Flying High and Wide  

 

UIM Aviation really gets around.  The UIM aviation ministry started "way back" in 1959, through the pioneering efforts of UIM missionary pilot/mechanic Jim Robertson.  Thousands lived around the many lakes and rivers of British Columbia, Canada, and air service effectively delivered missionaries with the Gospel message to the First Nations people of the region.   

In 1965, with UIM missionary pilot Bob Matthews, UIM established an airplane in Flagstaff, AZ, and Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico.  UIM's aviation service ministry discontinued briefly in 1969 but resumed again in 1979.  In 1987, the aviation ministry expanded with the absorption of Calvary Missionary Fellowship, and the ministry continues to adjust and advance wherever it can to bring the Gospel effectively high, far, and wide to North America. 

 

Under the leadership of Bryon Brock, our UIM Aviation director, our pilots, mechanics, and their families serve our Lord faithfully and effectively, with excellence.  They "fly to where the people are" and deliver the glorious message of the Gospel of God's grace in Christ Jesus.   

 

As you can well imagine, aviation requires high levels of skill at the piloting and mechanic levels, and it also requires significant financial resources.  We are seeking partners to connect with our UIM Aviation ministry to keep our planes flying high and wide, bringing the glorious Gospel to indigenous people groups of North America.   

 

Thank you for reading the feature articles in this edition of UIM Connection!  From Mexico to Alaska to Wisconsin, it has been an exciting adventure in flying high and wide this summer.

 

To learn more about UIM Aviation, go to www.uimaviation.org. 

 

Privileged to serve,

 

 

Daniel P. Fredericks

UIM Executive Director

 

 

 

 

   

God continues to expand the ministry of UIM Aviation.  There are times when missionary aviation groups work together to fulfill God's plans and purposes all over the world.  UIM Aviation and Missionary Aviation Repair Center, MARC, have joined forces to serve Native people in Alaska this summer.  MARC, located in Soldotna, Alaska, needs additional staff to assist in flying.

  

After much prayer, Olivia and David Wolf volunteered to spend June, July, and part of August helping MARC and investigating how our two organizations may interface during summers.

 

David attended their recurrency training course for 10 days in May and returned June 1 to serve as second-in-command pilot on the MARC King Airplanes.  David faced the challenges of learning a larger, turbine airplane in a totally different environment from Mexico and the Cessna 206s he flies there.  The weather changes rapidly and often requires flights using instruments to guide the arrival, landing, and departure.  The airplane carries nine passengers at a speed of 250 miles per hour over vast expanses of tundra and mountain ranges.  These airplanes go to all parts of Alaska to many remote villages to fly Native children, pastors, and summer volunteers to and from Christian camps.

 

David with MARC pilot in King Air Airplane

   

For many Native children a Christian camp is the only safe haven they have.  The perfect love of Jesus Christ is taught and demonstrated to these children who often experience abuse and mistreatment in their daily lives.  There are lots of hugs for the kids at camp and often tearful embraces as they leave their counselors and board the airplane for home.  God's Word is changing the hearts of Native children in this part of North America just as it does in Mexico.

 

During this time in Alaska God is also giving Olivia opportunities to use her gifts and abilities.  She ministered with a mission team from North Carolina helping MARC.  She also encouraged a future missionary wife by praying regularly with her.  Olivia shared with her about God's faithfulness to her and David over the years.  Olivia helped with Vacation Bible School at a local church where 15 children accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  She plans to help with others in the area.  Recently Olivia accompanied David on flights to and from a secluded Christian camp.

 

Olivia with future missionary wife

Native life in both areas is strikingly similar.  Most villages have no roads to other places, limited electricity, outdoor toilets, and few community services.  Spiritual warfare and depravity are common in both regions.  Years of outreach by dedicated missionaries bring hope and Truth to Native people.  The challenges are great but our God is greater.  The aviation teams of UIM and MARC are vital participants in the advancement of God's outreach to native people.   

 

Pray for David and Olivia as they serve in Alaska this summer.  Pray for God's safety and protection for all the flights.    

 

 

Native children flying to camp

 

              

Several of the UIM Aviation men from Tucson represented UIM Aviation at the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) AirVenture air show July 23-29 in Oshkosh, WI.  AirVenture is the largest aviation event of its kind in the world with over 600,000 people in attendance.  During the week, the airport in Oshkosh becomes the busiest in the world in numbers of takeoffs and landings.  Sixteen organizations were represented in the International Association of Missionary Aviation's "Fly 4 Life" tent.  Mission Aviation Fellowship, JAARS, and New Tribes Mission Aviation each had their own tents adjacent to the "Fly 4 Life" tent.  Each of them also brought an airplane for static display.  It was at last year's AirVenture that UIM Aviation started discussions with MARC about helping them in Alaska this summer.