meaning toilets). Only 25 percent of the rural population has access to adequate

sanitation; those without are at high risk of serious and often deadly diseases.17 Moreover, these

national indicators hide wide regional disparities.

Additionally, the underreporting of infant deaths in rural areas led the World Health

Organization to classify Belize's morbidity and mortality statistics as unreliable.18 This official

declaration from the World Health Organization is of significant importance to this report when

it comes to understanding the overall reporting of statistics within the country. Finally, one of

the most serious and underestimated issues is that of alcohol abuse among men. This is the

16 ? CIA World Factbook. [Home page on-line];available fromwww.cia.gov/library/publications/ the-world-factbook/geos/bh.html17 ? UNESCO Country Reports, [Home page on-line];available from http://www.unesco.org/education/wef/countryreports/belize/rapport_2_4.htm18 ? World Heath Organization: [Home page on-line];available from www.who.int/countrystudies/us/belize

8

leading cause of abuse and malnourishment of women and children, and is a widespread problem

that is in need of serious and immediate attention.

PART 2: SURVEY OF MISSIONS WORK

CURRENT STATUS OF THE CHURCH

Of the country's nine major religious groups, the Roman Catholics are the largest, with

more than three in five Belizeans claiming to be followers. Baptist, Anglicans, and Methodists

make up the largest Protestant denominations, although they have recently been losing some

ground to fundamentalist and evangelical sects, such as the Pentecostalists and Seventh-Day

Adventists. The overwhelming majority of local pastors, regardless of denomination are bi-

vocational and do not possess any significant theological training. A random sampling of church

attendance on any given Sunday would reveal a very small percentage of the “reported” believers

in actual attendance. The typical congregation is composed mainly of middle age and older

women, along with a few young couples with infants and small children. There is a noticeable

absence of children, youth and men.

During the past thirty years, missionary activities by evangelical and fundamentalist

denominations and sects, including the Mormons, Seventh-Day Adventists, and Jehovah's

Witnesses, have been changing the religious landscape in Belize. These groups are viewed as

being politically conservative with negligible political impact at the national level as compared

to the historical involvement of the Catholic Church. In contrast, these groups have been very

effective at the local level and have filled the void created by the significant retreat of the

Catholic Church in local villages. Unfortunately, with the proliferation of denominations and

9

sects, many of which have been hostile to one another and especially to the Roman Catholic

Church, they could be undermining the sense of common identity within the local communities.

Official census categories have greatly oversimplified religious identity in Belize. Some

syncretic beliefs and practices could not be easily categorized and therefore were simply

consolidated. An example of this is with the Garifuna. While they might be considered

“nominally” Catholic, they continued to uphold their traditional beliefs and practices, such as the

dugu ritual, through which they honored their ancestors and perpetuated their distinctive cultural

identity. The Catholicism of many Maya was similarly inflected with aspects of their own

cultural traditions. Another example is with the Creoles and their belief in obeah, or witchcraft

particularly among the older generations of the urban and rural poor.19 Table 1 from the

International Mission Board (IMB) details the various Belizean People Groups.

People Groups

Global Status of Evangelical Christianity Population Language Religion Resources

Belizean Creole 5 108,628Belize Kriol English - (bzj) Christianity - Other / Marginal 0

British 1 1,321 English - (eng) Christianity – Protestant 5

Low German 1 7,658 Plautdietsch - (pdt) Christianity – Protestant 5

Arab, Syrian 1 131North Levantine Arabic - (apc) Islam 3

Han Chinese, Mandrin 1 2,060

Mandarin Chinese - (cmn) Buddhism 5

Black Carib 1 18,090 Garifuna - (cab)Other Religions - Ethno-Religion 3

Itza 1 18,200 Itzá - (itz) Christianity - Roman Catholic 1

Kekchi 1 11,884 Kekchí - (kek) Christianity - Roman Catholic 4

Mestizo 5 159,241 Spanish - (spa) Christianity - Other / Marginal 5

Mopan Maya 1 15,000 Mopán Maya - (mop) Christianity - Other / Marginal 2

Yucatec 1 4,100 Yucateco - (yua) Christianity - Other / Marginal 3

Deaf Belizean 0 1,531Language Unknown - (xxx)

Other Religions - Ethno-Religion  

12 People Groups   347,844      

TABLE 1

19 ? Tim Merrill, ed. Belize: A Country Study (Washington: GPO for the Library of Congress, 1992)

10

Specifically identified by the IMB in TABLE 2 are almost 80,000 unengaged and

unreached people groups as it pertains to church planting.

Country People Groups

Global Status of Evangelical Christianity Population Religion Resources

Belize Arab, Syrian 1 131 Islam 3

Belize Black Carib 1 18,090Other Religions - Ethno-Religion 3

Belize British 1 1,321 Christianity – Protestant 5

Belize Deaf Belizean 0 1,531Other Religions - Ethno-Religion  

BelizeHan Chinese, Mandrin 1 2,060 Buddhism 5

Belize Itza 1 18,200 Christianity - Roman Catholic 1

Belize Kekchi 1 11,884 Christianity - Roman Catholic 4

Belize Low German 1 7,658 Christianity – Protestant 5

Belize Mopan Maya 1 15,000 Christianity - Other / Marginal 2

Belize Yucatec 1 4,100 Christianity - Other / Marginal 3

  10 People Groups   79,975    TABLE 2

MISSION ORGANIZATIONS IN BELIZE

Mission organizations, independent missionaries and short term mission team travel

coordinators have been a consistent part of the Belizean landscape for more than 50 years. The

most recent figures report 123 missionaries to Belize from 31 agencies with 75% of these

coming from the United States.20 Below in TABLE 3 is a listing of organizations that presently

have, or at some point had, missionaries in service. A survey of these 21 sites revealed that only

60% have an active presence. Most noticeably missing from this list is the Southern Baptist

Convention’s International Mission Board (IMB). Research from the IMB website revealed the

last significant activity in Belize was in 2001. Attempts to reach IMB for comments and reasons

for withdrawal have been unsuccessful.

Size

20 ? Operation World: [Home page on-line];available from http://www.operationworld.org/country/beli/owtext.html#MT

11

Country Level Ministries

Amazon Focus SmallAvant Ministries MediumBaptist General Conference, International Ministries MediumBaptist International Outreach MediumCalvary Commission MediumCenters for Apologetics Research SmallChurch of God, Anderson, Indiana MediumCongregational Methodist Church SmallEquip, Incorporated MediumFriends United Meeting - Global Ministries SmallGlobal Outreach International MediumGlobal Outreach Mission MediumHope for the Hungry MediumInternational Pentecostal Holiness Church MediumInto All The World SmallLifeWind MediumMissionary Ventures International MediumMissions Door MediumPentecostal Church of God World Missions SmallSTEM International SmallTeen Missions International Medium

Ministries Listed for Belize:  21

TABLE 3

Under the country’s revised Immigration and Nationality Act, foreign religious workers

are permitted to enter the country and proselytize; however, they must be registered and purchase

a religious worker’s permit. The yearly fee is modest. There is a steady stream of religious

workers and missionaries from the United States. In addition to preaching, these visitors are

involved in building and renovating schools and churches, providing free medical and dental

care, and distributing donated food, clothing, and home fixtures.21

Summarizing the primary goals and objectives of previous and current mission ministries

is a very challenging task given the wide variety of evangelical opportunities throughout Belize.

Personal interviews and conversations with present day missionaries on the ground in Belize

over 15 trips and a five year time span reveal three key summary areas. First, missionaries tend

to be very much generalists in a confined geography, usually a small village, of which they are

21 ? Annual Report on Religious Affairs by the Committee of Foreign Affairs, US Government Printing Office, Washington, 2005.

12

very effective and protective. Second, they prefer to work independently and autonomously and

often are unaware of other missionary activity in the region. Finally, they do not have, or work

from, a specific or detailed strategy and are generally unintentional in their approach. These

generalizations do not to imply any level of ineffectiveness, but merely show the present state of

activity.

ISSUES WITH SHORT TERM MISSIONS

With the explosion in the number of short term mission teams (STM’s) coming annually

to Belize from the US and Canada, serious issues have begun to emerge. At the core of the

problem, many STM’s are lacking a well coordinated strategy that is carried out and aligned with

local missionaries and churches. While these groups are comprised of wonderful God loving and

well meaning Christians, the potential long term damage far outweighs the short term benefits if

not properly managed. If the primary purpose or goal of the short term team is to disciple

believers instead of the lost, then we have moved away from missio Dei (mission of God) to

“missio me”.22

STM’s in Belize have so overdone the VBS and salvation process that when children in

some of the more “popular” villages are asked if they have been saved, they respond “oh yes, I

have been saved ten times!” Upon closer examination, it is evident they do not have a true

understanding of sin, salvation or Jesus. They simply have learned that if they raise their hand

when asked if anyone would like to ask Jesus into their hearts, they might get something “extra”

in the way of candy or a gift. This is not to say there are very legitimate times when STM

members actually do lead a child to Christ, but if done without the presence of a local pastor or

22 ? Ralph Winter and Steven Hawthorne, Perspectives On the World Christian Movement (Carlisle: Paternoster Press, 2009), 754.

13

missionary to follow up, how is the child to grow and mature in their new faith? Operation

World reports there is abundant evangelism in Belize, but very few converts in the churches due

to poor follow-up.23 Another serious, but usually unintentional, problem is that of “promises”

that are made by STM members that are not fulfilled. So many of the children have become

hardened due to the disappointment they experience of unmet promises time and time again.

DOMESTIC DENOMINATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Several significant, local Belizean denominational organizations have emerged over the

past ten years. These include the Baptist Association of Belize, Belize Assemblies of God, and

Anglican Diocese of Belize. These domestic organizations were formed with the assistance of

larger international denominational groups to promote standardization and denominational unity

throughout the country. National leadership has been put into each of these organizations and

they manage themselves in an autonomous manner, while still subscribing to the fundamental

doctrinal beliefs of the base denomination.

As these organizations continue to mature and develop fresh young leadership, they could

potentially be the catalyst to rejuvenate domestic growth. They have the unique ability to be able

to look across the collective membership of churches and develop programs and assistance that

will benefit all with scope and economies of scale that would not be possible at the single unit

level. Potential examples of this include continued education and training for pastors and lay

staff, specific ministry programs for youth/children and other special interest groups, along with

establishing long term partnerships with internationally based mission groups.

PART 3: PROPOSED STRATEGY

23 ? Operation World: [Home page on-line];available fromhttp://www.operationworld.org/country/beli/owtext.html#2b-1

14

PROPOSED STRATEGY OVERVIEW

Based on the facts, history and current situation previously presented, in order to

fundamentally evoke lasting, systemic change and to truly make disciples, as we are called to do

in the great commission, a totally different approach is required. Belize is uniquely a country of

children and youth and the opportunity is available to have a focused strategy on this non-

traditional “people group”. The very basic issue to be solved is that over half of the population is

children, yet there are no wide spread, organized, or effective children or youth ministry

programs in the country.

This great task will be accomplished by building upon the foundation that has been put

into place by the preceding generations of missionaries and by working with and along side of

current missionaries, churches, and Christian organizations. The two key aspects of this strategy

include taking full advantage of the existing church-state relationship on education and re-

defining the utilization of short term missions.

First, by leveraging and building upon the present infrastructure of schools, churches and

missionaries, we will introduce biblically based “religious” curriculum into the local village

schools in partnership with the local village church. By fully utilizing the Belizean constitution

that mandates “students from kindergarten through sixth grade receive 220 minutes of religious

instruction and chapel every week”24, and implementing a coordinated and effective children and

youth ministry program in the church, we will be able to dramatically increase church attendance

and participation. Excited children and youth will then lead adults to attend church where the

entire family unit can be “both recipients as well as the agents of salvation blessing”.25 Winning

24 ? Belize-International Religious Freedom Report 2006, Released by the United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.25 ? Ralph Winter and Steven Hawthorne, Perspectives On the World Christian Movement (Carlisle: Paternoster Press, 2009), 655.

15

family units to Christ provides an unequalled avenue for swift and exponential growth of

believers and disciples.

The second major aspect of this strategy will involve the utilization of short term

missions in a completely different manner than the present day or previous mission efforts.  

Visiting short term missions will be predominately comprised of Christian families to include the

children and youth. These families and individuals will be strongly encouraged to maintain an

on-going relationship via return trips, sponsorship, mail, phone calls and prayer.  This

demonstrates to the Belizean people how a God honoring family structure lives for His glory. 

CHILDREN AND YOUTH MINISTRY IN THE SCHOOLS

We will provide ministry leadership and oversight via both direct involvement and by

working with local churches and organizations, schools and local

missionaries in Belize.  We will implement a sustainable, energetic, high impact curriculum and

ministry that is biblically based throughout the school system of Belize.  This creative ministry

approach is geared towards children, yet is also suitable and enjoyable for adults and families.   

The design and implementation will be adaptable, flexible, and scalable to meet the individual

and local needs of any size ministry (church or school) in any of the six regions of the country. 

The concept begins at the local village level where the infrastructure of existing schools

and churches are in place and can be utilized immediately. The village partnership between the

school and church are at the very foundation of this mission. Critical resources such as laptop

computers, media projection and sound equipment, curriculum and supplies, all of which will

have to be supplied, will be shared between the school and church, with the local pastor or

missionary being accountable. Both initial and ongoing training and development of local

16

Belizean leaders is an absolute necessity for long term success. As the program expands

geographically, the need for area, regional, and national coordinators will be required. Where

practical, we will partner with US based bible colleges and seminary intern programs to help

facilitate the training and development of local coordinators.

As Glenn Schwartz has stated, “the well-intended generosity of Christians often backfires

by creating dependency. We can learn valuable lessons from the past failings of misguided

kindness”.26 From the very beginning, this ministry belongs to the local people of Belize. As

outsiders, we are merely servants to assist the Belizean people and must be extremely careful not

to create an atmosphere of dependency. Additionally, we certainly do not want them to become

like us, but rather “to be like Jesus in their own culture”.27

The initial program begins in the school with both a large group “assembly/chapel” time

and individual class small group time. The weekly assembly/chapel time includes modern praise

and worship and multimedia presentations that surround a monthly “virtue” theme. The small

group class time continues to follow the monthly virtue in more detail. The materials and

lessons are prepared in advance by a local coordinator so as to not burden the teachers. This

practice allows for greater teacher adoption and will facilitate a uniform and consistent message.

CHILDREN AND YOUTH MINISTRY IN THE CHURCHES

As earlier stated, there are no wide spread, organized or systemically effective children or

youth ministry programs in the churches of Belize. This fact has been confirmed through

personal visits and discussions with many local pastors, missionaries and denominational

organizations and is viewed as an area that is in desperate need of immediate assistance. The

26 ? Ralph Winter and Steven Hawthorne, Perspectives On the World Christian Movement (Carlisle: Paternoster Press, 2009), 657.27 ? Will McRaney, The Art of Personal Evangelism (Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 2003), 157.

17

local village church will be synchronized with the school on a weekly basis in teaching the

monthly virtue. The program will be flexible and adaptable to meet the needs and schedule of

the local church. Some churches will be able to incorporate directly into the Sunday morning

service, while others might need to use a mid-week service approach. The design and intent of

the energetic and engaging ministry program is to draw into the church from the school, children

and youth that would not normally attend. As the materials are suitable and enjoyable for adults,

the hope is that through the children, the entire family will attend church.

FUNDING THE PROGRAMS

Funding of any program in Belize is a major concern. The government is broke, over one

third of the population live below the basic $2,000/year poverty line, and the average citizen

makes just $6,000 a year.28 While the future desired state will be for these programs to not be

dependent on outside funding, the immediate reality is initial funding must come from the U.S.

A recent survey of children and youth pastors in the US revealed a significant desire to find a

way to engage children and youth in international missions at an earlier age in an ongoing

manner.

The Kidz Change Can Change Kidz (www.kidzkonnect4jesus.org) program provides a

ministry opportunity for children’s small groups in US churches to have a consistent focus and

impact on missions and on other kids.  The first Sunday of each month kids will bring their

change to small group and drop it into a Kidz Konnect 4 Jesus "change can".  Each sponsoring

U.S. church is partnered with a specific Belizean church, or school, or both.  The change cans

permit the allocation of computers, projectors, large screens, curriculum, training, and supplies

for each ministry.  Change cans, envelopes, and all supplies needed to implement this vital

28 ? Shelter Offshore: http://www.shelteroffshore.com/index.php/living/more/cost_of_living_in_belize/

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ministry are provided to the sponsoring church at no cost. The ratio of sponsor churches to local

Belizean churches will be individually assessed based on the size of both. This allows for even

the smallest churches to play an important role in supporting missions in a direct fashion with

personal attachment.

FAMILY MISSION IMPACT JOURNEYS

Family Mission Impact Journeys are “short term” mission opportunities for families that

last a lifetime.  The only short term aspect of this style of mission is the actual time spent in

Belize. The term “journey” is intentionally and strategically used in place of “trip” or “team”.

While these latter terms are frequently used when describing short term mission, they can imply

an “experience” to build participants as growing disciples. While the discipling of short-term

members is a good and wonderful benefit for the individual, the main focus needs to be on the

long term mission of God.29

It is clearly stated in the Bible that families and households were used as outposts of

evangelism, and that families and children are called to be on mission.30 The apostolic patterns

and process for teaching was in and through family units (Acts 20:20). Belize is an English

speaking country that is easily and affordably traveled to in just a few hours by air.  Families will

be assigned to specific villages where American and Belizean families develop lasting

relationships that will encourage and provide opportunities for them to do life together.   

Belize has much to offer in the way of relaxation and fun, while being extremely

affordable.  Families will find an ideal balance of evangelism, ministering, fun, and relaxation.

29 ? Ralph Winter and Steven Hawthorne, Perspectives On the World Christian Movement (Carlisle: Paternoster Press, 2009), 754.30 ? Ibid., 656.

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The concept of combining Kingdom mission work with a family “vacation” will be very

appealing to many who have limited time and resources.

CONCLUSION

The future of Belize clearly rests with the current generation of children and youth. The

overwhelming social issues and domestic problems can only be overcome by effectively

evangelizing and winning these lost souls to Christ. The circle of hope and change begins as

they collectively become solid Christian citizens, then they can individually impact change to

eliminate most of the issues they presently face. By pulling together the resources God has

blessed us with, this mission and ministry will provide hope and opportunity to the youth of

Belize through a rock solid Christian foundation! May the church continue to find its role in

bringing the true missio dei, the dream of God, closer to reality and into the Eschatological

Now.31

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Adventure life .com, Home page on-line; available from www.adventurelife.com.

31 ? David. J. Bosch, Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission, (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1991), 509.

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Annual Report on Religious Affairs by the Committee of Foreign Affairs, Washington: US Government Printing Office, 2005.

Atlas of Belize. Cubola Productions: 29th Revised Ed. 2006.

Belize-International Religious Freedom Report 2006, Released by the United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.

Belize Lifecycles, Petaluma, CA: World Trade Press.

Bosch, David. J., Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission, Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1991.

CIA World Factbook, Home page on-line. Available fromwww.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bh.html

McRaney, Will, The Art of Personal Evangelism, Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 2003.

Merrill, Tim, ed. Belize: A Country Study. Washington: GPO for the Library of Congress, 1992.

Moreau, A. Scott, Corwin, Gary R and McGee, Gary B., Introducing World Missions: A Biblical, Historical and Practical Survey, Grand Rapids: Baker, 2004.

Operation World, Home page on-line. Available from http://www.operationworld.org/country/beli/owtext.html#2b-1

Shelter Offshore, Home page on-line. Available fromhttp://www.shelteroffshore.com/index.php/living/more/cost_of_living_in_belize/

Winter Ralph and Hawthorne, Steven, Perspectives On the World Christian Movement, Carlisle: Paternoster Press, 2009.

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