Hopkins church deemed illegal

Their devotion to their faith drove them to lock themselves inside the Evangelical Mennonite Church in Hopkins on Friday night, but tonight that place of worship stands isolated. Police have confirmed to News 5 that the doors to the Evangelical Mennonite Church have been ordered closed because the facility was being operated without a license. The head of the church, Pastor Erwin “Hurdie” Castillo himself was in violation of the laws of Belize by operating without a valid license. When contacted by telephone this afternoon, Castillo told News 5’s Patrick Jones that he is in consultation with his attorney and the elders of the now defunct church, and that a public statement will be made “when the time is right.” On Friday evening, dozens of worshippers who believed that Hopkins Village was going to be destroyed by a prophesied trio of disasters entered the building amidst jeers and ridicule from other residents of the village.