THIS WEEKEND!!! PA Airplane Tour

Reminder!

COME VISIT Steve and Alace and other MAG Missionaries and sit inside our mission aircraft- a newly refurbished and modified Cessna 206.  These are "open house" style events- come and go as you'd like.

Saturday, the 18th, 9am-4:30pm at the Smoketown airport, just East of Lancaster (directions) as part of a missions fair.

Sunday, the 19th, 1pm-4pm at Smoketown airport

Sunday, the 19th, 5pm-9pm at Selinsgrove airport (directions) at Energy Aviation

Monday, the 20th, 9am-noon at Selinsgrove airport (same location)

Monday, the 20th, 5pm-9pm at State College (University Park airport- directions) at the PSU Aviation Center

Tuesday, the 21st, 9am-noon at State College (same location)

If you have any questions, please email me at steve.s@flyMAG.org

Airplane Tour in PA!

We will be on a quick tour of central PA, August 18-21.  Here is our program:

Saturday the 18th: 
9am-4:30pm @ Smoketown Airport (Directions) as part of the aviation fair (see promo)

Sunday the 19th: 
1pm-4pm @ Smoketown Airport
5pm-9pm @ Selinsgrove Airport (Directions)- we will be at "Energy Aviation"

Monday the 20th:
9am to noon @ Selinsgrove Airport
5pm-9pm @ University Park Airport, State College (Directions)- at "PSU Aviation Center"

Tuesday the 21st:
9am to noon @ University Park Airport, State College

We invite everyone to come and visit us and take a tour of one of our mission aircraft that has been specifically modified for our work.  It will be an "open house" style- come and go during these times as you would like.  We hope to see you there!!!

PK-27 Airstrip Construction Continues

Here is a quick video of some time-lapse of our July 2018 efforts to finish the "deforestation" phase of the airport construction.  (more photos and stories to follow)

Pray for Trafficked African Children

In Gabon, a relatively wealthy African country, there are, sadly, many trafficked children.  The national Alliance church reaches out to at-risk children, like these, to offer them a home, an education, and spiritual formation, under the care of Pastor Israel and his wife, Natalie.  Their house, typical full with about 50 children, is called Hope House.

In this blog, you've heard about the Hope House several times.  Alace and I have been a part of supporting this ministry for a decade.  Perhaps you've heard about one of the Hope House children, Henricka, who wants to become a pilot (www.wings4Africa.org).   We really love all the kids and ask you to pray for them and consider supporting them through a monthly or one-time donation through our friends at E4 Project (http://www.e4project.org/programs/hope-house/).

The PK-27 project (social works campus), where we are partnering with the national Alliance church to build an airstrip, will provide a permanent home for the Hope House children.

Here is a recent news report that highlights the issue of child trafficking in Gabon:

Bongolo Eye Clinic Story

Thirteen years ago, a 15 year-old boy named Stoll prayed fervently that his uncle, who was like a father to him, would be healed.  God didn't answer that prayer, and his uncle died.  In anger Stoll turned away from God.  

Three years later, Stoll was in a car accident where the vehicle flipped four times; his body was pulled from the wreckage and he was thought to be dead, but Stoll saw a vision of Jesus putting His hands on the wound in his abdomen.  He returned to life and survived, but still would not let go of his bitterness toward God.  

Then finally a few nights ago while sleeping, he saw another beautiful vision of Jesus, and the next day he brought his sister to Bongolo Hospital for abdominal surgery.  

While waiting for her, he spoke to another patient about his vision in the night and she told him he needed to come hear the message at the eye clinic.  There, he heard the eye clinic chaplain talking about how God was always faithful to His covenant with Abraham, and how He will always be faithful to us; He will never give up on us.  Stoll considered how God kept seeking him out personally.  His heart finally broke and he was healed from his long-harbored anger toward God.  He was given a Bible that he is excited to read, and he can't wait to join a dynamic church he knows of in his home town.

It's exciting to know that God is pursuing us, even when we are not aware of it!  Have a great week!

Submitted by Eric H. at Bongolo

2018 PLANS... Help us to Launch!

CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT US

We Need Sustaining Supporters!  

Our important work only happens when the resources are supplied.  Please pray that generous partners join us to make this work sustainable.

Please pray that these 

plans become reality!  

As we put together our 2018 plans, we realize that without a significant increase in sustaining supporters, we will not be able to execute or participate in some of the following special events:

JAN/FEB:  Alace trains new missionaries!

Alace will join the JAARS staff (Waxhaw, NC) to equip new missionaries for spiritual vitality, multi-cultural sensitivity, and relational maturity.

FEB:  Steve attends Supervisor Pilot Course

Every few years, attending this course keeps Steve sharp in his pilot skills so he can better supervise the team of pilots he serves.

MAR:  First Ever "OPERATION:SERVE" Event

This is the first of 5 events at the Missionary Air Group hangar (Burlington, NC) for groups of up to 20 to participate in a blended work day / missions activation event.

APR:  Central America Visit
In Steve's leadership role at MAG, it's critical to visit our operation bases and partners.  This trip will be to Guatemala and Honduras.

MAY:  Debrief & Steve trains new missionary Pilots!
Since our transition into MAG leadership from field work in Africa, we have not yet completed a field debrief.  We're looking forward to this event in Georgia.  We'll participate with MAG's first ever pilot apprentice will be ready for advanced missionary training in a Cessna 206 aircraft.  We'll be doing some of that in the US and then overseas.

JUN:  Gabon Airstrip Construction
For the second year in a row, we'll be back in Gabon to serve the national church's runway program at the PK-27 project.  Are you interested in going with Steve?  Send an email at steve.s@flymag.org 

JUL:  OSHKOSH Promotion Event & 25th Wedding Anniversary
Oshkosh (WI) is the largest airshow in the world!  Many mission aviation organizations join together to promote Kingdom work.  Then, on the 31st, we celebrate 25 years of marriage!!!


AUG:  Celebrating, Refreshing, Planning
Following our anniversary celebration, we'll be busy- MAG's fiscal year cycle is resetting in 2018.  We will start the new year in September, so August will be the month where all our planning comes together so that we're in gear and ready to go.

SEP:  Fund-Raising Half Marathon
Steve will be participating in a half marathon, along with some family members, in Chicago for the purpose of his health and for fund raising!  More details to follow.

Remember...
You are the wings beneath our wings!!!

CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT US

Work Days at the Airport

In 2018, Come and help us accomplish God's work at our airport work days!

MISSIONARY AIR GROUP
336.792.5200

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OPERATION : SERVE

WHO: Church groups- youth, men, women, small groups, etc. Up to 20 each event.

WHAT: Service Projects! Teaming up with MAG in some practical facility care and operations projects, while learning about God’s heart for the remote people groups of the world & how to reach them in Gospel-centered compassion efforts.

WHERE: The MAG hangar at the Burlington-Alamance Regional Airport, Burlington, NC

WHEN: Call and reserve your date now!

• March 10: 9am to Noon
• May 12: 9am to Noon
• July 14: 9am to Noon
• September 8: 9am to Noon
• November 10: 9am to Noon

WHY: MAG is a small, faith-based, non-profit organization that executes critical international ministries, only with the generous teamwork from volunteers.

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Missionary Air Group Mission:

To deliver Medical Care & Relief Services

among remote people groups of the world

through the use of aircraft, showing genuine compassion

so that the Gospel of Jesus Christ 

is credibly presented

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Happy New Year!!!

Dear Loved ones, 

We hope you all have had a wonderful Christmas and we wish you a wonderful new year!  We pray that, in 2018, you sense His presence on the exciting journey He is calling you to.  

Peace and Love,

Steve & Alace

STRAW FAMILY PICTURE (left to Right):

Sam (our youngest): Graduated from Rain Forest Int’l School (Yaounde, Cameroon) in ’16, moved to San Diego, student at Mesa College; transferring to San Diego State next year as International Studies major; an official resident of California!

Megan (our middle child):  RFIS ’14 grad; then 2 years at Nyack; now on her second “gap” year in Chicago enjoying life as a Starbucks barista and nannying and very involved at her local church.

Alace:  member care coordinator for Missionary Air Group (who the Gabon aviation program merged with), based in Burlington, NC (oversight care for 12 staff units & H.R. duties); also serving on staff with JAARS for their Inter-Cultural Communications Course.

Steve:  Chief Pilot & Interim CEO for Missionary Air Group; it’s been a challenging year- taking on new roles that were a bit unexpected; praising the Lord for an opportunity to serve.  MAG has bases in Central America and, now, in Gabon!  Please pray for our main needs in recruitment and another pilot/mechanic to serve with the Peterson’s in Gabon.  We are consulting with three Alliance efforts (two in Africa; one in Central America) about collaborate ministry using aviation.  Please pray with us for discernment and effective use of Kingdom resources for the Gospel.

Laura: our newest edition!  Married to Joe this past September in Chicago; Moody Bible Institute Grad ’17; Intercultural studies/Linguistic minor; works at Moody in the admissions department and some nannying jobs.

Joe;(our oldest child) RFIS Grad ’13; Moody Bible Institute Grad ’17; enjoying the honeymoon!; working at Moody in I.T.; he and Laura will get grounded in their marriage and life in Chicago for a bit and see missions in their future.