Belize sets itself apart from its neighbors in several ways—not least of which is the fact that the population living in Belize speaks English. It makes living and doing business here easy.
Plus, Belize is just plain beautiful. From its Caribbean shores to its jungle interior, this nation has great natural beauty to recommend it—blue water and deserted beaches, and inland retreats where jaguars and scarlet macaws still live in their natural habitats.
In many ways, this country is like a big small town. Its far-thinking banking laws have given the nation a distinct advantage when it comes to banking privacy. In an age when the accounts in other jurisdictions are under attack, those in Belize remain secure…which is no mean feat.
While it’s true that Belize is not the most affordable place to buy property, this country offers economic stability, ease of living, and a cost of living that, while not dirt-cheap, is nevertheless good value when you compare it with that of other Caribbean retreats.
Belize’s low cost of living is enough to make it one of the world’s great retirement havens. And Belize’s retiree program offers attractive incentives to foreigners looking to live in Belize—particularly those who are already planning to declare their permanent residency outside the U.S.
Ben was born again at the age of nine in Southern California and baptized by Immanuel Missionary Baptist Church under the pastorate of Dr. E.A. Sharver. Ben is married to his beautiful and loving wife Terese and has successfully raised their five awesome children, Stephanie, John, Amber, Aaron & Samantha. He answered God’s call to the Gospel Ministry in 2000 under the pastorate of Mike Raines in Norman, Oklahoma. Within the Lord’s churches he has held the positions of music director, teacher, youth minister, treasurer, and interim pastor and has chaired building, missions, finance, bus ministries and pastor search committees. Ben is currently attending Heritage Baptist Institute and Seminary in Missouri City, Texas. He has been involved in missions and church planting for most of his life and is no stranger to the processes and challenges of mission work and community evangelism. He is fairly fluent in Spanish and has lived in Peru (Lima and the Amazon) and Kenya. He enjoys singing conventional church music, southern gospel and contemporary Christian music and loves to play guitar. Ben was most recently employed by BP America (British Petroleum) Corporation as a safety and health professional and Crisis Management Advisor. Ben has worked in the oil and gas industry for more than thirty years holding positions of management in some of the largest energy sector corporations in the U.S. and the world. He has extensive leadership experience in the church, corporations, civic, and professional organizations. Preparing to take early retirement from BP in December 2010, again, Ben has answered God’s call to the foreign mission field and is preparing for service in Belize, Central America.
Terese became a child of the King at 14 years of age as a result of neighbor’s faithfulness, love and willingness to pick her and her brothers up and take them to Sunday School and church. Terese is married to her loving husband, Ben and is so thankful for her five beautiful children, Stephanie, John, Amber, Aaron and Samantha. Children are her blessing and she counts it all joy that she is able to teach them about Jesus Christ the Lord. She is committed to her family, and her husband’s ministry. Terese has extensive experience running several different businesses including electrical contracting and real estate, not to mention a very active household with five children and all their friends. Terese enjoys arts and crafts, baking and serving others. She has a great burden for missionaries everywhere and looks forward to any opportunity to help them and be a part of their work wherever she can. She has served leadership roles in church and local associations as teacher, VBS Director, President and Vice-President of local and associational auxiliaries and has planned and produced successful women’s conferences.
