At seven years old, I decided I wanted to be a missionary. Listening to global workers speak and share their stories at my church deeply inspired me. Of course, like most kids, I also dreamt of becoming a teacher or a nurse at one point. But at 18 years old, God spoke to me clearly at Braeside Camp in Paris, Ont. That summer, I knew I was being called to Bible college to study missions. Later that fall, I enrolled at Eastern Pentecostal Bible College (now Master’s College and Seminary).
After graduating, I found myself on a different path than expected; I became a children’s pastor. For 17 years, I served at two churches in Ontario, pouring my heart into children’s ministry. While nurturing children’s faith and spiritual growth, I led teams of volunteers and partnered with families in ministry. During that time, I developed as a leader and gained invaluable skills that shaped me for the journey ahead. However, missions never left my heart. I integrated missions into our teaching and fundraising projects and went on seven mission trips during those years. I cherished my work and often said I had landed my dream job right out of college. Yet, each time I would go on a mission trip, I would pray, “God, is this where You want me?”
In February 2014, on my seventh mission trip, which was to Honduras, God answered with a resounding “Yes.” That trip felt different—I knew God was preparing me for something greater than I had imagined. Within seven months, I transitioned into full-time missions work in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, combining my lifelong passion for missions and my heart for children.
Psalm 78:4, 6-7 became my guiding verses: “…we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD … so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God….”
Today, I’m living out this calling in ways I could never have envisioned at seven or even 18 years old. I have my “second dream job” as a full-time missionary, leading our team at Schools of Hope to share the message of Jesus with children, youth and families. We partner with public schools, churches and local government agencies to share the gospel and bring hope to our communities.
One amazing opportunity we have is teaching Bible classes in public schools. Each week, my team shares the gospel with students from kindergarten to Grade 12. We’ve had the privilege of presenting the salvation message and values from Scripture, praying over students and teachers, and having life-changing conversations that often lead children and families to connect with local churches.
I love receiving text messages or videos from my team that share what God is doing in their classes. It’s so inspiring to hear about children not only understanding the concepts but also sharing them with their friends and families.
Many children in our ChildCARE Plus (CCP) sponsorship program through ERDO attend the schools where we teach. This program helps children advance academically and grow spiritually. When the pandemic closed schools in 2020-2021, God placed it on my heart to expand our discipleship programs, especially for high school students. Since then, we’ve seen over a hundred students graduate from foundational discipleship courses like Seedlings for Grade 6 and First Steps for high school students.
We’ve also introduced courses like Purpose Driven Life and Identity in Christ, impacting students like Angie, a recent CCP graduate. Angie joined our Purpose Driven Life course feeling lost and hopeless. She admitted she was struggling with depression and saw no future for herself. But as we explored God’s purpose and His love for her, she began to see herself as a chosen child of God. Her joy returned, and she finished the course filled with hope and confidence in her God-given gifts. We celebrated her graduation from Grade 12 this past December, and we cannot wait to see what God continues to do in her life.
Since 2016, we’ve also addressed practical barriers like transportation costs, helping over 225 students attend high school—something previously unattainable for many families in poverty. Today, more than 95 students have graduated from Grade 12 through the CCP program, and we’re seeing tangible changes in our communities.
Brick homes are replacing wooden shacks. Families are breaking cycles of poverty. More children are staying in school, and young people are pursuing careers they once thought were out of reach. Parents are finding steady work, and communities are becoming safer as hope replaces despair. Though challenges remain, the progress is undeniable, and I often find myself saying, “Thank You, Lord, that I get to be a part of this!”
So the next generation will know—this is why I do what I do and why I am so passionate about sharing the hope of Jesus with our kids and youth! This mission is deeply personal for me because of the people who invested in my life as a child—Sunday school teachers, choir directors, youth pastors, and others who believed in me, saw my potential and gave me opportunities to grow. Their encouragement and guidance shaped the person I am today, and I want to be that same influence for more children and youth. I also challenge and encourage my staff to be that person—the one who makes a lasting impact in the life of a child.
If God can save one more child from suicide, gang life, teen pregnancy, addiction, or dropping out of school, then every effort, prayer and resource is worth it. Each child carries the potential to transform their family, community and future, and every child is worth the investment. Seeing lives change and hope take root is a constant reminder of God’s faithfulness, and I’m humbled and grateful to be part of what He is doing in Honduras.
Kathy Mizen is a PAOC global worker serving in Honduras.
This article appeared in the April/May/June 2025 issue of testimony/Enrich, a quarterly publication of The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. © 2025 The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. Photos © Kathy Mizen. Banner photo: children at the Renovation & Hope Centre at Schools of Hope Honduras. Second image: Angie, a recent ChildCARE Plus graduate, with Kathy.