Strategic Shifts! New Home in 2026!

Steve: from Base Manager to Mobilizer

Steve's role in the Gabon aviation department shifts from “base manager/pilot” to “mobilizer”. This gives him more time to strategically focus on recruitment, team care, fund raising, and project oversight. Previously, there was simply not enough time for these tasks and the Gabon Alliance church realized that, without someone giving more focus on this, the future viability of the ministry would suffer. Steve is excited for this role! It will also be a remote role, that aligns with God’s invitation to their new geographical base (see below). Rob, the other pilot/mechanic, will step into the base manager role. Steve will also be periodically leading short term mission teams to Gabon as well. Come join!

NEW HOME IN 2026!

We'll be moving from Gabon to France! Following times of prayer with their home church (York Alliance), the Gabon Alliance church, and US-based Alliance leaders, they are discerning God’s invitation to run a retreat center in the Brittany region of France. The current American missionary couple there are retiring and have invited us to continue the important work of refreshment, debriefing, prayer, and care for other missionaries and French Christian workers. We've personally been the recipients of such care which has kept them serving international for going on 2 decades! They are thrilled to be able to help others stay resilient and thriving on the field. Come and visit!

(NOTE: although the work in France will not be under the Alliance International Ministries structure, we will be attending a local Alliance church and we’ll remain connected to the Eastern PA District of the Alliance with a “special assignment” classification. PLEASE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT US THROUGH THE ALLIANCE FOR THE TIME BEING. We will send along new information in January).

While on sabbatical this summer in France, we had the opportunity to visit the Manor House for a week. It turns out that, in Spring of this coming year, the American missionary couple that have been running this retreat center for OVER 20 YEARS are retiring. After spending some time with them and hearing each others' stories, they, along with the owners of the property, invited us to continue operating the Manor as a place of respite. This was something we brought to our sending church leadership and others on our core prayer team. Together, we sensed confirmation that this was God's invitation just for us.

It’s coming together at a really cool time in our lives too- in our mid-50’s… feeling some transitions and refocusing necessary to maximize the upcoming chapters of the adventure. We feel that we are moving from “addition” to “multiplication”!

We will align the work with a world-wide network of retreat and debrief locations for Christian workers, called “Oasis Rest International” (https://oasisrest.org/). ORI will be the structure that will process our supporters donations, which we will still need (NOTE- this will be a free ministry for those seeking rest and there’s no revenue in it for us). In terms of the C&MA, we will remain connected, but, for the purposes of confidentiality for guests (to have "safe ears"), it will be away from the international ministries structure- we’ll be on “special assignment” from the Eastern District of the Alliance. In this way, we’ll maintain our Alliance “official workers” role. 

You may know that, in our almost 2 decades of international work, we received care, on a number of occasions, that was uniquely tailored toward missionary families. In 2013 an anxiety attack was my wake-up call (Steve). Rest, debrief, care, counsel, and refreshment- that care kept us serving and resilient in our walk with Jesus and our work. God is inviting us to a chapter of life to now do the same for others. Here is a video outlining a couple and the impact Oasis had for them:  

Without exception, when we ask those involved in this CARE and DEBRIEFING work report that they are fully booked and are praying for more to help. Also, we are seeing an aging population of care-givers, like the couple we are replacing. (They need young people like us! 😁)

We anticipate room in our schedule, from time to time, to host work teams, as well as join other teams who will be serving at events, like field forums, around the world. There will also be opportunity for regular trips back to Gabon for project work there with the aviation program. Come join us!

Stay tuned for more information about OASIS Rest International and PLEASE PRAY for the long-term visa process for France. 

 

Thank you for joining us in this journey!

We continue to be financially supported by people like yourself. 

Please consider joining the team in this important task with us.

OPTIONS TO CONTRIBUTE:

DONATE THROUGH THE ALLIANCE (C&MA) (click here)

OR:

PAYPAL THROUGH THINGS ABOVE PROJECT (click below)

Aircraft Refurbishment Update

(Adorable passengers from our Friday, 05 December flight)

While our trusty Cessna T207 (T for Turbocharged), 

known as "Bravo Hotel" (tail number N207BH) 

continues to serve faithfully in Gabon under Pilot Rob's direction...

... "Foxtrot Delta" (N207FD) continues on its refurbishment

journey at MMS Aviation in Ohio. Enjoy some of the photos

taken this week. COMING SOON... New avionics &

overhauled and upgraded engine! STAY TUNED!

HERE IS THE AVIATION PACKAGE WE ARE PLANNING (& Est. Costs):

~ Dual Garmin GI-275- Attitude & Direction Indicators ($11,100)

~ Garmin GI-275 EIS- Engine Monitor ($4200)

~ Garmin GTN 650xi- GPS/Nav/Comm1 ($10,500)

~ Garmin GNC 355- GPS/Comm2 ($6300)

~ Garmin GTX 345- Transponder/ADS-B ($5700)

~ FlightStream 510- Avionics connectivity software ($1200)

~ CIES Fuel quantity sender ($1150)

~ ELT Artex 400 upgrade ($7500)

~ USB Power Supply Unit ($385)

HERE IS THE ENGINE RELATED UPGRADES (& Est. Costs):

~ "Smooth Ride" Engine Mount system ($6000)

~ Engine Top Overhaul & Vitato STC- 2200 Hr. TBO ($53,665)

~ Remote Oil Cooler kit ($4000)

~ Propellor Overhaul ($4000)

~ Cleanable Oil Filter from Challenger Aviation ($400)

Please pray for us for the provision for each of these important items that make our aircraft safe and reliable for service outfitted for service into the next 2 decades!!!

Thank you for joining us in this journey!

We continue to be financially supported by people like yourself. 

Please consider joining the team in this important task with us.

OPTIONS TO CONTRIBUTE:

DONATE THROUGH THE ALLIANCE (C&MA) (click here)

OR:

PAYPAL THROUGH THINGS ABOVE PROJECT (click below)

In Other News!

We've been able to visit family with some of our time in the US!
My father has been able to move to Virginia, closer to my 
oldest brothers family. 

 

We've had some time to reflect, pray, and plan
for the next chapter of life! More on that 
coming soon!

We've also had time to connect with our org- the Christian
& Missionary Alliance. Here we are with Eastern PA district
leaders, Sharon and Nate. There have been zoom calls, reports, 
emails, and more... both to/from US and Gabon org leaders.

Speaking of Eastern PA district, we were invited to participate
with the district's annual gathering- this time, held in Philadelphia.
We were honored to be special guests in the children's & 
youth programs as well as on the main stage.

We've also had opportunity to speak to supporters!
So far, in State College, Philadelphia, Selinsgrove
& Lancaster. Soon, Williamsport and several in
the York area. Here are a few:
07 Dec: Cassels Community Church, 10:30am
14 Dec: Spring Grove Alliance, 8:30 & 10:30am
21 Dec: York Alliance, 8:30 & 10:30am
11 Jan: Fairlawn Community Church, 8:30am & 10:30am

We also got to babysit! Believe it or not, these are children
of a couple who USED TO BE teens in our youth group!
So, we were feeling some grandparent vibes. We also 
got to catch up on some Paw Patrol episodes. 

We also got a SWEET gift from our former Gabon teammates.
They put together a picture book that was a great flashback
over the last two decades.

We continue to be financially supported by people like yourself. Please consider joining the team in this important task with us.

OPTIONS TO CONTRIBUTE:

DONATE THROUGH THE ALLIANCE (C&MA) (click here)

OR:

PAYPAL THROUGH THINGS ABOVE PROJECT (click below)

Missionaries In Residence UPDATE

 

As a reminder, this past summer we were SURPRISED
to get an invitation by our home church pastors, Brian &
Amanda Kannel (in photo), to be in the US for 5 months 
as Missionaries in Residence!

Our main role is pastoring the team of volunteer youth leaders.
We have come to love this team! They are teaching us
so much about dedication and investment to discipleship
in the local church setting.

Steve also got a chance to pull out some of his
old Youth Pastor chops at the Fall Youth Retreat.

Alace led the students in an art experience
to display their belongingness in God and
in community. 

It's been A LONG TIME since we loaded up for a weekend
with a youth group! We were "feeling all the feels"!
The students and leaders have welcomed us and 
been so loving. We are having a great time!

My friend Fred giving me some orientation on
the Student Center audio/visual tech machines.

The students have a great worship band!
(that's me giving some announcements... not singing!)

The Mission-in-Residence at York Alliance Church is only part-time through mid-January. 

In another post, we'll share more of what we are doing with some of our other time. 

Also, we continue to rely upon your prayers and financial support. 

Thank you for joining us in this journey!

We continue to be financially supported by people like yourself. 

Please consider joining the team in this important task with us.

OPTIONS TO CONTRIBUTE:

DONATE THROUGH THE ALLIANCE (C&MA) (click here)

OR:

PAYPAL THROUGH THINGS ABOVE PROJECT (click below)

Care for International Workers

No matter where you live on the planet, life has challenges. However, it's a whole other challenge when you leave your home culture to live full-time somewhere else. Many of your rhythms of life are thrown off and the places that you reach for for stabilizing yourself are also gone. For the better part of 2 decades, these are the type of people that Alace and I have been honored to serve alongside.

As a pilot, I've had the opportunity to transport many international workers (IW's)- many who have sat in the co-pilot seat and, during the flight when there was time to chat, they poured out their hearts. They've shared griefs ranging from medical, to organizational, fears about the future, lack of funding, conflicts with other missionaries, misunderstandings with national colleagues, and the list goes on. 

A recent study showed that the stressors of life for IW's are on the same level as MILITARY SPECIAL FORCES!

These issues, if left unchecked, can lead to attrition- an earlier than expected departure from the area you were once so thrilled to be called to. Missionaries MUST be proactive and have resources to nurture themselves- regular "pit stops" along the way to check the fluid levels, tire pressure, fuel levels, temperature gages. 

For Alace this focus, member care, has been at the heart of her calling. Through our recent sabbatical the Lord has confirmed to us that, as we hit our mid-50's, this will increasingly be increasingly my focus as well. Our current "Missionaries in Residence" at our home church (York Alliance) is a time for us to reflect and pray about how that might look going forward. Please pray with us as we meet with church and organizational leadership to seek God's heart in the details.

Our cohort through Sustainable Faith (UK)

Sensing this stirring in our heart, months back, Alace and I joined in training to become certified spiritual directors. It is a two year process that will in May '26. As you may be aware, we've been pastoral staff previously (Steve is ordained in the C&MA), and we've both done multiple member care courses, such as Sharpening Your Interpersonal Skills, Family Debriefing (C&MA), TCK Care webinar, "Godly Resilience" (GRIT) course, and more. We've served in leadership a mission sending as well as board members of a member care org. 

Just this past week, we added another significant resource to our equipping- the "Exchange at the Cross" training through Le Rucher (France).  In member care circles, this is knows as one of the premier courses for missionary debriefing. Alace and I went through a debriefing in 2017 with facilitators trained in Le Rucher, and it was a life-line at that point in our journey. We sense that NOW is the time that we also transition to being providers of life-lines for others. Without exception, each debriefer and missionary retreat provider has told me that they are FULL and have waiting lists from those seeking care. The need is very real. 

Our Le Rucher trainees and trainers.

Some of you are wondering, "Steve, will you pilot again?" I am sure that I will, but, for now, I'll be in support of the Gabon aviation program from a distance, through advocacy and mobilization (fancy words for things like recruiting and fund raising). Just last week I started to organize a visit to Gabon of a young family- the father is training as a mechanic and pilot! Also, we are continuing to mentor and coach young Henrica in her journey toward becoming a mechanic and pilot serving in her home country of Gabon for the church aviation department.

 Just as others have been there in our times of need, we are increasing our focus to be there for other missionaries in their times of need.

Thank you for your support as we continue this journey! We'll send more updates soon. You have supported us through regular times of refreshment, retreat, sabbatical and debriefing that kept us on the field for almost 2 decades and counting! Your generosity and encouragement are still key to our success as we continue on. We are so grateful!

Thank you, dear supporter, for your continued TeamWork!

We continue to be financially supported by people like yourself. 

Please consider joining the team in this important task with us.

OPTIONS TO CONTRIBUTE:

DONATE THROUGH THE ALLIANCE (C&MA) (click here)

OR:

PAYPAL THROUGH THINGS ABOVE PROJECT (click below)

Airplane Refurb Update (N207FD)

 MMS Aviation, in Ohio, continues to do a GREAT job with the     
refurbishment of our other Cessna 207 in the fleet- N207FD.

Here are some details from the project lead, Christ J.:

"Work on the 207 project is moving forward a little slower than we thought. The elevators are completed except for the painting, ailerons are being repaired, the flooring is ready to be installed. We are working on the left wing at the moment and there is a flap track that is worn beyond limits. We have a serviceable one here ready to be installed. While removing the flap track we had to remove flap track cover skin which had a lot of corrosion on them. We were able to make the skins in house (picture above)."

"During the inspection of the wings (see above) we noticed the attach points of both wings both forward and aft are worn bad and will be replaced. Soon, we'll start working on the engine, prop, and avionics."

THANK YOU MMS AVIATION!!!

Thank you, dear supporter, for your continued TeamWork!

We continue to be financially supported by people like yourself. 

Please consider joining the team in this important task with us.

OPTIONS TO CONTRIBUTE:

DONATE THROUGH THE ALLIANCE (C&MA) (click here)

OR:

PAYPAL THROUGH THINGS ABOVE PROJECT (click below)

Bongolo Commute to Work (Not what you think!)

We had GREAT feedback on our video with Henrica! There were come requests for more!

So, here is a throwback to my commute to work on a day where I took my e-bike. Enjoy!!!

Henrica Update!