The Kautz family is made up of four members, Corey, Tona, Alex and Maggie. Corey was Tona are both ordained ministers through the General Council of the Assemblies of God. In 2001 they felt God calling them to missions and set off to begin that journey. This felt a little insane at the start, since Corey had a very promising career at a local engineering firm and they were living the “American Dream”. After
several baby steps and giant leaps of faith, they first commissioned as Missionary Associates in 2004 and together, after two years of fundraising, the Kautz four were sent to Bogotá, Colombia in 2006 for their first term on the mission field. While in Bogotá they served as missionary associates to Michael and Naomi Lawrence, working in youth and children’s ministries and with Latin America ChildCare. Corey designed and helped oversee the construction of two schools while Tona worked in the administration area of all of the schools.
In 2008 they returned to the States with confirmation in their hearts that missions was not just an adventure, but would be a lifestyle they would commit everything to. For the next two years went through the process of fulfilling all of the requirements to become fully appointed missionaries. While their hearts were still in Colombia, they were prepared to go wherever they were asked. God knew their hearts because they were sent back to Colombia. They spent 2011 through early 2014 working in Medellin, Colombia, helping train local church leaders to start and/or grow ministry to children and youth. They worked with the Colombian national church to hold large events and outreaches throughout
the city and the country.
They returned once again in June 2015 to Medellin where they led the children’s ministry department for the state of Antioquia. They mentored leaders throughout the city and surrounding towns and helped develop ministry programs in churches. They taught in a local elementary school called Las Lomitas. They also began visiting Comuna 13 where they did some evangelistic outreaches and activities with the children in the street. This sparked a dream to open a community center.
On February 28, 2020 they went back to the states for their year of itineration. Little did they know that in two weeks the world would go into lockdown as the Coronavirus took hold of the world and all plans got turned upside down. Miraculously, God opened the door for a house in the community to be purchased in 2020 that would become the community center. Corey and Tona returned to Colombia in 2021 and in January of 2022 held a grocery give-away as part of the grand opening of the community center. They gave groceries to 300 families and 300 school kits to children.
The community center began programs in February with soccer, crafts, lunch for children, a GED program for adults, and special events. There is more to come. As they get to know the needs and desires of the community, they are working to find ways to offer resources and be a source of hope and encouragement.
Alex and Maggie have been an integral part of every step of ministry. Both have served wholeheartedly. In 2018, Alex graduated from Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida with a degree in Film Production. In 2020, Maggie graduated from Southwestern Assemblies of God in Waxahachie, Texas. They are now settling into adulthood in the States.
