September, 2000, Newsletter

Convention Successful

Dear PCI Members:

The Annual PCI Convention was a success with members coming together from eleven states each with his own testimony of how the Lord is using him in His outreach to the unsaved.  One thread that ran through everyone's testimony was that through Pilots for Christ, we often reach people that otherwise are unreachable.  Example:  David, one of our convention speakers and a pilot for a large international corporation, was high over the Atlantic Ocean flying to Europe with one of his more important clients aboard.  David walked through the cabin and was asked by this man to sit for a moment and talk to him.  This corporate leader said that he owned over 40 companies, had net assets in excess of a billion dollars, that there was nothing that he could not afford to buy or anywhere he could not fly to and yet he felt "empty".  He saw in David a joy that he did not have and wanted to know how he could find that happiness.  This man was not saved in the churches that he would not attend or through the evangelists that he would not hear.  He found the Lord in a jet at 30,000 feet over the Atlantic flying to Europe by listening to a man who loved the Lord and flying and had dedicated his talents to serving the Lord.

Others shared how they were given the opportunity to witness for the Lord to the sick, the dying and their family members while flying them on mercy flights.  There were testimonies of how the Lord used PCI members at air shows, civic events, airfields and wherever they went.  Probably most of the people we have daily contact with are unsaved.  Through Pilots for Christ, we are given opportunities to speak of the Lord's love and saving grace.  These are opportunities we might not have otherwise.

The Rod

In the first four verses of Exodus 4, there is an account of how God turned Moses' rod into the Rod of God.  Moses' rod assisted his work as a common shepherd, but as the Rod of God it parted the Red Sea. It brought forth water from a rock. It turned the Nile River into blood and performed other miraculous signs.

What is the rod that you hold?  Is it a love of flying, flying talents, or an airplane? These are great for yourself, but they can become boring if not put to use.  The Lord, through Pilots for Christ, His Air Force, can turn this all into an exciting adventure working for Him!  Have you ever thought of being a missionary?  You can have your own mission right where you are through Pilots for Christ. Give your talents to the Lord and see where He will lead you.

Board changes

Two long term Board Members reached the end of their terms.  Allen Hammerseth, from Arkansas, as Vice-President of Pilots for Christ, has been a mainstay of the Board for years traveling many miles to attend board meetings and conventions and contributing his wisdom gained from a lifetime in aviation as pilot and mechanic.  Fred Wukits, from New York State, has in the same way contributed to the Board and Pilots for Christ.  He can be remembered for the many long flights to conventions and Board meetings, in all sorts of weather, in his little Cherokee 140.  These two men gained the admiration of the other Board members and their years of service to Pilots for Christ should be applauded.  We thank them both for their faithful service.  They will be replaced on the Board by Phil Allen, from the Alabama Chapter and Lee De Armond from Virginia.  These men bring, besides a long aviation history, valuable management and organizational talents.  The remaining Board members are Pam Clark (Maryland), Mark LeRoy (Virginia), Bob Francia and Pete Rommel (Ohio), and Bill Starrs (Arizona). Please feel free to contact any of these Board Members or myself for information relative to PCI or help if forming a Chapter or recruiting new members.

Mercy flights

The mercy flights continue to be called in and flown.  At the end of last month, Alabama Chapter had flown 38 mercy flights.  I have received calls for flights as far away as a request coming from Australia for a flight to Switzerland.  We didn't have the equipment for this one, but we usually can do something particularly if the flight is in the Continental US.  We currently have flights on the books for Sommerville, S.C. to John Hopkins, Baltimore and return (patient with MS and Cancer) and one for Christopher Reeves from New York to Washington, D.C. and return.

Membership expiration

Please check your PCI membership renewal date that appears on your address label on the front of this newsletter.  If your membership has expired, this will be the last newsletter you will receive.  Renewal costs $15.00 per year.  New Membership is $25.00.  If your address label reads 20000930 (September 30th 2000) or earlier, you need to renew.

New chapters

We have new chapters forming in Wichita, Kansas and Tulsa, Oklahoma.  There are people in New York State, Minnesota, West Texas, Arizona and Michigan who have expressed interest in starting a chapter.  If you live near these locations and are interested in participating with a chapter or are interested in starting a chapter near your own home, let us know and we will give you all the help we can.  It takes 10 members and access to an airplane to start a chapter. 

Aviation Missions Conference

My wife Joyce and I will be attending the Aviation Missions Conference October 20th and 21st in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  If you are going to be near there on these dates, please let us know and we will spend some time with you.

In His Service,

H. James McConnell
President

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