News

December 2024

Matthew 28: The Great Commission 

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 

Most of us know what it’s like to wake up feeling the weight of the world around us—the ceaseless noise, the cries of injustice, the pull of worry and struggle. Life serves each of us a portion of pain, and our world adds to it with plenty to spare. 

It’s tempting, sometimes, to see God’s promises as distant, unreachable, something ethereal rather than deeply relevant to the here and now. But faith was never meant to be kept separate, floating somewhere outside of reality. No, it is meant to walk with us, work with us, and bind our lives together in service, even when we feel powerless. The call Jesus left for us, to go, to lift, to love, echoes through every hardship, and it asks something deeply real of us. Today, The Belize Project family would like to share the story of someone who answered that call with his whole heart. 

Fred Threet reached out to us with a desire to return to serve in Belize, as he had done a few years ago. The day he arrived, I met him at the airport, and I saw instantly that his heart was set on the work ahead. After some small talk, I shared a story close to my heart. A young man in Belize City had recently been shot while running to buy groceries for his mother. He survived but was left paralyzed from the neck down. His family’s porch was falling apart, and he longed to sit outside and feel the breeze, but the structure was dangerous and crumbling. As I told Fred, without missing a step he looked up and said, “Why are we still talking about it? Let’s get it done.” 

We spent several days building that porch over swampy ground, constructing a solid foundation on silt and sewage. Once it was finished, Fred delivered a message to the neighborhood about God’s love and His desire to seek and save the lost. He also spent time at Jacob’s Farm, supporting the leadership there by purchasing materials and setting up a tilapia hatchery. He had studied extensively for this, even visiting a tilapia farm in the USA to understand how best to serve. Fred worked alongside the Director, Rodell, in establishing a charcoal-making facility to help generate income for the ministry. Throughout his stay, he fellowshipped with the men at Jacob’s Farm, encouraging them to seek freedom in Christ and supporting the leadership and staff. 

At one point, Fred traveled with my family and me, from the northern reaches of Belize to the far south in Punta Gorda. In the long hours on the road, he shared his story with quiet humility. I learned that he had served in Ukraine, that he held a Ph.D. in Christian Education. But he never spoke of these things with pride; they were pieces of his journey, given only when needed. One Sunday, he preached at 

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, and his message resonated deeply with those gathered. 

In the south, we joined the Education Director Mrs. Ruth Ku and the Director of Government Grade Schools, visiting remote Mayan villages. The schools there are in dire need, and Ruth shared her vision for supporting principals and teachers in these far-flung communities. Fred listened intently, and later we talked about ways to bring a team down to camp in the jungle, cut timber from the forest, and build what was needed. Even here, Fred’s heart was all in. 

In his short time with us, Fred impacted lives across Belize. The work he did and the hope he offered reached from the neighborhoods of Belize City to the farthest southern villages. And we know his heart is still with us. Friends, would you, too, follow in the footsteps of Christ? Could you, like Fred, bring your gifts, your heart, and your hands to serve under the warm sun of Belize? 

Just as Jesus walked among the people, bringing light into the shadows, would you walk with us here? Together, we can help Belizeans realize their God-given potential. Your service, your story, and your heart could be the answer to someone’s prayers. The Belize Project offers a place where you can make a difference that reaches through generations. The life you touch might be the one God prepared for you to inspire all along. 

Thank you, Fred. We carry on with gratitude, and we march forward in faith. 

May 2024

Trinity Presbyterian in Belize!

We are elated to share that Trinity Presbyterian Service Team of 34 has arrived in Belize! This week, they are serving and living life with us at the Chan Chen Government School, building and improving the facilities designated for The Belize Project’s Education Ministry, led by Ruth Ku. The grade school age students in the team are attending their respective grades at Chan Chen, and the Lord is being honored in it all.

Ruth-Ann, an engineer, is leading STEM sessions at San Antonio Government School. Students from six different schools are attending to learn about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math! The Robotics team from Garden City Primary is visiting all the way from Belmopan, 118 miles away, to hear from Ruth-Ann about robotics and computer programming. While in Corozal, they will also showcase their knowledge in this area.
The men from the team will be serving at Jacob’s Farm all week, encouraging the 24 men there in the Lord. Trinity Presbyterian fellowshipped at Betel Presbyterian Church in Cristo Ray and will be building and improving the facilities at the church as well. A small team, led by our volunteer Monique Bartley, will be painting at the Presbyterian Day School.

We ask for your prayers for these precious servants of God. Indeed, the Kingdom of God is global, and it is an honor to have Trinity Presbyterian serving in this part of God’s vineyard!

January 2024

In January 2024 the board of The Belize Project visited with our partners in Belize. It was a time of great encouragement. Visiting relationships and partners we worked with for the past two decades as well as building new relationships with organizations in the nation’s capital.

The tour started with the visit of Jacob’s Rehabilitation Farm Center. Their director shared with the board the great progress being made with the Tilapia project, signing an MOU with the Government Health Department to welcome twelve men to the farm, and the vision to minister to men in all walks of Belizean society who is seeking freedom from Alcohol and substance abuse.

Thereafter we spent some precious time listening to the hearts and efforts of those at The House of Dorcas. One of only three safe houses in the nation of Belize! The house of Dorcas was established to provide a safe place for women and children fleeing domestic violence and human trafficking. The Christ centered ministry is a safe haven in what could be life threatening situations for those they serve. We ask for your prayers and support for this much needed ministry.

Belize has a very young population and education is key to the stability of the nation and to guarantee a secure future. The Belize Restoration Movement in partnership with The Belize Project leads in excellence in the area of education. The director Ruth Ku provides mentorship to all principals of government schools in the nation of Belize in partnership with the government ministry of Education. She also provides teacher’s training and literacy workshops to improve the teaching skills of teachers from the north to the south of the country. Ruth says her hearts desire is to demonstrate the love of Christ through service and give our children a fighting chance in this world through a solid education.

We visited with the principal of The Presbyterian Day School, located in Cristo Rey Village. The principal Mr. Pott shared with us his vision for the school and the challenges they face. The Board got a chance to sit in classroom and made a pledge to continue to support the work of school. This support was made tangible by the funding of a new restroom for the school as the facilities that exist are inadequate and provided health challenges to the young pupil of the school.

The Belize Project is a Christian organization and we believe our duty is to spread the good news of the gospel of the Kingdom of God. In keeping with the Lord’s command to go into all the world the board met with Isaia Botes; a pastoral Candidate under the Presbyterian Church in Belize. Isaias shared with the board the Presbytery’s gratitude for the relationship with The Belize Project and also some of the needs of the ministry. Carlyle our Chairman hopes to continue to support the work of the church in Belize to the glory of God.

After visiting with our established partners the Board looked to Belize City where precious time was spent with Andrew August the Director of Restoration Ministry. One of their tools to facilitate restoration is the use of The Journey to Freedom Curriculum. Andrew and his facilitators reach out to communities’ country wide and focus specifically in several high schools in Belize where there is great need for support. Andrew also build relationships with the Police Department and the armed forces making waves through the Journey to Freedom curriculum. The Belize Project looks forward to continuing with this invaluable relationship and its support of Andrew’s and his team’s efforts.

The board got to meet with John and Karen Stodghill the Mission to The World Country Lead and we were encouraged by the time spent with them. There is great opportunities for synergy especially in the area of support for the Medical Clinic in Patchakkan Village.

It was indeed a great pleasure to meet with a potential new partner Mr. Lewis Wade Jr. Pastor Lewis is the founder of Hedges, a rehab center supported by the members of the Belmopan Church of the Nazarene. Pastor Wade’s passion was evident and the Lord is truly doing a great work through them. The visit was enlightening and we will continue to speak and see how we can further the objectives of the Kingdom of God together in the Lord’s time.

Our second to last stop was with Steven Lewis. Steven is a Mathematics lecturer at The University of Belize and his wife Sarita Lewis also lectured at the University but was called into full time ministry after serving for eighteen years at the university. Mental health support is lacking in Belize and after ministering to students for many years they decided to open the Master’s House. A Christian center that provide counseling to those suffering from depression, sexual abuse survivors, marriage counseling and other maladies of the mind and soul. At the house they’ve purchased for that purpose we felt a presence of peace as the birds chirped in the background and we all listened to Steven as he shared with us his heart and the hope they have for the nation and the church in Belize.

The board then went on to meet with Monique Bartley and the principal of Garden City Primary School. Monique has been providing meals for fifty students over the last two years and sharing the gospel with children at the school. The Board served the children and spent a little time fellowshipping with the principal of the school.  Indeed this board visit was filled with much thought and heart and the needs are truly great, but we must say that there is hope and the people of Belize are doing much with the support of The Belize Project and their own dependency on God. We look forward to what the Lord has for The Belize Project and her partners in 2024 and beyond.

Business As Mission - July 2022

“Business as Mission” — In July, two professors from Baylor University’s School of Business visited Belize to explore a new vision that Baylor is developing with their business students. Baylor would like to work with The Belize Project to help partner students in their Business program with local entrepreneurs in Belize. These students would be able to share the journey of entrepreneurship through the partnership, helping economies flourish, and supporting small business owners across the world to implement their ideas, embrace their God-given skills, and expand their businesses in Belize for the glory of God. Listen to the radio interview (begins around 31 m

In July, The Belize Project staff and some donors, the US Army, and the US Embassy attended the San Antonio New Government School building inauguration. The opportunities we have had to be a part of these schools are a blessing that we hope will grow and continue in the future!

April 2022

A local entrepreneur hosted a manicure training for women in the community at The Belize Project ministry house. She wanted to give back and do something for single mothers who wanted to become more skilled in their job. It's a blessing from God to have the space to hold events such as this for young women in our community!

February 2022

On February 10th, 2022, the House of Dorcas hosted a workshop in partnership with CDF (Child Development Foundation). The main objective was to train and educate community and church leaders about the issues of child abuse, human trafficking, and domestic violence awareness. A total of 24 women from the villages of Cristo Rey, San Pedro, & Patchakan attended this workshop. We are grateful to all of those who assisted, organized, and attended the workshop.

Find out more about The Belize Project’s partnership with The House of Dorcas:

November 2021

On November 26th 2021, the House of Dorcas ministry hosted our first activity with the Department of Human Development in the battle to eradicate violence against women. We were blessed to have Nayley Moreno from the National Drug Abuse Control Council as the facilitator for this event. She engaged teenage girls in a roundtable discussion and shared with them what domestic violence is and how to detect violence at home, school, and even their own families. We shared vital information on what to do if they experience any violence and how to ask for help.