Terry Thompson’s Blog

Another friendship that I gained at the Oshkosh Author’s Corner was Dane Skelton, pastor of Faith Community Church, South Boston, Virginia, and author of a new book about JAARS mission aviators.  JAARS is the acronym for Jungle Aviation and Radio Service.  It is one of the largest mission aviation organizations.  The book, titled Jungle Flight, relates the gritty reality and harrowing adventures of JAARS pilots and technicians living and working on the edge of the civilized world.  In his research for the book, Dane traveled to the jungles of Southeast Asia and interviewed countless aviators who took him into the cockpit and into harms way which is the everyday experience of mission flying.  He writes several short stories of deep-jungle rescue missions, medical evacuations, supply runs, terrorist attacks, and other breath-taking assignments that are part of the job for those who commit their lives to this calling of God.

Whether you are considering mission aviation as a career, know someone that is, or just like to read aviation adventure books, you will love Dane’s book.  You can Google Jungle Flight to learn more about it or purchase it.  Every aviator should understand, appreciate, and pray for mission aviators.

Okay, that title probably got your attention.  It sure got the attention of many browsers through the Author’s Corner at Oshkosh AirVenture 2009.  A truly remarkable gentleman sat next to me at the Author’s Corner table for a week.  By the week’s end, we had become good friends.  On day one, news journalists were leaning over my area of the table to get video shots and interviews with Joe Balzer.  By Wednesday, he had been invited to dinner at the Flying Magazine building and did a private interview with the Chicago Tribune.  Since then, he has appeared on CNN.  Joe Balzer is the author of a new book, Flying Drunk. 

The book is a true story of a Northwest Airlines Flight in 1990 flown by three drunk pilots and one of the pilot’s (Joe) fight for redemption.  Joe was an alcoholic who had faked his way through the aviation career system to land a dream job with Northwest Airlines.  After being finally busted for flying while intoxicated, along with his fellow cockpit crewmen, he spent a year in prison, and several years in poverty with minimum wage jobs.  His renewed faith in God and a very supportive wife helped him reclaim his life.  Ultimately, an absolute miracle happened as he was hired by American Airlines where he presently flies the regular routes.  This is an intriguing and touching story that would capture the heart of every pilot, especially those who share his faith.

You can learn more and buy his book by going to www.flyingdrunk.com.  Don’t be offended by the title.  It draws people to the story.

My next few blogs will be sharing some experiences I had at Oshkosh Airventure 2009.  As I mentioned previously, I was back there this year for the third time consecutively.  My third invitation to participate in the Author’s Corner with my book, The Aviator’s Devotional, proved to be even more successful than the years prior.  However, my greatest experience was working with the mission aviation authors.

One of the authors was Gracia Burnham.  Depending on your age, you may or may not remember her and her husband Martin’s ordeal in the Philippines in 2001.  Martin was a missionary pilot for New Tribes Mission, and Gracia was his missionary assistant.  They were both captured by Muslim terrorists and held in the deep jungles for over a year.  During that time, they endured sickness, injury, attempted rescues with bullets flying everywhere, and starvation.  The terrorists held out for ransom from the U.S., which never materialized.  After just over a year, the Philippine army, responding to frustration and embarrassment, attacked the terrorist camp with overwhelming firepower.  In the crossfire, Martin was fatally shot, and Gracia was seriously injured by bullets.  She was rescued, placed on a medivac helicopter, and flown to the hospital having to leave her dead husband in the jungle. 

Gracia now oversees a foundation for mission projects and accepts a limited number of speaking engagements.  She wrote two books chronicling her experience and her recovery.  The first and most popular is, In the Presence of My Enemies.  It is a breathtaking account her day-by-day captivity.  I highly recommend it for youth and adults.  You can Google the title and get numerous sources for purchase.  Her second book, To Fly Again, is a most inspirational read, also.

More to come on Oshkosh Airventure 2009.

What a week!  Seven days at Oshkosh Airventure 2009 began with a fellowship meeting with the mission aviation folks from all over the world.  Being a part of the planning group for the Fly4Life theme at Oshkosh this year, I was aware of what to expect regarding the presence of missionaries who fly and the exhibits of aircraft and displays.  However, actually walking among the planes that have seen thousands of landing in jungle clearings and mountain tops and hearing the testimonies of their pilots was a true awakening for me.  Steve Saint was there with his “Maverick” flying car to be deployed soon to the mission field.  Gracia Burnham’s story in book form and public presentations about her captivity by terrorists were chilling, but uplifting.  The spirit that the missionary authors brought to the Author’s Corner permeated the entire room all week. 

Area churches organized by the Mission Aviation Support Association supported over 400 missionary fliers with food, housing, and transportation.  It was a tremendous outpouring of ministry by God’s people.

 God was clearly at work throughout the week as hundreds of thousands of aviation enthusiasts were influenced by the first class representation of mission aviation.  For many, this was the first time they had ever thought about how flying contributes to the Great Commission.  Pray that those half-million people who got a glimpse of missionaries who fly will be drawn into a closer relationship with the Lord and will be part of an increased level of support for that ministry. 

If you have been considering mission aviation as a personal calling or an opportunity for personal support, please respond to this post.  I would be glad to refer you to the right person or organization.