Mission aviation

IAMA Mission Aviation Podcast

The IAMA Mission Aviation Podcast:

http://www.iamanet.org/category/mission-aviation-podcasts/

What's the main obstacle for becoming a missionary pilot and/or mechanic?

 

Is it

• lack of money
• lack of time
•  lack of support from family/friends
•  lack of confidence that "this is my calling"
•  fear of failure
•  raising financial support

Well, lots of reasons, and there probably are a lot more..  What do you think?

 

I just heard a podcast with Kevin Miller and Justin Lukasavige at the FreeAgentAcademy titled "What derails would-be Free Agents". Actually, I believe pretty much the same obstacles apply for becoming a missionary pilot and/or mechanic as for starting a business, as there is a lot of risk involved, also financial, and fear of failure, and so forth.  The podcast was great, and also there, Justin, a former airline pilot, explains how he felt he needed "permission" to leave his airline pilot job and pursue what he really was passionate about, his own business. 

Here's the podcast:

http://kevinmiller.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/06/free-agent-underground-20100602-what-derails-wouldbe-free-agents.html

Abiding in the Word

I often find it easy to be frustrated and lose courage any day when things are not working out according to plan, and maybe not working out at all. And other times, feelings of guilt, and not being good enough or falling short, can take away the joy and peace pretty effectively. Like Gordon MacDonald says in Ordering Your Private World: "Some suffer from restlessness, a feeling that they never quite measure up to the expectations they think God has for them." Well, I've often been in that state of mind. But then, I've been reminded of Jesus' Words to Martha in Luke 10:41: "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. (Or: but few things are needed - or only one. (ref. NIV)).

We need to meditate on God Word. Asking the Lord to direct us to Scriptures that speak into our situation, and then dwell on these, even memorizing verses. We need this to answer the lies of the Evil one; remember, God's Word is the Sword. And it's really needed to stay focused and encouraged in a hostile world; to not lose heart, but have joy in our life and service.  John 10, 10: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Matthew 4,4: Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

 

 

 

This one is great:

Intro to Missionary Aviation from Tony Archer on Vimeo.

About grape branches

In his book Secrets of the Vine, author Bruce Wilkinson writes about John 15. 

John 15, 1:2 says:

I am the true vine and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He lifts up*, and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

*The Greek word airo, translation should be lift up or take up (not cut off or take away), refer to Secrets of the Vine.

The first part, "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He lifts up*,.."

When vine branches grow close to the ground, they won't thrive, and need to be lifted up (corrected), to be able to grow and produce fruit. This has to do with sin, which can make us not able to thrive and grow, and therefore not bear fruit. Then the Lord will discipline us to correct us, to lift us up from the sin that is hindering us from thriving and producing fruit.

The second part: "...and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes, that it may bear more fruit."

If you leave a grape branch that is growing and thriving to itself, it will grow a lot, but not produce much fruit. Unnecessary growth needs to be pruned away to get the maximum amount of fruit.

For us, this means the Lord wants to prune away priorities, activities etc. in our lives that, although not wrong, are keeping us from more significant service for the Lord.

This was something that really hit me recently while reading in this book. It's so easy to lose focus on the most important things, and become preoccupied with other activities, priorities and pursuits not that important. We really need to ask the Lord to show us what is most important in our lives, and what we should let go of, to make room for more fruit.

Verse 5:  I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

I'd highly recommend Bruce's book, it gives a lot of insight into this topic.

 
 

Becoming a missionary pilot & mechanic

1. Become a missionary pilot & mechanic

I'm definitely not the first one to set this goal for my life at a fairly young age.

And also, I'm not the first one to figure out that this is not an easy goal to accomplish.

Years have passed, bu the goal is still there.. working on it.. Some progress has been made, but still, a long way to go.

So, why do we continue?

Some might think it's because we love flying - but that's far from the whole story. 

Veterans can tell us everything about tough days, weeks and years in the field. 

I guess the main thing is having a mission in life so important that it's worth fighting for. The connecting with the Lord, getting His encouragements from the Word. Knowing that out there, there are hundreds of tribes that have not yet heard the Gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Matthew 24:14: And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. 

Being a part of this must definitely be worth fighting for.

Picture: Marijn Goud, http://www.marijnennoortje.nl/

AWAYO - the new New Tribes Mission video, 

really gives some insight into how the Gospel changes lives. 

Pretty amazing. 

AWAYO in HD