From Addiction to Purpose: Mario’s Restoration and a Movement of Hope in Belize

Meet Mario Castellanos:

From Addiction to Purpose: Mario’s Restoration and a Movement of Hope in Belize

In 2014, Mario Castellanos was a man in crisis — trapped in alcohol addiction, terrified of losing his young family, and convinced his story was over. He knew he needed help, but he didn’t know where to turn.

That’s when God led him to Jacob’s Farm — a unique rehabilitation program in Patchacan, Belize where restored identity is cultivated through work, therapy, and Restore’s Journey Series curriculum. It was there, in a Journey to Freedom small group, that Mario first encountered the truth that changed his life: God had not given up on him.

“For the first time, I began to see a future… a new identity anchored in God.” — Mario

Mario’s Next Chapter: Restore National Director

Restore staff instantly saw what Mario couldn’t yet see about himself — God’s light was pouring out of him. Beverly Totty and Scott Reall continued walking with Mario as he graduated the program, returned to construction work, and fought hard to stay sober. But while sobriety was a victory, Mario still felt a tug: “God has more for me.”

So he returned to Jacob’s Farm — not as a participant, but as a volunteer facilitator. He discovered that he came alive when helping other men find hope. Beverly and Scott kept pouring into him, and in 2017, as Restore’s ministry exploded across the country, Mario was chosen to become the first National Director of Restore Belize.

He was “all in” — and God moved powerfully. 

Under Mario’s leadership:

Journey to Freedom groups multiplied across the nation

Prison ministry and addiction recovery work expanded

A new at-risk youth program launched in Belizean public schools

Belize became Restore’s fastest-growing global region

Helping Men See the Blessings God Is Already Giving.

But in 2021, Mario sensed God calling him back to the men just entering the healing journey — to teach them how to embrace the blessings God was already placing in their lives. He returned full-time to counsel at Jacob’s Farm, once again using the Journey Series to lead men out of shame and into freedom.

Mario remembered his own transition struggles after leaving rehab, and he saw the same pattern repeating. Graduates were sober — but unprepared for life outside. Belize had no halfway houses anywhere in the country.

Mario felt God stirring another vision.

He shared it with Restore and partners at The Belize Project. Last year, that vision became reality with the launch of Believe in Them — the first post-rehab halfway house in Belize. Now, men have a safe place to continue healing, rebuild their identity in Christ, and establish a new future filled with purpose.

Today, Mario is the Executive Director of  Believe In Them and 13 years into his marriage and raising three beautiful children. He says the healing God brought to him also transformed his family.

Hundreds of lives have been restored because Mario chose hope — and because people like you chose to invest in the mission that helped him find it.

Your Partnership Makes Stories Like Mario’s Possible

Mario’s story is not just his story — it’s your story too.

When you give to Restore, you help:
• bring healing to hurting hearts,
• strengthen leaders who rise from their own brokenness,
• equip the next generation of addiction counselors, and
• spread Christ-centered emotional and spiritual healing into communities Restore could never reach alone.

Your Gift Helps Healing Multiply

Mario’s transformation — from a man in crisis to a leader restoring lives across Belize — is only possible because friends like you invest in this mission. When you give, you’re not just helping one person break free from addiction… you’re equipping leaders who will carry God’s hope into entire families, neighborhoods, and nations.

Will you give today to help bring Journey to Freedom and other Restore programs to more leaders like Mario across Central America and around the world?

Your gift makes a real impact:
• $25 provides healing curriculum for one participant
• $75 equips a new facilitator like Mario
• $250 launches a new small-group cohort
• $500 expands Restore training across institutions and regions

Every dollar helps multiply God’s movement of hope and restoration.
Your generosity makes healing possible.