Author: Deb Whittington

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IAMA Comes to the Springfield Area

Left: Jolene Erlacher is a leading researcher on Gen Z and has given us some great direction for Mission Aviation. Right: Our mission candidates were also able to connect with mission agencies from all over the world.

March and April have flown by this year, largely marked by our involvement in the IAMA conference. This year, we were excited to host 38 agencies in Bolivar, Missouri. Among our guest speakers were Jolene Erlacher, author of “Mobilizing Gen Z,” and Ryan Batchelor, Leadership Consultant at the Table Group. Additionally, we had the privilege of hearing from several speakers representing organizations pioneering innovation in Mission Aviation, along with those highlighting field and local needs. While the week left us feeling exhausted from the rigors of hosting, it also left us invigorated by the momentum driving Mission Aviation forward.

Left: We were honored to have our pastor share at the conference this year. Right: It’s amazing to watch this community surround the next Generation of Mission Aviators and cover them in prayer.
Bella this year chose to help us during the event. We loved being able to watch her serve others so willingly.
Heath Adamson shared at the dinner that was hosted at Convoy of Hope.
It was a lot of fun to share some local favs like Leong’s (The original cashew chicken) and Andy’s Frozen Custard.

In a bold move, SOAR ventured into new territory by partnering with Convoy of Hope to introduce Mission Aviation to Southwest Missouri in a first-ever Community Banquet. The event proved to be a success, providing a platform for various Mission Aviation Groups to share their stories with the local community. It was a bit surreal to have both our local community and our mission aviation community collide. Convoy of Hope graciously hosted our banquet, with Heath Adamson, Senior VP of Global Program at Convoy of Hope, sharing a bit about Convoy of Hope and some words with our guest. The event also provided an opportunity to connect Convoy of Hope with Missionary Aviation organizations that can assist them in their service endeavors both locally and abroad.

Left: The Mission Aviation community sharing with our friends and family. Right: Dinner with the community.
We were so honored to have the presence of numerous family friends here with us. While we regret not capturing a photo with each of you who came to show your support, please know that we are immensely grateful for the encouragement you provide us.

Kids and Missions

Another aspect of our packed schedule this month involved engaging with our home church’s children and sharing about our work. This is by far one of our favorite things to do in ministry. From preschoolers to sixth graders, we explained what mission aviation entails and how SOAR contributes to spreading the Gospel worldwide. If your church is interested in learning more about Mission Aviation, please reach out to us. We’re always eager to connect and share our journey, illustrating how God utilizes aviation for His purposes.

Welcome to Bolivar… Kind of

Last, our recent months have also been busy due to our relocation to Bolivar, which has been a time of adjusting to new rhythms. While Bolivar isn’t the smallest town we have lived in, it is notably smaller than Springfield where we lived for 17 years. Additionally, frequent trips to the Springfield area for school, church, and other commitments have kept us on the move. However, the tranquility of small-town living has been a welcome change for our daughters, with Jordis mastering bike riding in the driveway and Bella exploring the neighborhood freely. Although our new home is smaller, we view it as an opportunity for hospitality and community. Despite still unpacking boxes, we are trusting in God’s guidance and peace as we acclimate to this new chapter of life. Please be praying for us as we end the semester and things become more final.

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Making Changes

Train the Trainer

Last month we mentioned that we would be attending a Train The Trainer event in Waxhaw NC. Last week we attended the event and it was a great time of collaboration. Two days of training on several topics were covered that will help us be better trainers. We learned how to communicate more clearly, identify attitudes and influences that are affecting the learning process, and how to be safer by helping our students critically think. This was just the first of many training events to come. Thanks to JAARS for hosting, and all the other schools like SOAR that attended. This shows their commitment to using aviation to spread the Gospel.

Seth and Madeline are ready for another day of class.

A Big Move

For some time now we have been feeling the pull to make a big change for our family. One of the prayers for our work at SOAR was that we could build community with the people there. This has been more difficult than we ever imagined. We expected the culture to be similar to Springfield, where it is not uncommon for people to drive 30 to 40 minutes daily. However, living life together so far from each other’s living rooms has made this challenging. We understood that navigating life together might present challenges, yet the full extent of the issues only became apparent during a Fall meeting, where numerous relationship struggles and concerns at SOAR surfaced. Our hearts were heavy and broken and we felt God confirming that this was the direction we needed to go, knowing all that we would have to change. So with much prayer, counsel, and hope we decided to move to Bolivar. We will continue to be at our home church until the Summer to finish out the semester. Please be praying for our family. This is a big change for our girls and there are mixed feelings about this. We are sad to be leaving so many people and things that are so familiar with but we are pressing into the Lord for his peace as we make this huge adjustment for our family.

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Happy Anniversary

Goals

Somehow by the grace of God, we have managed to reach our third year in ministry. It seems to have flown by and gone slowly all at the same time. Thank you for another year with us as we launch into a new exciting season of ministry. We have some big plans for the year and here are a few that you can be praying for.

  1. Cessna 206 advanced high-performance checkout
  2. CFI-I ( Instrument Instructor)
  3. Implementing the KSAs and Professional Behaviors (Soft Skills)

An Icy January

January is a mixed bag when it comes to flying weather. This year January has been filled with ice and freezing temps. We have been blessed to stay warm and not have to get out into these frigid temps. This means Seth is not doing much flying. But that doesn’t mean it has been slow. This has been a great opportunity to begin implementing KSA’s (Knowledge, Skills & Attributes) into flight training and moving in that direction. The focus on attributes (soft skills) allows us through technical training to evaluate how they will handle real-world issues. It also gives us a measurable way to track progress in this area.

Wedding Season?

This month we were busy celebrating some special days with two special couples. Josh one of our mission candidates who is specializing in Maintenance met his sweet wife Bethany during his time in our program. The other was a special and old friend of ours. We so loved celebrating this time with both couples and it was nice to have an excuse to dress up.

Coming up!

Feb 22-24 JAARS- Train the Trainer event in Waxhaw, NC: This is the first event coming out of the MAST (Mission Aviation Specific Training) summit to help us standardize as flight instructors in this mission aviation community.

March 12-14 IAMA Conference (International Associaton of Missionary Aviation)- This is exciting that for the first time, we will host this annual event in Bolivar. Stay tuned for more details about how you can be involved

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December Update

Where have you been?!

I am sure you all have been wondering where we have been. The fall historically has been a busy season for Deb but this year was especially busy. She has taken on some extra work to help fill some of the gaps financially. This means some things at SOAR for her have taken a back seat to make sure our family is taken care of. That being said a lot of things have been happening this fall at SOAR and we are excited to share what is new and how God is using SOAR to make our Mission Candidates (students/missionaries) ready to serve on the field!

Closing out the Season

Moving out of the busy summer season the fall brings some reprieve from busyness in all aspects. We are finishing the airshow and conference season strong and are thankful for the relationships built with new potential candidates and the strengthening of the partnerships with other mission organizations. Seth and Jordis headed to Nashville, TN for the last scheduled conference of the year. This was a quick one-day event that is missions focused, it is a free event for the local community. The event allowed us to share about and represent SOAR and the work we are doing.

School is back in Session!

As many of you know we homeschool our kiddos and in the fall we began our 10th year of Homeschooling. That’s crazy to us! Bella started High School and Jordis is in Kindergarten. Bella also participated in volleyball, student council, & worship team at both church and Co-op. This has made for a very busy season but we have loved watching her grow in her skills and gifts.

WELCOME SKYLER & NICKI!

We are so excited to welcome Skyler and Nicki Redding our newest MC. Skyler and Nicki will be joining SOAR to begin their preparation for serving in missionary aviation. He was raised in Iowa and always knew the importance of missions. While attending Ethnos360 Bible Institute, God put it on his heart to pursue mission aviation. Skyler and Nicki met while at the Bible Institute and they were married in March of 2023. Once they have finished raising support and moved to Bolivar, Skyler will be training to earn both his A&P and his pilot’s license. Deb has been working closely with them on partnership development and it has been fun to watch them grow in this area and we at SOAR are thrilled to welcome them to our program.

MAST (Mission Aviation Specific Training)

I know, another acronym! While aviation is already full of acronyms SOAR wanted to muddy the water a little more by adding another! Seth and Kerrick began the year trying to focus on where we are taking the SOAR flight department in the future. We felt a sense of need for clarity in how the mission originations were viewing the candidates and their level of readiness when they were being evaluated coming out of our program when we reached out to other mission aviation training programs that were feeling the same thing. What started as a collaboration between Seth, Kerrick, and a representative from JAARS (The main mission aviation evaluation organization) turned into a summit with several training programs being represented held at Bolivar. We determined and made a list of 3 main objectives. We all need to accomplish these to make sure that all of the organizations that are training missionary aviators need to focus on them. Making sure the candidates are ultimately successful in reaching the mission field. These are: 1) Mission Aviation Candidate Testing and Evaluating Standards(When Training is completed. 2) Train The Trainer (T3) (Standard Training for all mission aviation CFI’s). 3) Standardized Mission Aviation Curriculum. Number 3 is near and dear to Seth as you will remember that God put this on his heart early on to make sure we are training with lots of intentionality. We will keep you guys posted on the progress of this as it moves forward. We have follow-up meetings scheduled in Kansas City in December and Waxhaw NC in February.

Prayer Requests for the December:

1. December MAST Meeting: Pray for safe travels as we attend another meeting in December. Also, pray for wisdom and continued cooperation between missionary aviation organizations to push forward on creating a standard for future students.

2. Missionary Candidates: Lift our missionary candidates who are currently undergoing training and preparation for their future service in the mission field. Pray for the ones who have not decided on the organization they are joining. Pray that this time at AirVenture creates clarity and direction for them.

3. Financial Provision: Join us in prayer for our financial needs at SOAR. Pray that God would provide abundantly, enabling us to meet our monthly budget and move closer to our financial target. Ask for open doors, divine connections, and generous hearts to support our ministry financially.

Prayer Requests for 2023:

1. Global Impact: Pray for an increased impact of our missionary pilots and mechanics in reaching unreached areas with the Gospel. Ask God to open doors for strategic partnerships, favorable relationships with local communities, and effective ministry opportunities. Pray lives would be transformed, and communities would be impacted through our ministry.

2. Spiritual Growth: Please pray for our personal spiritual growth and deepening relationship with God. Pray that we would have a hunger for His Word, a fervent prayer life, and a sensitivity to His leading. Ask for a greater understanding of His will for our lives and the strength to walk in obedience.

3. Wisdom in Decision-making: Seek God’s wisdom on our behalf as we make important decisions personally and professionally. Pray that we would have the discernment to make choices that align with His will and bring glory to His name. Ask for clarity, guidance, and confidence in the path that God has set before us.

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It’s that time again!

It’s that time of year again – July brings the excitement of EAA AirVenture in OshKosh, WI. As in previous years, we are excited to attend AirVenture to share the mission of SOAR and the significance of Mission Aviation as a whole. This year, our presence at the air show will be even stronger, with more of our staff and candidates joining us to create connections with other missionary organizations. Our primary goal is to foster relationships and partnerships within the mission aviation community. Additionally, we believe that God can use this event to intersect our path with individuals who have a calling for mission aviation and may consider joining SOAR. While the show itself is filled with fun and excitement, it also demands long days and continuous conversations. Please pray that God would use this event to open doors and create meaningful discussions for our current mission candidates, as well as for sharing the Gospel with those who have yet to know Jesus.

Stay connected with us throughout the week by following us on social media. If you’re planning to attend AirVenture, we would be thrilled to connect with you. Feel free to message us and let us know when you’ll be there so we can arrange a meet-up. We would love the opportunity to connect with our partners.

Taking it to the next level.

Since January of this year, Deb has been involved in coaching our mission candidates in Partnership Development. This area of readiness has been in her heart since the day we joined SOAR. We understand that without dedicated partners in prayer and financial support, serving on the mission field can be exceptionally challenging. Building a strong partnership team is no easy task, and while Deb has been using her skills effectively, we believe that additional training is needed to elevate this area within SOAR. Your prayers are crucial as we discern the best approach for enhancing our partnership development efforts. It may entail considering opportunities for Deb to attend classes during the busy fall or spring seasons, which will require time away from our family. We are committed to advancing mission aviation and equipping our mission candidates to make a lasting impact in unreached areas of the world. Your continued prayers and encouragement are appreciated as we strive to grow and serve.

Prayer Requests for the July:

1. AirVenture: Please pray for our leadership team as they travel to Osk Kosh, WI. Pray that our conversations with sending organizations are productive and move SOAR forward in the mission he has called us to.

2. Missionary Candidates: Lift up our missionary candidates who are currently undergoing training and preparation for their future service in the mission field. Pray for the ones who have not decided on the organization they are joining. Pray that this time at AirVenture creates clarity and direction for them.

3. Financial Provision: Join us in prayer for our financial needs at SOAR. Pray that God would provide abundantly, enabling us to meet our monthly budget and move closer to our financial target. Ask for open doors, divine connections, and generous hearts to support our ministry financially.

Prayer Requests for 2023:

1. Global Impact: Pray for an increased impact of our missionary pilots and mechanics in reaching unreached areas with the Gospel. Ask God to open doors for strategic partnerships, favorable relationships with local communities, and effective ministry opportunities. Pray lives would be transformed, and communities would be impacted through our ministry.

2. Spiritual Growth: Please pray for our personal spiritual growth and deepening relationship with God. Pray that we would have a hunger for His Word, a fervent prayer life, and a sensitivity to His leading. Ask for a greater understanding of His will for our lives and the strength to walk in obedience.

3. Wisdom in Decision-making: Seek God’s wisdom on our behalf as we make important decisions personally and professionally. Pray that we would have the discernment to make choices that align with His will and bring glory to His name. Ask for clarity, guidance, and confidence in the path that God has set before us.

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A huge win!

I feel like I have been saying this for the last few newsletters but this month has been busy! I am going to do my best to keep this brief.

IAMA Conference 2023

We recently had the privilege of attending the 52nd Annual IAMA Conference hosted by LeTourneau University in Longview, TX. This event brought together mission aviation professionals. This provided a platform for knowledge-sharing, networking, and collaborative discussions. Our time at the conference proved to be an inspiring and enlightening experience, reinforcing the vital role of aviation in advancing global missions. From talks on bridging the generational gap to industry insights and technological advancements, we are confident that the impact of the conference will be impactful throughout our ministry and beyond. We look forward to implementing the insights and lessons learned, furthering our mission to reach the unreached.

Julia’s SOLO

One of Seth’s goals before July was to get Julia to the solo stage of her training. There were many ups and downs for both of them but they worked and pushed forward to accomplish this goal. On June 13th Julia was able to solo her first flight. Her next goal will be to get her Private Pilot certificate. This accomplishment represents not only her personal growth and dedication but also signifies the progress we are making in training and equipping qualified Missionary Pilots.

Bailey’s Private

Another goal for Seth was to get Bailey done with his Private Pilot training. On June 16th Bailey took his check ride and received his Private Pilot certificate. Bailey continues to push toward his goal of getting to the mission field. While he still has 2-3 more certifications he is one step closer to it this month. These achievements demonstrate the tangible ways in which we are empowering individuals to become proficient pilots, ready to serve in the mission field.

AJ’s CFII

AJ is officially an Ethnos360 missionary! We have enjoyed having him back for the summer after 9 months of training with Ethnos 360 in Camdenton Mo. He and his family are a blessing to have at SOAR. On June 16th AJ also took his check ride for his CFII certification and passed. This was one of his final goals to complete at SOAR and with Madeline’s help, he was able to finish up his flight training. In the next month, we will be sending him with our blessing to McNeal, Arizona, Ethnos360Aviation’s home base. It has been energizing to see the work God is doing and that we are sending more pilots and mechanics to the field. It is through such milestones and accomplishments that we witness firsthand the impact of our ministry, as lives are changed, communities are touched, and the Gospel is spread to the ends of the earth. AJ and his family are evidence of this.

Prayer Requests for the June:

1. Wisdom and Guidance: Please pray for our leadership team as they make important decisions regarding the growth and direction of SOAR. Pray they would be filled with wisdom, discernment, and clarity as they navigate various challenges and opportunities.

2. Missionary Candidates: Lift up our missionary candidates who are currently undergoing training and preparation for their future service in the mission field. Pray that they would be equipped with the necessary skills, knowledge, and resilience to fulfill their calling. Ask for God’s protection, provision, and spiritual growth in their lives.

3. Financial Provision: Join us in prayer for our financial needs at SOAR. Pray that God would provide abundantly, enabling us to meet our monthly budget and move closer to our financial target. Ask for open doors, divine connections, and generous hearts to support our ministry financially.

Prayer Requests for 2023:

1. Global Impact: Pray for an increased impact of our missionary pilots and mechanics in reaching unreached areas with the Gospel. Ask God to open doors for strategic partnerships, favorable relationships with local communities, and effective ministry opportunities. Pray lives would be transformed, and communities would be impacted through our ministry.

2. Spiritual Growth: Please pray for our personal spiritual growth and deepening relationship with God. Pray that we would have a hunger for His Word, a fervent prayer life, and a sensitivity to His leading. Ask for a greater understanding of His will for our lives and the strength to walk in obedience.

3. Wisdom in Decision-making: Seek God’s wisdom on our behalf as we make important decisions personally and professionally. Pray that we would have the discernment to make choices that align with His will and bring glory to His name. Ask for clarity, guidance, and confidence in the path that God has set before us.

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A Busy Spring

Homeschoolers and a surprise visit!

Top-Left: Madeline sharing a little about aviation, Bottom-Left: Governor Parsons handing out medallions, Top-Middle: The governor and homeschool group in front of his airplane, Bottom-Middle: Kevin sharing his knowledge with some of the younger students, Right: coming in for a landing.

From time to time we have different groups come to the airport to tour the facilities. This past month we hosted a local homeschool group from Bolivar. We were able to show them the airport and some airplanes, while teaching them about mission aviation. While they were visiting we heard the Missouri Governor might be flying in. It is not abnormal for him to visit our airport as he has a house locally. However, we were not expecting him at the same time that the homeschool group was touring. We warned his security just in case there would be any security concerns. To our surprise, he wanted to stay and visit with the group. He let them tour his aircraft and gave them medallions. It was such a fun surprise for both us and the students.

Mail Drop and Simple Living!

Left: Little Truitt, Top-Left: Seth and Deb in front of the community space for this group, Bottom-Left: Inside AJ & Stephanie’s living space, Middle-Right: Our group visiting AJ’s home, Top-Right: Wood frames are all that is here when the families arrive, Bottom-Right: Stephanie decorated their home in scriptures inside and out.

This time of year at the Ethnos360 training center, the missionaries in training complete a Simple Living Experience. They are located in close to us Roach, MO. Several of our missionary candidates have chosen to serve with Ethnos360 so we are always excited to visit them near the end of their experience. Simple Living is 17 days where the students at Ethnos360 training center get to experience what it’s like to live in a remote village with their family. They are given a wood frame and they have to come up with the materials to live during these 17 days. Many families are young and have littles. During Simple Living this year, one of our missionary candidates, AJ, his wife Stephanie, and their 1-year-old little boy Truitt attended Simple Living. We were able to visit them during one of their last days. It was fun to see the house they built and all the things they rigged to make their space livable. During Simple Living SOAR partners with Ethnos360 to fly over and drop mail in the same way that many missionaries do on the field. The people living there do not have cell phone contact or access to any technology. So the letters they receive are a welcome encouragement to the families. AJ and his family have just finished the remainder of their training with Ethnos360 and have officially been accepted by their organization. Please pray for them as they begin their transition period.

This is a video Deb created in 2021 for the Mail Drop!

A new missionary trainee!

This month we welcomed Julia Cagasan to our group. She has been sent to us in partnership with JAARS to help her receive the flight portion of her training. This means that Seth will be finishing up Bailey’s Private Pilot at the same time he starts Julia’s Private Pilot. This makes for a busy season but we are grateful for God bringing us people that we will be helping send to the mission field.

Upcoming Events

Please pray as we plan for the IAMA conference. Pray for us as an organization to continue to create relationships as we connect with sending organizations. Also, pray that we personally will represent SOAR well to other organizations.

Help us make our Goal!

This year our goal number needs to increase to meet the impact of inflation on our family. This means we need to increase our partners. If you are currently a partner through either through prayer or financially would you consider 5 people who you think might want to hear about what we are doing at SOAR. We would also love to connect and share at your local church. If you are not currently partnering with us would you consider partnering with us through prayer or financially. Lastly, please pray that God will provide for our family to continue the work that He has called us to.

Ways to Give!
Contact Us!

Ways you can be praying for us & SOAR in 2023

• That God brings clarity and unity and we are able to find direction as a leadership team.
• That Seth is able to get his CFII done this year.
• That God grows and shapes our candidates to be used on the field and that he opens doors for them to be able to serve.

Ways you can be praying for us in May:

• That God will continue to provide the remaining partners needed.
• For the Safety of Seth and the students he is training.
• That God shows us direction for the next season here at SOAR.

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Equipping to serve faithfully!

Solo the plane

March began with a lot of excitement! After 6 weeks of pushing through bad weather and busy schedules, Bailey was finally able to solo! This was nerve-wracking for him and us. We were confident he was capable but there is always that lingering worry in the back of your head. With some feedback from some very capable CFIs, we pushed forward in preparing Bailey for the milestone. On March 1st, Bailey did 3 take-offs and landings while solo in the airplane. The weather was still not the best but he was more than prepared to accomplish this goal. This was a first for Seth and Bailey.We are praising God for this huge win. You can read Bailey’s side of things here.

Sharing our Journey

This month we had the chance to share our story at our home church. We were able to showcase what it is that we do at SOAR to a new group of people that haven’t necessarily heard our story. We were also able to bring Bailey with us and give the church a chance to see what we do and be able to put a face to our ministry. We haven’t had an opportunity to speak at any churches in a while and it was nice to be able to update them on what we are doing here at SOAR and showcase what they have been investing in through us at SOAR. We would love to be able to share what God is doing at other churches as well, if you are able to connect us with other churches we would appreciate our partners advocating for us in this area.

Airport Manager Conference

At the end of the month, We were able to attend the MoSAC/MAMA summit at Lake of the Ozarks. Airport managers from all over the state of Missouri gather here to build relationships and gather information on how to run their local airports more effectively. This was a great opportunity to learn how we can better steward the Bolivar Airport. It was also a great way to build relationships so that we could improve the airport to serve our missionary candidates better.

Upcoming Events

Please pray as we plan for the IAMA conference. Pray for us as an organization to continue to create relationships as we connect with sending organizations. Also, pray that we personally will represent SOAR well to other organizations.

Ways you can be praying for us in April:

• That God will continue to provide the remaining partners needed to get us fully funded.
• We will find ways to connect with Spring events ramping up.
• That God shows us direction for the next season here at SOAR.

Ways you can be praying for us & SOAR in 2023

• That God brings clarity and unity and we are able to find direction as a leadership team.
• That Seth is able to get his CFII done this year.
• That God grows and shapes our candidates to be used on the field and that he opens doors for them to be able to serve.

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Going on year 3!

For those of you who are new to our journey, we thought we would share a couple of videos about who we are and what we do.

This is a video we created about us personally and the beginning of our Missions journey.

A little bit about us from when we began.

This video features Nathan White who completed his training through SOAR. Do you know someone who wants to become a missionary pilot? This is a great resource.

The journey of a missionary pilot from one of our former missionary candidates.

This video is about another organization, Ethnos360, where three of our Missionaries are serving. Church planting and bible translation are a big part of their work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi2xVzWqxVg

We are so grateful to be a part of SOAR and to be able to partner in the work that these organizations are doing.

These are the faces of those we have sent from SOAR. Pray for them as they serve all over the world.
These are our current missionary candidates. Please pray for them as they work on gaining the skills, knowledge and attributes to serve on the mission field.

Looking Foward into 2023

Training new flight students from the start is both rewarding and nerve-racking. For the last 3 weeks, Seth and Bailey have been working hard on Bailey’s first flight milestone, his first solo. The weather has been challenging with freezing conditions and high winds limiting the days that are beneficial for Bailey this early in his training. Pray that in the next weeks, he can achieve this milestone. Seth will also begin working on his CFII rating which will allow him to teach pilots to fly in instrument conditions.

Seth and Kerrick Tweedy our CEO have been working together weekly to teach Seth some of the business aspects of SOAR. This allows Seth to take some of the daily operational load from Kerrick and allows Kerrick to do more strategic partnership and relationship building. Kerrick has taken up the role of helping the International Association of Missionary Aviation(IAMA) as CEO to help guide the overall industry to new horizons. This doesn’t interfere with his role at SOAR but it helps it. It aligns with our vision as SOAR to be more intentional in providing readiness to non-traditional candidates.

Top Left: Our first day Jan 2021. Top Right: Kerrick and Seth sharing SOAR’s story. Bottom Left: Bailey and Seth. Bottom Right: IAMA’s tent at EAA AirVenture.

When we began this journey 2 years ago we weren’t quite sure what God had in store for us. As we begin this new year we are looking back to see how God has been faithful. From getting us here on his time to launching mission candidates. In all of it, he has proven that he is doing the work at SOAR.
As we begin this next year please pray for us. Pray for unity within our team. Pray for God’s Will, that it would be the direction we are constantly aiming for. Pray for our missionary candidates currently training, and the missionaries we have launched to the field. Pray for safety. Pray for families and marriages. Pray that God’s name is made big both here at home and abroad. We are so thankful we get to partner with him in what he is doing. We are so thankful for those of you who have chosen to partner and help us do what God has called us to. We could not do it without you.

Contact Us!
Ways to Give!

Ways you can be praying for us & SOAR in 2023

• That God brings clarity and unity and we are able to find direction as a leadership team.
• That Seth is able to get his CFII done this year.
• That God grows and shapes our candidates to be used on the field and that he opens doors for them to be able to serve.

Ways you can be praying for us in February:

• That God will continue to provide the remaining partners needed.
• That we can make time for family.
• That God shows us direction for the next season here at SOAR.

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Big News and Transitions

Summer to Fall

Wow, We feel like we have been running at 100 MPH since the Spring. This spring we gave ourselves a deadline for Seth’s training and that meant that we have used our extra focus on that since then. That doesn’t mean we have slowed down in other areas it just means pulling up our bootstraps and doing our regular jobs along with allowing for time for training. It’s been hard but well worth the effort. 

EAA Airventure 2022 was a success. We met with lots of other organizations, shared what SOAR is doing with a local group, served in our booth, and got to see some pretty cool things. We are so grateful for the opportunity to serve SOAR in this way.

During the summer we participated in Oshkosh EAA Airventure. This was our second year attending and it proved to be a great week of engagement with other organizations. This is always one of our priorities when we go. 

In the fall we started another year of school. This marks our 9th year of homeschooling. Bella began 8th grade and Jordis began Pre-K. We also added volleyball to our school schedule, it’s been such a joy to watch Bell learn and grow in something she enjoys

In October we spent an evening at the Ethnos360 training center in Camdenton, Mo. It was such a great night of fun and fellowship. We were thankful for the opportunity to see their facility and to get to know these missionary pilots who are being trained to be sent. The partnership between SOAR and Ethnos360 will help us to be able to send more missionaries to the field.

Cookout time at the Ethnos360 training center in Camdenton, MO

Lastly, we have been serving with the youth and production teams at LifePoint. We have been doing this for several years and we love serving in this way. Students always challenge us to grow in our faith. Worship production gives us an opportunity to use our talents and skills in unique ways.

This summer and fall have been extra busy with events. We have loved this season of serving with the youth.

Big news and Transitions

It’s official! Seth has completed his CFI certification. We will fully admit we were not sure if we would make this deadline. The instructor we were using pushed hard and we are so thankful for that. We are also grateful for each instructor who poured into Seth. Without them, this could not have happened. We genuinely believe that each of them was brought to us at just the right time. Each one contributed to his training in a way that we believe will benefit SOAR in the long run. All of it for God’s glory and mission.

Greg and Micki Shetterly have been such a huge blessing to us and to SOAR this year. Micki is an experienced flight instructor and Greg is a flight examiner. Both have been pushing Seth to not only complete his training but to also go above and beyond so that SOAR can be a good steward of the candidates that God brings to us.

This month Seth will begin training his first missionary candidate, Bailey! We feel such a sigh of relief and excitement and we begin serving in a different capacity at SOAR. Seth’s roles that will continue are safety, some airport/city management, and now adding flight instruction. Right now he is tasked with the big job of organizing the fight curriculum. Thankfully he won’t be doing this alone. The group of instructors that have been so vital in getting him to his goal are also going to be involved in getting the curriculum organized. We are ready for this new challenge and ready to see how God uses us in this new season.  The last transition will be one more rating. The next goal is CFII. This will be during the same time he begins training Bailey. This one is not as time sensitive so we are hoping to have a bit of reprieve while we focus on other goals personally.

Bailey George has been with SOAR since the spring. He will be Seth’s first student as we work toward training Missionary Aviators.

Partnership Focus

As we wrap up this last goal of getting Seth’s ratings done we are now shifting our focus to getting new partners. This will be a lifelong journey as we continue to work at SOAR. We need YOUR help. If you know of someone who might be interested in our story or what we are doing at SOAR please let us know. You are also welcome to share this newsletter with them! If you are not currently a partner with us through prayer or financial support we would love to share our story with you. Please contact us for more information. Thank you to everyone who has partnered with us on this journey. You have been such a support and blessing to us in ways we could never repay. Thank you!

Contact Us!
Ways to Give!

Ways you can be praying for us & SOAR in 2022

• That God cultivates relationships and we are able to find direction as a leadership team.
• That Seth is able to finish his ratings and begin the work that he feels God has called him into.
• That God grows and shapes our candidates to be used on the field and that he opens doors for them to be able to serve.

Ways you can be praying for us in November:

• That God will continue to provide the remaining partners needed.
• That we can find rest in this busy season.
• That God shows us direction for the next season here at SOAR.

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