Giving Hope – Fernando and Luis in Guatemala

Posted on November 11, 2026

Global Action Impact Stories | Guatemala

One Leader.
A Growing Impact.

Meet Fernando Misteco, a Global Action Foundations graduate whose ministry reaches children, families, and police officers in Guatemala.

Fernando and Luis Misteco in their Foundations class

Fernando and his son Luis studying together in Global Action’s Foundations class in 2019.

Meet Fernando Misteco

A Heart to Serve. An Opportunity to Grow.

Fernando Misteco lives in a rural, indigenous community in Guatemala, where he and his family have been involved in serving their neighbors for years.

In 2019, Fernando and his teenage son, Luis, participated in Global Action’s Foundations program in Antigua, Guatemala.

The biblical and leadership training they received strengthened their preparation for ministry and provided opportunities to continue serving their community.

Equipped Through Foundations

A Father and Son Learning Together

Fernando had only a second-grade education, which made some aspects of reading and studying challenging.

Throughout Foundations, his son Luis helped him read, review lessons, and prepare for exams. They studied Scripture together and supported one another throughout the program.

When it came time for exams, Fernando was able to share his answers verbally while Luis helped him navigate the written material.

Both father and son completed Foundations as top students in their class in 2019.

Foundations provides biblical and practical ministry training for local church leaders who have little or no access to traditional theological education.

Students strengthen their understanding of Scripture and develop practical leadership skills while remaining connected to their churches and communities.

Serving Their Neighbors

Ministry Beyond the Classroom

Fernando and his wife have seven children and two grandchildren. Their family has been involved in several efforts to serve neighbors in their community.

Alongside their involvement in children’s ministry, Fernando and Luis used their construction skills to help build homes for families in need.

In early 2020, they also partnered with a visiting Global Action team to build a sewing workshop and storefront for a woman named Ruth.

Ruth had been running her sewing business from her kitchen in a community where many families lacked basic resources. The new space gave her an opportunity to expand her business.

At the time, Ruth also hoped to participate in Foundations and begin a Bible study for her neighbors.

Responding During COVID-19

Caring for Families During the Pandemic

When the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, many families in Guatemala faced job losses and food shortages.

Fernando and Luis responded by preparing food baskets for families struggling to meet their basic needs.

They delivered food to families connected to their children’s ministry, traveled into nearby mountain communities, and helped neighbors facing difficult circumstances.

Their response demonstrated the importance of local leaders who understand their communities and are already present when needs arise.

Local Leaders. Local Impact.

Fernando and Luis knew the families they were serving, understood their circumstances, and were able to respond directly to their needs.

Their ministry illustrates why Global Action invests in leaders who are already part of the communities they serve.

Continuing Ministry

The Impact Continues

Fernando’s ministry has continued beyond the pandemic and the community relief efforts of 2020.

He now leads two weekly children’s Bible clubs and regularly shares Scripture with local police officers.

Children’s Bible Clubs

Fernando leads two weekly children’s Bible clubs in underserved communities in Guatemala.

Children gather to hear Bible stories and learn about Jesus.

Many share what they’ve learned with their families, and some parents have begun staying to listen to the Bible lessons.

Bible Studies with Police Officers

Through a friendship with a local police captain, Fernando began leading Bible studies for police officers.

These gatherings take place twice a month and provide opportunities for officers to study Scripture and ask questions.

What began as a personal friendship has become another opportunity to share God’s Word within the community.

The Impact of Biblical Training

Equipping Leaders Who Are Already Serving

From studying alongside his son in 2019 to serving families during the pandemic and continuing his ministry today, Fernando’s story demonstrates the importance of equipping local church leaders.

Through Foundations, Fernando received biblical teaching and practical leadership training that strengthened his preparation for ministry.

His continued work with children, families, and police officers offers an example of how training can have an impact long after graduation.

At Global Action, our mission is to equip local church leaders in hard places to transform their communities with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Every leader equipped.
Every church transformed.
Every community engaged.

Help Equip More Leaders Like Fernando

A gift of $600 has the potential to provide a year of biblical training for one church leader through Global Action’s Foundations program.

Your generosity helps make training accessible to leaders who are already serving their churches and communities.

Help Equip a Leader Learn More About Our Mission
 

 

A volcano view from where Fernando and Luis are workingTaking bags of food to villagers on the mountainFernando and his family preparing to distribute bags of food to families in their villageA family receives aidA family receives aidReceiving aidReceiving aidOne of Fernando's sons helps coordinate food distribution to familiesA woman receiving aidFernando distributes foodA woman receiving aidA family receiving aidLuis (right) distributes foodThe whole Misteco familyInside Fernando's home, where he and his wife live with their 7 children and 2 grandchildrenGlobal Action - Guatemala Coordinators, Jairo and Andrea, pray with Fernando's wife in their kitchenInside the Misteco family kitchenFernando hosting Kids' Club before the pandemicFernando hosting Kids' Club before the pandemicLuis (21) with children from the Kids' ClubRuth holding her son Timothy in her kitchen, where she also operated her sewing business before Fernando and Global Action helped build her sewing shop.Another look at Ruth's kitchen/sewing shopAnother look at Ruth's kitchen and sewing workshopPreparing to add the new sewing shop onto Ruth's houseConstruction begins on Ruth's new workshopConstruction begins on Ruth's new workshopConstruction begins on Ruth's new workshopConstruction begins on Ruth's new workshopConstruction begins on Ruth's new workshopConstruction on Ruth's new workshopCement floors in Ruth's new workshop - the only non-dirt floors in her home.Putting up the roofThe Global Action mission team from ArizonaFernando with Ruth's family in her new sewing workshop! Fernando designed and built a retractable table for her sewing machine.Fernando with Ruth and her family in her new sewing workshop! Fernando designed and built a retractable table for her sewing machine.Ruth and her husband, Baltimore, smile from the sales window in her new workshop.Ruth and Baltimore look out onto the street from her new shop windowA view of Ruth's streetA child play's on Ruth's streetPlaying soccer with children on Ruth's streetChildren on Ruth's street. The cart with the large cartons is for fetching water, since the homes in this village do not have running water.
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