Pray for Belize

Belize is the only country in Central America with English as its official language, a result of its history as a British colony. In daily life, Spanish, Belize Kriol, and Mayan languages are also widely spoken. Though Belize gained its independence in 1981, it is still a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, with the British monarch as the head of state. Belize sits on mostly flat, swampy land between Mexico and the Caribbean Sea and is home to the second-largest barrier reef in the world. Hidden deep in Belize’s rainforest, the famous Actun Tunichil Muknal cave can be reached through underground rivers and pools, where ancient Maya pottery, ritual objects, and human remains have been preserved for centuries. Thousands of years ago, Maya in Belize cultivated cacao, and it is still an important part of Belizean cuisine today through hot chocolate and chocolate bars made from homegrown cacao beans.

Belize’s location in the Caribbean makes it vulnerable to hurricanes and tropical cyclones. Hurricanes and tropical storms have caused flooding, power outages, and damage to homes and infrastructure. Belize’s Caribbean location and tropical climate also drive much of the economy, and many tourists come for the nation’s rainforests and wildlife. But, dependency on tourism means hurricanes and global pandemics can shut down revenue, and most jobs are seasonal. Lack of employment opportunities and income inequality between urban and rural or Indigenous communities leave many living below the poverty line. High unemployment and school dropout rates have contributed to gang activity and drug trafficking in urban areas. In Belize City, gang violence is rampant and youth have easy access to illegal firearms.

The majority of Belizeans identify as Roman Catholic. There is also a significant population of evangelicals, including Anglican, Methodist, and Baptist denominations. But some believers mix Christianity with other religious practices such as Indigenous, African, or folk traditions. Maya Indigenous communities attend Catholic or Protestant churches but still worship spiritual beings connected to nature. Other communities hold Dugu ceremonies to honor and communicate with ancestors. Many churches and ministries are partnering with schools and community outreach programs to plant the Gospel and grow strong disciples.