Chapter Reports

South Alabama Chapter (Monroeville)

	Pastor Mark Detter helps his daughter Christy from the plane.

The Lord gave the Alabama chapter the privilege of ministering to a heart- broken family of six who had suffered a tragic car accident. Pastor Mark Detter was unharmed; his wife Jennifer broke her left arm and leg; 9 year old Kevin was in a body cast; 8 year old Christy broke her left leg; 4 year old Ben’s head was crushed, but he survived and 2 year old Stephen was killed. “Never have I seen such suffering,” said chapter president Tommy Lee.

The family was flown from South Dakota back home to Pennsylvania. God truly used Pilots for Christ to minister His love and provision for this family in their hour of need.

Tim Tirey and Terry Chapman flew Nancy Chason, a victim of a hit and run accident, from Jacksonville, Florida to Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Glen Eubanks assisted the chapter in flying Carlisle McClure for preparations for a liver transplant.

Carlisle has received a transplant since then and is recovering. Another call was received from a local hospital that a kidney had been found for Miranda White. Pilots were air-borne within one hour, the kidney was transplanted and Miranda is now doing fine!

Seven month old Ethan Blackwell was flown from Mobile, Alabama to Raleigh, North Carolina for treatment of Chronic Granulomatous Disease, commonly known as “the bubble disease”.

Terry Chapman flew Angeline Walston to North Carolina for a connecting flight up north for a specialized neck surgery. Keith Landers of Americus, Georgia was flown to and from Houston, Texas for the removal of a tumor. His surgery is now over and all is apparently well.

Peggy Jaye, a PCI member, assisted as pilots flew Kimberly Phillips from Pensacola, Florida to Houston, Texas. There she was transported by Life Flight of Texas to her home in New Mexico. Several days later, Kimberly died. God granted mercy to her and her family by enabling Kimberly to be at home when she died.

Tommy Lee, president of the South Alabama chapter writes, “Due to the generosity of many, PCI finances are in good order. We have not had to turn down anyone this year due to lack of funds. However, every month, many are turned down by Eagles’ Wings Air Ambulance because of lack of funds. Those families have the same trials—sometimes even greater trials—than the PCI families. I believe with all my heart it is God’s will that we help those we can while we are here on this earth…..Together, let us be the Church God called us to be and minister to those in need!”

Editor’s note: Eagles’ Wings Air Ambulance was formed last year as a non-profit service to work together with PCI’s South Alabama chapter to meet the pressing needs of non-ambulatory as well as ambulatory patients. The Air Ambulance is a Piper Cheyenne with 1,000 mile range and cruises at 275 miles per hour. Fuel for running the aircraft is costly. This air ambulance service is in immediate need of financial help in order to continue its ministry. If you feel led of the Lord to support EWAA, send your tax-deductible donations to:

Eagles’ Wings Air Ambulance
P.O. Box 965
Monroeville, AL 36461
251-575-5503 or 800-335-1603

Minnesota Chapter

This chapter celebrates its one year anniversary in September. According to President Neale Thompson, they are trying to juggle finances, aircraft availability, pilot training and mission preparedness. Most of the pilots are fully employed and don’t own airplanes which presents another challenge. In an attempt to meet these challenges, the chapter is talking with Wings of Hope, an organization that rebuilds donated aircraft for aviation ministries, looking at the possibility of procuring a plane for their mission-centered outreach.

Chapter members have attended several area Fly-Ins handing out the Gospel of John, Gospel tracts and PCI information. The Fly-Ins were great opportunities in ministry for the chapter members as well as for bringing in new PCI members.

The Minnesota chapter hopes to send a representative to the PCI Convention in September and if that is not possible, they will uplift the gathering in prayer.

North Arkansas Chapter

(l to r) Louise Joyner, daughter Sherri Koger, pilots Juan Alfonso and Mike McMillen.

Mike McMillen, president of the Arkansas chapter and Jim Guynn, Virginia chapter member, joined forces to complete a mercy mission recently. Mike flew Mrs. Louise Joiner and her daughter Sheri Koger from Memphis, Tennessee to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Jim Guynn met them there to complete the second leg to Baltimore, Maryland. Although Mrs. Joyner suffers from Alzheimers disease, she joined in prayer with the pilot before they departed. Mrs. Joyner’s family expressed their heart-felt appreciation to Mike for this mercy flight.

Other good things are happening in the Arkansas chapter. Two more pilots joined the ranks at their last meeting and a group in Blythesville are interested in starting a new chapter. The chapter also had the opportunity to share Pilots for Christ vision with a power point program at their bi-monthly meeting, at an event in Central Arkansas and a PACE program held in Paragould. An air show in Manila is the next planned exhibit.

North Carolina Chapter

President Brian Dwan reports that the chapter has flown several missions this summer. A woman, who had come from North Carolina to attend her grand-daughter’s graduation, suffered a stroke and was admitted into the Veteran’s hospital. A nurse at the hospital heard about Pilots for Christ on a local radio station while driving to work. The North Carolina chapter was contacted and they flew the patient and her daughter in their Cessna 320 from Salisbury, North Carolina to Tampa, Florida. It was the first flight for both passengers.

The chapter was also honored to transport a professor from a Christian college in Concord, North Carolina to Chattanooga, Tennessee. The patient, who suffers from Lou Gehrig’s disease, was accompanied by his wife and twelve year old daughter. It was a VFR flight with gorgeous views of Mt. Mitchell along the way. This was the first mission the chapter flew in their 320 with one pilot on board due to seating limitations. The patient led in prayer at the end of the mission and the flight was deemed one of the most rewarding missions they had flown to date.

The chapter thanks Barney Peeler, chapter member with a 182, who flew several missions this summer. His involvement and dedication to Pilots for Christ is appreciated by all. Barney’s most recent flight was transporting a cancer patient from Shelby, North Carolina to Culpeper, Virginia where the Pennsylvania chapter aircraft met him and flew the patient on to New York City.

Invitation From The North Carolina Chapter

Please plan to attend the 2003 annual PCI Convention here in Shelby, North Carolina September 12-14th. The weather will be grand that time of the year! The North and South Carolina beaches are an hour’s flight and make a great get-away destination after the Convention. Ashville and the Biltmore Estate are a short drive or flight and we will offer an excursion there on Saturday the 13th for the ladies.

Editor’s Note: You don’t want to miss the fine speakers and the opportunity to share ideas and testimonies about the exciting things the Lord is doing in our chapters. This is the time to gather for sweet fellowship and praise to our Lord for allowing us to serve Him in special ways through aviation.

Don’t walk, but run to the nearest telephone to call in your reservations! See particulars on this web site.

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