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PAUL WHISNANT
Paul Whisnant
President and CEO
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Dr. Paul Whisnant is your missionary and Pastor in Belize, and the founder and CEO of International Servants. Born in the United States, Paul moved to Belize in 1990 and lived for many years in the jungles of Belize, Central America, where he served as a missionary and witnessed poverty first-hand.
Paul is driven by his love for Jesus and desire to help children living in poverty. He has started or helped build 54 Churches. His own experience with poverty, hunger, malaria and dengue has led him to start a feeding program for hungry children and medical clinics for the poor.
Paul and his wife are both dual citizens of the United States and Belize. He has served in Belize for over 35 years.
MEET DR. PAUL WHISNANT
Dr. Paul Whisnant
Since moving to Belize in 1990, Paul has helped thousands of children overcome poverty & started 54 Churches in Belize.
Grass Hut
This is the leaf & stick hut where Paul lived when he first moved to the jungle with no electricity, running water, nor bathroom.
Baptizing
Baptizing a new believer in a jungle river with crocodiles nearby, which is why Paul is wearing a big knife on his belt.
Wife
Paul's wife Amanda is a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, and serves as our Belize Medical Director.
Testimonials
Ambassador
Carlos Moreno
United States Embassy
"There's no other person in the non-profit, faith community that comes close to the scope of the kind of work Dr. Paul Whisnant is doing here with feeding programs for hungry children living in poverty, medical clinics, Churches, and more."
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Senator
Ashley Rocke
Belize Government
"From his early days humbly living in a leaf and stick hut, to the present day as the leader of the largest and most well-respected Missions in Belize, I've seen how Dr. Paul Whisnant has faithfully served thousands of needy children and families."
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Pastor
Dr. Steve Stewart
Bethesda Church
"Our Church chose to support International Servants and Dr. Paul Whisnant because this was the best place to invest our Mission dollars. And each time I go, I see how carefully our funds are being used to do the most for the children of Belize."
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Pastor
Rev. Jerry Adair
Trinity Baptist Church
"I've known Dr. Paul Whisnant for decades and seen his Ministry grow first-hand. It's been incredible to see the phenomenal growth! The people in the villages trust him and see him as their family because he's been with them for so many, many years."
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PUBLIC SPEAKING
Dr. Paul Whisnant's many years living in the Central American jungles as your Pastor and missionary in Belize produced a wealth of fascinating stories that has led him to speak in the U.S., Africa, Asia, Central and South America inspiring others to give back.
Whether he's speaking to 600 teens at the Smokey Mountain Youth Conference in Tennessee, 200 business leaders at the HQ for Chick-Fil-A in Atlanta, Georgia, 700 Pastors in Africa, 100 of our mission trip volunteers in Belize, or in the Chapel at the 20,000 member Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas, it's his humor and commitment that will keep you on the edge of your seat, but his passion for missions that you'll remember the most.
The Beginning
While on a Belize mission trip in 1989, Paul felt called by God to be a missionary.
Five months later, in 1990, as a 19 year old teenager, he withdrew from college, packed a few things in a backpack and bought a one-way plane ticket to the country of Belize in Central America.
He arrived with only $50 in his pocket and lived in a grass hut made of leaves and sticks, in a remote jungle village, without electricity, running water, nor a bathroom.
The local Mayan Indians taught him how to survive by eating iguanas and taking baths in the jungle river with crocodiles nearby.
It wasn't an easy beginning, as he was shot and stabbed, and suffered from worms and life-threatening diseases including malaria & dengue.
Today
The mission Pastor Paul started in that jungle hut in 1990 is now International Servants, one of the largest & most well-respected missionary works in Belize.
Paul currently serves as our Pastor and missionary in Belize and oversees our network of 54 local Churches and our missionaries in Belize.
His life passion is reaching Belize for Jesus and helping children overcome poverty.
Under his leadership, lives are being changed all over Belize as thousands of hungry children are being fed in our feed-a-child program, sick children are being treated in our medical mission clinics, innocent children are being rescued from sex traffickers, and every Sunday thousands worship Jesus in our network of 54 local Churches!
HEAR HIS HEART
"Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward them for what they have done." Proverbs 19:17
A history of taking action - even when it's hard or dangerous.
Believing that no child is lost. No situation is hopeless. Because our hope is in Jesus.
Going to the jungles of Belize on a mission trip, Paul is called by God to move to the jungle as a missionary.
Moving to Belize as a Missionary and Pastor with just a backpack and $50, Paul Whisnant starts International Servants.
Requesting his help when the IMB pulled out, Pastor Paul is asked to serve on the Board of the Baptist Association of Belize.
Seeking his help due to his years serving in Belize, Paul is appointed as the Citizen Liaison for the United States Embassy.
Rebuilding lives after Hurricane Keith, Dr. Paul helps children & families with short-term relief and long-term recovery.
Having started and/or built dozens of churches in Belize, Pastor Paul is ordained as a Southern Baptist (SBC) minister.
Honoring the scope of his missionary work, Dr. Paul is awarded an Honorary PhD in Missions by the Trustees at IBC.
Showing appreciation for his service, the United States Ambassador awards Paul a certificate of thanks in 2008 & 2011-2014.
Honoring his missionary work, Paul is awarded the Lifetime Humanitarian Award by the Government of Belize.
Honoring his missionary work, Paul is appointed as the Honorary Humanitarian Ambassador by the Belize Government.
Dr. Paul is helping thousands of children in villages throughout Belize, and leading our network of 54 local churches in Belize.
Today, Dr. Paul Whisnant serves in these 4 positions
Lead Missionary
Belize Mission Director for International Servants
1990 - Present
Board Member
National Executive for the Baptist Association of Belize
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1997 - Present
Citizen Liaison
Citizen Liaison for the United States Embassy in Belize
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1998 - Present
Ambassador
Honorary Ambassador for the Belize Government
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2017 - Present
Paul loves the animals of Belize
Left to Right:
Young Howler Monkey, Six Foot Iguana, Tarantula,
Baby Coatimundi
FUN FACT
Even though Dr. Paul Whisnant graciously eats whatever meal is served to him in the jungle, including delicacy's such as iguanas, rats, cow foot soup or pig brains, he cannot stomach mashed potatoes.
Photo: Paul eating a roasted rat leg in Belize. This rodent is called a Gibnut. Be sure to ask him why Belizeans call it "the royal rat".
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