History
Our History
A Story of Prayer, Obedience, and God’s Faithfulness
What began through short-term mission trips, deep prayer, and a burden for the children and families of Belize has grown into a long-term, year-round ministry serving communities across Stann Creek.
“The journey continues…”
From Kidz Konnect 4 Jesus to All 4 Jesus BelizeWhere It Began
Kidz Konnect 4 Jesus was founded by David and Karen Rhodes from Florence, South Carolina. The vision was conceived in early 2006 after many hours of prayer and careful consideration. After several short-term mission trips to Belize in 2005, David and Karen sensed the Lord calling them to do more.
First Mission Trips
Visits to Belize opened the door for deeper relationships, greater awareness of need, and a growing conviction that God was calling David and Karen Rhodes to long-term ministry among the children and families of Belize.
A Vision Takes Shape
Through prayer and careful discernment, the vision for a focused Belize ministry began to take shape. The burden was not simply to visit, but to build lasting ministry relationships.
Kidz Konnect 4 Jesus
Kidz Konnect 4 Jesus was established as a more focused ministry, centered on children’s ministry, school partnerships, church relationships, and long-term discipleship in Belize.
During her stay, Karen watched in shock and horror as the village buried one of her student’s four-year-old brother who had died from intestinal worms. The most simple health care and basic medicine could have prevented this and other senseless deaths.
A burden that helped shape the ministryFrom Children’s Ministry to Whole-Community Ministry
Over time, what began as a focused children’s ministry grew into a broader ministry footprint. Schools, medical missions, food distribution, church partnerships, scholarships, community service, and special needs ministry became part of the same long-term calling: to love, serve, and go in the name of Jesus.
A Season of Transition and God’s Timing
In May of 2024, Brad and LeAnne Cook joined the ministry full time. As David and Karen Rhodes stepped out of leadership, the Cooks were uniquely positioned, through much prayer and in God’s perfect timing, to assume leadership in the summer of 2024.
Summer 2024
Called to Serve in Belize
Brad and LeAnne came into full-time ministry with A4JB during a significant season of transition. What could have been a time of uncertainty became, by God’s grace, a season of prayerful continuity, renewed vision, and steady leadership.
Both Brad and LeAnne are U.S. Army veterans. Brad is a retired Army officer and former scout helicopter pilot who served multiple combat tours, while LeAnne served as an Army logistician before years of ministry and nonprofit service. Together, their lives had long been shaped by service, leadership, sacrifice, and faithfulness to the Lord’s calling.
Prior to moving to Belize, the Cook family served actively in local church ministry in North Carolina. Brad served as a teaching pastor, elder, and worship leader. LeAnne led local outreach to the homeless and hungry while their children, Jackson and Reese, also served faithfully within the church community in multiple roles including worship, production, youth, and local outreach.
While Brad often serves in visible leadership roles, LeAnne has become one of the spiritual anchors of the ministry community. Known for her steadfast faith, discernment, compassion, and commitment to prayer, she faithfully ministers to missionaries, Belizean families, visiting teams, children, and ministry partners alike.
LeAnne’s quiet strength and spiritual consistency help shape the culture of A4JB in ways that are often unseen but deeply felt. Whether encouraging hurting families, mentoring young women, supporting missionaries through difficult seasons, organizing behind the scenes, or faithfully interceding in prayer, she serves as a stabilizing and deeply trusted presence within the ministry.
Those who serve alongside A4JB quickly recognize that much of the ministry’s health, hospitality, encouragement, and spiritual care flows through her faithful and sacrificial service to the Lord and to others.
In obedience to God’s call, the family sold their farm in North Carolina, left behind much of what was familiar, and relocated to Belize to serve full time alongside the ministry.
Prepared Through Service
- Joined the ministry full time in March 2024
- Assumed leadership during the summer of 2024
- Military, ministry, and nonprofit leadership background
- Long history of church leadership and discipleship
- Relocated fully to Belize in obedience to God’s calling
- Helped guide the ministry through transition and rebranding
Children and Students
Ministry through schools created lasting relationships with children, teachers, principals, churches, and communities.
Practical Care
Medical missions grew from seeing preventable suffering and responding with compassion, medicines, prayer, and presence.
Long-Term Relationships
The ministry expanded through village relationships, church partnerships, feeding programs, construction, and discipleship.
3D Friends
A4JB’s growing ministry footprint now includes intentional care for children and families impacted by disability and special needs.
A New Name for a Broader Calling
In the spring of 2025, in recognition of the growth of Kidz Konnect 4 Jesus into the multifaceted ministry it had become, the organization was renamed All 4 Jesus Belize.
Spring 2025
All 4 Jesus Belize
The new name reflects the broader work God has grown over the years. A4JB remains deeply committed to children, schools, and discipleship, while also embracing the full ministry footprint now entrusted to the organization.
Today, All 4 Jesus Belize continues the same heart of obedience, gospel proclamation, and practical love that marked the beginning of the ministry.
Same Heart. Broader Mission.
- Christ-centered ministry
- Long-term presence in Belize
- U.S. and Belizean believers serving together
- Schools, medical, community, and special needs ministry
- Faithful partnerships across churches and communities
God Has Been Faithful
The numbers never tell the whole story, but they help testify to what God has done through faithful partners, willing servants, and long-term obedience.
The Journey Continues
All 4 Jesus Belize carries forward the same calling that stirred the ministry from the beginning: to boldly proclaim Jesus while loving and serving the people of Belize.
Love | Serve | Go