Belize

Testimony from Pastor at the Baptist Bible School of Belize

Read a testimony from Pastor Henry Baizar.

Hurricane Felix causes cancellation of BBSB week of class

On August 31, USA Coordinator Bob Lamb, along with Ben Boswell and Mike Browder of Virginia and O.D. Martin of North Carolina, flew down to Belize for a week of study at the Baptist Bible School of Belize.  They anticipated a good week with classes in Comparative Religion,  Baptist History and Polity, and Stewardship planned.  But on Sunday, September 2, the news said that Hurricane Felix had strengthened to a category 4 and was headed straight for the center of the country. 

The people of Belize were understandably concerned.  Just two weeks before, Hurricane Dean had hit the northern part of the country.  The week before, heavy rains had caused flooding in Belize City, and now another hurricane was bearing down on them.  One of the BBSB students, Henry Baizar, was in charge of all the disaster preparations.  One by one, each of the other students called to say they could not leave their families and their work, so Executive Secretary/Treasurer Antolino Flores said it would be wise to cancel the school and make sure that the teachers got out of the country safely. 

Each of the teachers was able to get out on Monday or Tuesday.  Brenda Hipp, Coordinator for the work in Belize, was also able to leave.  Graham Hall and his wife, Jane Earl, stayed to watch after the Baptist Training Center. 

As it turned out, Felix turned west and hit Nicauragua and Honduras rather than Belize. 

In another twist to the story, after Jane Earl got home she learned that Graham had been bitten by a spider and hospitalized.  On Tuesday, September 11, as this is being written, his condition is stable and he is being evacuated to a hospital in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. 

Jane Earl and Graham celebrated their 56th anniversary on September 2. 

Bob Lamb
704 434 9392
cell: 704 672 0160
rlamb12@carolina.rr.com

Belize Baptist Association Mission Partnership:

For several years, churches in North Carolina have partnered together, through CBFNC, to minister with and through the Belize Baptist Association. The lead church in this ministry has been First Baptist Church, Lexington, but many other churches have been involved, including a few outside NC. CBFNC ministries have focused on the following efforts:

• Construction - projects include churches, camps, schools and associational offices
   
• Medical - medical mission teams minister to both physical and spiritual needs of the Belizean people
   
• Vacation Bible Schools - in various locations throughout the country
   
• Baptist Bible School of Belize - Bible and theological education for pastors
   
• Music Training - Guitar classes for pastors and music leaders
   
• Executive Director Salary Support - CBFNC and congregations provide salary support for the executive director of the Belize Baptist Association
   

If you or your church are interested in getting involved in this missions partnership, please contact:

General Ministries (construction, medical, VBS, music) - Brenda Hipp, (336) 707-7838 or BelizeBaptistPT@cs.com.

Pastor's Training School - Bob Lamb, rlamb12@carolina.rr.com

Or contact Linda Jones, Ljones@cbfnc.org or (888) 822-1944.

For more detailed information, visit these links:

Belize Churches Brochure

Read a report from FBC Marion

Newsletter - May 2007

Belize Construction Team

Belize Contact Info

Belize Pastor School Scholarship

Educating Baptist Pastors

Packing List for Belize

Belize Brochure

Planning a Belize Mission Trip

Report from FBC Lexington, Summer 2007 Trip


Belize Mission Update
Updated 8/23/07
Scott Hagaman, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Marion, from trip taken in January 2007
We literally hit the ground running when the plane landed in Belize. We began our work as quickly as possible, checking on construction projects, passing out flyers for the upcoming medical clinics, buying groceries, sorting pharmaceuticals, making salvation bracelets, and preparing dental equipment. At the end of the week, our major goals, thanks to God's goodness and provision, were achieved through construction on four church buildings, medical service to about 1,500 people, and dental service to 101 patients.
All this was achieved by God through a very diverse team of individuals. Most of the team members were Baptists active in our church while 5 others were Baptists from other congregations. The remaining five included an Episcopalian, a Lutheran (from Idaho!), and three Methodists. In this sense, the team had remarkable theological diversity, yet worked in harmony and unity throughout the effort. Also, the team was diverse in age, from senior adult retirees to a junior high school student. And also, they were diverse in their gifts, skills and experiences. Amongst us, we had doctors, nurses, dentists, an architect, a master builder, a corporate manager, an insurance salesman, teachers and on and on. God had purpose in putting this team together as it was. He created us and gifted us to perform as we did. I believe this team is a perfect example of what we as Christians are to be in service to our Lord.