The crowds once filled the church every week. Today, difficult questions hang over the ministry Pastor Kevin Tzib built. With the pastor on remand at the Belize Central Prison facing multiple criminal charges, members are wrestling with disbelief, heartbreak and uncertainty over what comes next. Some refuse to pass judgment before the court does, but others say the case has exposed deeper concerns about the ministry’s structure and culture. News Five’s Paul Lopez went to the San Ignacio church compound to gauge the fallout.
Paul Lopez
Paul Lopez, Reporting
“This is Dunamis Ministries here in San Ignacio Town founded by Pastor Kevin Tzib. As we know, Pastor Tzib is currently behind bars at the Belize Central Prison on six counts of sexual assault and one count of unnatural crime. We are going to walk into the compound and see if anyone is inside. The door seems close and the church seems inactive. Come on see lets happening what inside. These are the doors that congregation members walked through for their weekly services and also the doors that several of the alleged victims walked through to listen to Pastor Kevin Tzib speak.”
Pastor Tzib and Dunamis Ministries are well-known in the community. One congregation member, who spoke with us off camera, said the allegations left the church community stunned and struggling to make sense of the situation.
Voice of: Dunamis Congregation Member
Voice of: Dunamis Congregation Member
“Sundays we have morning nine, from eight to nine and from nine to ten and then they have the evening one and the church stay pack with people.”
Paul Lopez
“So, what you think about what he has been accused of, six counts of sexual assaults, one count of unnatural act and its all against young men?”
Voice of: Dunamis Congregation Member
“Well, as a brother, I still nuh believe it. But there is a God above and only he knows best. I will not judge anybody, but it is still stunning and shocking. We being so close to the church, we were among the first part of the church and he never came that way to us as men. So it surprise me and still hurt, because I still don’t believe its my bredrin. It is rough for us, it hurts. The family and all, my whole family, I have kids too so even they are questioning it to, you understand me.”
But did anyone ever notice anything strange about Pastor Tzib behavior as a church leader, especially towards young men? One resident told us he had concerns about who made up the congregation.
Voice of: San Ignacio Resident
Voice of: San Ignacio Resident
“The man got a lee vibes weh look off grid from a true what you would consider an alpha male. The man have that unnatural looking alpha male vibes. Ih kinda feminine and ih nuh wah hard to believe that during this period they are accusing the man of sexual assault. Dah pure youths, pure youths and the adult that are there are day one adults since the foundation was created, it is day one adults since the foundation was created, it is day one adults. Its not new members, the new members are rare. When you see they come its because they found out by a friend or a family member.”
And it may not be a coincidence that on September twenty-third, just over a month ago, Kevin Tzib’s brother, Pastor Erwin Tzib was ordained to take over the ministry. We tried calling and texting Erwin Tzib for comments, but our attempts went unanswered. We learned that Kevin Tzib spent part of his childhood in the community where the church was later established before moving to Santa Elena with his family.
Voice of: Dunamis Congregation Member
“Ih nuh wah hamper me to go back to the church. I am a big man, and I know better so I am not going there for him. I am still going there for the word that he gives and from the almighty. They sat we don’t worship the man, we worship the words he give.”
Paul Lopez
“Well you are not about to hear any words from him right now, he is in prison.”
Voice of: Dunamis Congregation Member
“I understand that, but it is still my church, his brother is taking over so.”
In a statement, Dunamis Ministries acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations and pledged to uphold accountability, fairness, integrity and the rule of law. The church also assured members that its work will continue uninterrupted, stressing that its mission is bigger than any one person. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez
Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.
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