Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeff McClaran.
Hi Jeff, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey really began when I was 19 years old on my first overseas mission trip to Hong Kong. That experience marked me in a way I couldn’t fully articulate at the time—it awakened a deep conviction that faith was meant to be lived out, not just believed. That trip also changed my life in a very personal way—I met my wife, Esther, there. We’ve now been married for more than three decades, and from the very beginning, ministry and obedience to God’s call have been woven into our story together.
For many years, life looked fairly conventional on the outside. I built a career, raised a family, and stayed involved in church and missions in various ways. But underneath it all, there was a persistent sense that God was preparing us for something more—something that would require stepping far outside of our comfort zone.
That moment came years later when God made it unmistakably clear that we were being called to go—not just to visit, but to fully invest our lives in serving those living in extreme generational poverty. In obedience to that call, we founded God Said Go Missions, a nonprofit organization based in the U.S. but operating primarily in Guatemala and throughout Latin America.
What started small—feeding programs, medical outreach, and relationship-based ministry—has grown into a multi-faceted mission focused on both immediate relief and long-term transformation. Today, GSG operates mobile medical clinics in rural villages, provides free healthcare, food, and education to families who otherwise have no access, supports local pastors and church leaders, and walks alongside communities as they pursue sustainable change rooted in dignity and hope.
One of the defining lessons of this journey has been learning that compassion and sustainability must go hand in hand. That conviction led to projects like Centro Médico Vida Plena in Escuintla, Guatemala—a full medical center designed to provide affordable, high-quality care while also generating revenue to fund free clinics in the villages. It’s a model that reflects our heart: meeting real needs today while building systems that can serve communities for decades to come.
Looking back, the path hasn’t been linear or easy. It has required risk, sacrifice, and daily dependence on God. But every step has reinforced the same truth: when God says “go,” obedience opens the door to lives being changed—starting with your own. Today, I have the privilege of leading an incredible team and partnering with donors, churches, and local leaders who believe, as we do, that faith expressed through love can break cycles of poverty and bring lasting hope.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has not been a smooth road—and in many ways, that’s been one of our greatest teachers.
One of the earliest challenges was learning how to serve well without unintentionally creating dependency. When you’re working in communities facing extreme generational poverty, good intentions aren’t enough. We had to slow down, listen deeply, and learn from local leaders how to help in ways that restore dignity, strengthen families, and empower communities rather than replace them. That learning curve required humility and a willingness to change course when something wasn’t working.
There have also been very real logistical and operational challenges. Working in rural Guatemala means navigating limited infrastructure, supply shortages, government regulations, and cultural barriers—all while trying to maintain transparency, accountability, and excellence. Building systems for healthcare, education, and relief in environments that lack basic resources is complex and often frustrating. Things take longer, cost more, and require far more patience than expected.
Financial uncertainty has been another ongoing struggle. Faith-based nonprofit work often lives in the tension between vision and provision. There have been seasons where the needs were overwhelming and the resources felt painfully insufficient. Those moments forced us to choose daily whether we would operate from fear or from faith—and time and again, God has proven faithful through partners who stepped in at just the right moment.
On a personal level, the emotional weight can be heavy. Walking alongside families who have lost children, lack access to medical care, or face impossible choices just to survive leaves a mark. There are days when the brokenness feels relentless. But those same moments are often where we witness the most profound hope—when prayer, compassion, and practical help intersect in life-changing ways.
Through all of it, the struggles have shaped who we are as an organization. They’ve clarified our mission, strengthened our commitment to integrity, and deepened our reliance on God rather than our own abilities. We’ve learned that obedience doesn’t guarantee ease—but it does lead to purpose. And every obstacle has reaffirmed why this work matters and why we continue to say yes, even when the road is hard.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about GSG Missions, Inc.?
God Said Go Missions (GSG Missions, Inc.) is a faith-based nonprofit organization committed to serving families living in extreme generational poverty—primarily in Guatemala and throughout Latin America. At our core, we exist to share the love of Jesus Christ through both word and action, meeting urgent physical needs while walking with communities toward long-term hope and transformation.
What we do is intentionally holistic. We provide free medical care through mobile clinics, access to medicine and follow-up care, food relief, education support, and discipleship in partnership with local churches and community leaders. Rather than operating in isolation, we work alongside pastors and local teams who know their communities best, ensuring our efforts are culturally respectful, relationally grounded, and sustainable.
What sets GSG apart is our strong emphasis on integrity, dignity, and sustainability. We don’t believe in one-time handouts or short-term fixes. Instead, we focus on building trust-based relationships and systems that continue serving long after a single outreach ends. A key example of this is Centro Médico Vida Plena in Escuintla, Guatemala—a full medical center designed to provide affordable, high-quality healthcare while also helping fund free clinics in rural villages. This model allows generosity to multiply and impact to endure.
We are also deeply committed to transparency and stewardship. Donors are not just contributors—they are partners in the mission. We work hard to clearly communicate impact, share real stories from the field, and ensure that every dollar entrusted to us is used responsibly and purposefully.
Brand-wise, what we are most proud of is our reputation for faithfulness and follow-through. Communities know that when GSG shows up, we stay. We listen. We learn. And we walk alongside people through both crisis and growth. Our brand isn’t built on logos or slogans—it’s built on trust, consistency, and love expressed through action.
What we want readers to know most is this: GSG Missions isn’t about us—it’s about obedience. It’s about answering God’s call to “go” and inviting others to be part of something that brings real hope, real healing, and real change. Whether through prayer, partnership, or generosity, everyone has a role to play in restoring dignity and transforming lives—one family, one village, and one step of faith at a time.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Over the next five to ten years, I believe the nonprofit and missions space will undergo some significant and necessary shifts. One of the biggest changes will be a continued move away from short-term, transactional charity toward long-term, impact-driven partnership. Donors and supporters are becoming more thoughtful about where they invest—not just what feels good in the moment, but what actually produces lasting change. Organizations will be expected to demonstrate measurable impact, sustainability, and integrity.
We’re also seeing a growing emphasis on holistic care models. The future of effective missions won’t be siloed—healthcare, education, discipleship, economic opportunity, and community development will increasingly be integrated. Addressing only one need without considering the whole person and the broader system simply isn’t effective long term. Organizations that embrace comprehensive, community-centered approaches will be best positioned to thrive.
Another major shift is the rise of social enterprise and hybrid funding models. Traditional donor-based funding alone is becoming less predictable, especially in uncertain economic times. More ministries will explore revenue-generating initiatives—like clinics, schools, or businesses—that align with their mission while helping fund charitable work. This trend increases resilience and reduces dependency while allowing generosity to go further.
Technology will also continue to reshape the industry. From digital fundraising and storytelling to data-driven decision-making and real-time impact reporting, transparency and accessibility will be expected, not optional. Supporters want to see where their investment is going and how it’s changing lives, and technology makes that possible in powerful ways.
Finally, I believe there will be a renewed focus on local leadership and contextual wisdom. The most effective organizations in the future will be those that prioritize empowering local pastors, professionals, and community leaders rather than imposing outside solutions. Sustainable change happens when communities are equipped to lead their own transformation.
For us, these trends affirm the direction we’re already moving. The future of this industry belongs to organizations that combine compassion with competence, faith with accountability, and vision with humility—and that’s exactly the kind of future we’re committed to building.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://godsaidgo.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/godsaidgo/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/godsaidgo
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/god-said-go
- Twitter: https://x.com/godsaidgo1
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@godsaidgo
- Other: https://app.candid.org/profile/9859205/gsg-missions-inc
