Mission Aviation
Our role is to support the missionaries in the field who translate the Bible into new languages and plant churches. These missionaries are embedded into tribes and villages, for years at a time, where they learn the local language, build relationships and immerse themselves wholly into new cultures.
The goal is for these people groups to be given the opportunity to know Christ, and have a Bible they can call their own.
One in their native language.
What a calling!
To support them is to fly into often harsh, remote, hard-to-reach areas of the jungle. This can include ferrying people, cargo and medical evacuations. The risks of navigating these jungles on foot is often perilous and what takes an hour with two feet can be accomplished in just a minute by air.
The Great Commission
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Matthew 28:19-20
When Love Touched Down
My Walk With God
I vividly remember the emotions that overcame me when I accepted Christ as my Lord and Saviour. I was 14, incredibly shy and self-conscious, yet somehow found myself at a friend's "mega church" youth service. A daunting proposition when I only knew one other person. But in that service, God reached out and touched my heart. The music stirred me and the message persuaded me to submit. I found myself moved to tears.
In that moment I surrendered.
God is faithful and through the storms of life he has taught me to lean on him more and more. When I was in my 20's, the lowest of lows almost broke me. I gave up and I found myself looking down at my own peril. A little book gave me the encouragement to face each day, one day at a time.
It was His word, the Bible.
He was there all along, pardoning my sins and pulling me back even when I ignored Him. Mercy and grace so abounding and undeserved. That love and peace that He has gifted me is what I feel compelled to share.
For the last 20 years I have served in the worship ministry as the principal noise generator. Yes, I am a drummer! It has been incredibly fulfilling, especially seeing youth hearts change, like mine did, but it is time for me to make a bigger contribution to His kingdom work. To share his Gospel with those who have never heard it. He gave me the gifts to be able to serve and I shall heed His call.
As a child, I would always look up at planes in the sky and dream of becoming a pilot. But as often is the case, life got in the way. I had other priorities and before I knew it I was in a rut, doing a job I was good at, being paid well, but with no sense of purpose. An impromptu holiday and a helicopter discovery flight that ensued, reignited that childhood dream. It was exhilarating, incredibly fun and I quickly realised it could be rewarding if I chose the right path and had the right motivation.
Why helicopters?
My service in the air force, and many a Chinook uber (big helicopter), bridged the pilot dream with whirly birds. The engineering and aerodynamics fascinated me. The unique capabilities piqued my curiosity.
I quit my job with the hope of one day working helicopter air ambulance. I wanted to be able to contribute to society in my own way. I packed my bags for a flight school in Oregon, USA.
Through the early stages of my flight training I stumbled across 2 missionary pilots on social media. Seeing the work that they were doing for His glory, was immensely purposeful, exciting and at times heart wrenching. But after doing some research, the experience requirements seemed so far away. A pipe dream.
But it never left my heart.
My Journey To Helicopters
Choosing to slowly chip away at the big block of flight hours and ratings required, I put mission aviation on the shelf. I kept tabs on those missionary pilots and followed some misison organisations from afar.
JAARS was one of them.
An amazing opportunity from my pastor to visit Osh Kosh, the world's largest air show, became the catalyst. I looked up the list of exhibitors and would you have it, JAARS was there! I was so excited! When I met the people from JAARS, I felt that immense sense of purpose. Hearing their tales from the jungle, of people finally receiving the Bible in their own language, made me feel more convicted to serve.
Oh, and I met the requirements.
I sat on it, not wanting to rush a decision. Not trying to read providence into all the stars aligning. After months of prayer, self-reflection and seeking wisdom from many wiser than me, I made my decision.
If I was going to fly helicopters for a purpose, there was none more so than mission aviation.
Then God gave me peace.
