Building Community in Guatemala: Tom Heaton on Mission, Connection, and Belonging

To Be and Do Podcast | Episode: Tom Heaton & Mission Guatemala Keywords: Mission Guatemala, Tom Heaton, Phil Amerson, Guatemala, nonprofit, healthcare, education, community development, Evansville, belonging, partnerships, nutrition, malnutrition, rural communities Synopsis In this inspirational episode of the To Be and Do podcast, host Phil Amerson sits down with longtime friend and changemaker Tom Heaton, founder of Mission Guatemala. Together, they explore the origins and impact of Mission Guatemala—an organization that focuses on healthcare, education, and community development in rural Guatemalan communities. With heartfelt anecdotes and lessons learned, Tom Heaton discusses the power of partnerships, the challenges of sustainable aid, and how connections can foster true belonging and transformation. Key Takeaway Points Sustainable Impact Through Partnership: Mission Guatemala succeeds by building long-term, collaborative relationships with local communities, ensuring needs are met through shared effort and respect (13:10). Holistic Community Development: The organization addresses healthcare, nutrition, and education, creating programs like medical clinics, computer labs, and nutrition initiatives to support the holistic growth of the community (07:29). The Power of Personal Initiative: Inspired by the belief that "somebody should do something," Tom Heaton realized that individual action can lead to collective transformation, emphasizing the importance of stepping up to make a difference (05:31). Support Mission Guatemala: Visit missionguatemala.com and find the donate button in the upper right corner! ABOUT TOM HEATON Tom Heaton is a retired United Methodist pastor who served congregations across Indiana for nearly thirty years and later led mission and justice ministries for the Indiana Conference of the UMC. He is also the founder of Mission Guatemala, a nonprofit ministry serving rural communities in Guatemala through healthcare, education, nutrition, and community development. His years in Guatemala deeply shaped both his faith and the way he understands prayer, suffering, and the presence of God in ordinary life. Tom holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications from the University of Evansville and a Master of Divinity from Christian Theological Seminary. He writes and speaks about faith, prayer, grief, and everyday life with honesty, warmth, and a pastor’s heart. email: [email protected]