Monte opening the event with a prayer.

MMMM... Brisket, sausages, and all the extras.

Monte introducing Matt and Kim.

Sandy Michael (left) and Sue Snyder (right) listen with Dorothy Wied to her husband Glenn talk about God's grace.

Bluegrass gospel musicians Dale and Lauren Barron.

Brad Westom delivering his encouragements for Wings for Christ.

Keith Hull, sometime around 1970.

Student Venicio Salazar's daughter makes a new friend.

Wings for Christ: friends and family

Gracie Bird and Mercy Bird made an appearance on static display, since both airplanes are in the middle of maintenance projects. One airplane braved the forecast stormy weather (which never materialized) and was proudly displayed right by the highway.

Many friends of Wings for Christ were there, both old and new. One gentleman from Arizona even dropped in as he was driving by on the highway. He said he saw airplanes and people and just had to find out what was happening. Isn’t it awesome that when we follow God, we are part of one big family?

Pastor and advanced student Rick Cobb gave testimony of how gaining his private certificate at WfC has directly improved his ministry of mentoring pastors at small rural churches all over Texas. Beginning student Matt Dillon and his wife Kim shared the story of how God led Matt to Wings when Kim applied to the Baylor Graduate School of Music, allowing both of them to pursue their callings at the same time. A letter was read from long time Wings friend Max Boggs, who couldn’t attend, but was there in spirit. Rick Caywood brought his big rig 18-wheeler, which he uses to haul freight to food banks all over the country, out for display. He also shared tales of God’s mercy and grace when he and Monte Michael were stranded for three days in west Texas by an ice storm during a long cross country flight.

Also in attendance were Glenn and Dorothy Wied. Glenn and Dorothy came all the way from Galeana, Mexico, where they serve churches and families, for the event. We were blessed to receive encouragement and inspiration from their story of God’s faithfulness in their lives during many years of service.

We also heard from several sporting “unscheduled” speakers that Brother Monte cajoled into giving testimonies as well. Many thanks to Ron and Jackie Banks, Ron and Sue Snyder, Greg and Vicki Smith, and Joel New, who all told their stories of involvement with WfC.

A special treat was listening to some wonderful bluegrass style gospel music as we were led into a time of worship with Waco musicians Dale and Lauren Barron, who graced us with their amazing talents. You can listen to one of their songs by clicking here.

Keynote speaker Brad Westom, former Wings staffer and current Mission Aviation Fellowship pilot, shared how the Lord’s call on our lives is the most important part of any mission. Brad also encouraged us to keep Wings from becoming a hobby, but rather that we stay willing to respond and work hard on our calling here. He challenged us to find out first hand that when we are about God’s calling we find energy and joy that we would never find on our own strength. You can listen to his entire message by clicking here.

The event closed with Barbara Hull giving an excellent history of Wings for Christ and encouragement to keep up the work that God placed on her husband Keith’s heart so many years ago.

All in all, we had a wonderful day of remembering our past, thanking God for the friends we have made along the way, and dreaming about our future. God has been gracious every step of the way.

Let me explain…

About a year ago, the folks at Google added our airport to the area map of Waco. Ever since, we have been getting lots of calls from people interested in what we do. On February 26, 2011, some of those people came to visit the airport, learn more about us, and take a ride in Gracie.

Holly, Hannah, and Brittany, three friends from Liberty Hill, Texas, founded and co-write a blog about being twenty-something Christian women and what an adventure it is to seek God and live out faith every day. The blog is called “faith in between” and you can link to it here.

Hannah, Brittany and Holly posing with Gracie.

They were going to be driving through Waco on their way home from a women’s conference (or “feminar” as they called it) and spotted the airport on Google Maps. Visiting a mission flight academy was just the kind of thing they wanted to share with their readers, so after a few emails were exchanged, everything was set up for their visit, which would include a ride around the area in our Cessna 150 trainer.

Unfortunately, the weather was a little grim, with low ceilings. Not wanting to get caught away from the airport if things got below minimums, we kept the flights to the WfC pattern. The good news was that the air was like silk. Brittany and Holly had never flown in a small plane before, so a smooth ride was welcomed.

A fast pass over the threshold. You get a good idea of how close the highway is to the runway.

Flaps down and preparing for the flare.

Holly and Kelly. She looks a little excited!

Holly was very excited to go on her first small airplane ride and said she would tell her pastor back in Liberty Hill, who is a pilot himself, all about the visit. Hopefully we will create a long lasting connection with our new friends.

Thanks, Google Maps!

Please join us this Saturday, November 13, from 11:00am to 2:00pm for a casual gathering at the Wings for Christ airport. We will be serving hamburger plates for a suggested donation of $5 (just to cover the cost of the lunch) with drinks, chips, fruit and dessert. We should be in store for some fantastic Fall weather, so come on out and enjoy it with us.

We would love to spend some time with you this weekend, getting caught up, showing you around the airport, playing some games, reliving some great flying memories, and worshiping our Lord in song and fellowship. You can fly, drive, ride a bike or even hike (some of you, anyway). And you may have a chance to go for a ride in Gracie Bird, our Cessna 150 primary trainer.

I would encourage you to take a break from whatever busy schedule you may have and come enjoy the good cheer and fellowship with other friends of Wings for Chris this weekend. You won’t be sorry! And the Baylor football game doesn’t start until 7pm, so you’ll have plenty of time before it starts.

The Wings for Christ International Flight Academy airport is located northeast of Waco on US Highway 84, right at the Mexia/Corsicana split. Click here for more detailed information about the airport.

Please respond to this email if you want to come over for lunch on Saturday, so that we can plan accordingly. May you be blessed, whatever your plans for the weekend. We hope to see you there.

In Christ,

Kelly Filgo
Development Director
Wings for Christ International Flight Academy

Matt Dillon brings in Gracie Bird after three successful takeoffs and landings.

Matt knew that the solo attempt was going to be made that night, so his wife Kimberlie was able to watch and cheer him on. Also, a friend was in the area dove hunting and he stopped by as well to see Matt’s hard work pay off. Matt said, “The conditions couldn’t have been more perfect. Winds were calm and I had a great view of a gorgeous sunset. My wife and friends were on hand to support and congratulate me. My instructor, Monte, has invested a tremendous amount of time and care into preparing me for this day. God has gifted me the opportunity to pursue this passion of mine and I am thankful.”

Matt and Kim are all smiles. Congratulations, Matt!

Matt and Kim relocated to Waco from Duluth, Minnesota so that Matt could be a student pilot at Wings for Christ and Kim could attend graduate school at Baylor. Getting used to the Texas weather has been a challenge for Matt, who misses the crisp fall season of his home state. Kim, however, is glad to have a warmer climate to enjoy.

Monte Michael, Matt’s flight instructor, said that he has been a great student to work with. “Matt is a natural pilot and a very quick study,” Said Monte. “He told me that his solo flight experience was surreal. It was so smooth, that all he had to do was point and shoot and the plane did what it was supposed to do.”

Matt and Kim plan to enter the aviation mission field and serve overseas when their educations are completed in Waco. Until then, we are glad to have them in the Wings for Christ family.

Matt and Kimberlie Dillon

Matt and Kimberlie recently graduated from the University of Minnesota in Duluth; Matt with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and Kim with her Bachelor of Music in Oboe Performance. Recently, Matt was kind enough to be interviewed for the Wings website. Here is what we talked about…

WfC- What are your hometowns and how long have you been married?

Matt- I am from Duluth, MN, and Kim grew up in Preston, Minnesota. We’ve been married since July 11th, 2009 at about 3:32pm CST.

WfC- You are beginning flight training at Wings for Christ, but Kim has a special reason for coming to Waco as well, right?

Matt- Kim is getting her Master of Music degree in Oboe Performance at Baylor School of Music and she will be a graduate assistant there.

WfC- Many mission organizations require their pilots to hold an Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic’s certificate. Will you pursue that while in Waco?

Matt- I’ve thought about taking my A&P at TSTC, but I’m waiting for now… it’s undecided where, but eventually, I would like to pursue that.

WfC- How did you find out about Wings for Christ? When did you apply to become a student here?

Matt- I was searching for flight schools in the Waco area and your website was the first result. I applied back in February, 2010. I was very excited to apply as God had been laying aviation missions on Kim’s and my heart more and more recently.

WfC- Tell us more about that.

Matt- I’ve always been interested in aviation since I was little. I first heard about mission aviation through mission organization representatives at various airshows. I always thought it would be a great thing to do and knew I would love doing it, but I never felt called to it or that God was opening any doors at that time. It wasn’t until I spoke with a Mission Aviation Fellowship representative at a missionary conference called Urbana this past December that I felt God opening doors. The MAF representative and I talked at length about the possibility and what the process would entail. I applied and was accepted to the School of Mission Aviation Technology in Ionia, MI. However, God kept opening doors for my wife at Baylor. I struggled with this as I still felt called to aviation ministry and was wondering if I would have to put it on the back burner while my wife finished grad school. Trusting God, we moved forward with the Baylor process, and it was during this time that I found Wings for Christ. We’re praising God for his faithfulness and how he works beyond our understanding. Kim is now able to get her Master’s degree the same time I am investing in my training as a pilot. We feel called to mission aviation, but not much more has been revealed to us than that. We are taking these next steps in faith. We would like to pursue service with the MAF in the future.

WfC- Have you or Kim been involved in any previous mission work?

Matt- I have been to a few different Habitat for Humanity projects and had done some relief work in New Orleans after Katrina. Kim has been overseas, not specifically as a missionary, but has been in music trips and has played in several countries including Turkey. We have done ministry on campus with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, and have been involved ministry at our church.

WfC- What are you most excited about when it comes to learning to fly? Most scared of?

Matt- The best part of learning to fly will be working in something I am passionate about. I love aviation. The scariest part about training for mission aviation is learning to trust God in everything- in finances; in where we will be serving, whether in the US or overseas; in safety; in ministry; etc. We have continually seen God’s work in our lives in times of trial and have grown because of it. However, it is still a scary thing to not be in control and have to rely so heavily on God. Both my wife and I are very mission-minded. Kim’s passion is music and my passion is in aviation. For us to use our passions and gifts for God’s glory is something very fulfilling.

WfC- How will your bachelors (and Kim’s Master’s) degrees play a part in your mission goals?

Matt- I have a degree in engineering that I hope to use on the mission field. Whether in maintenance of aircraft, or as a “tent making” job in a closed country. Similarly, Kim hopes to use her education in music overseas. If in a closed country, she hopes to learn their music styles, play in their professional orchestras, or open her own studio to teach music lessons. We have been looking to join the MAF and after talking with them, we found that they not only need pilots, but they also need technology specialists and teachers. Kim’s Master in Music degree will equip her to teach, something that can be used by the MAF for missionary kids overseas, who need English-speaking teachers.

WfC- What do you think about your new home of Waco?

Matt- After visiting Waco during Kim’s audition at Baylor, we fell in love with the people down here. God was opening so many connections for us that we feel like Waco is already becoming a home to us. I’m deathly afraid of temperatures above 70 degrees, but Kim loves warm weather and should feel right at home. She just got a job at the local YMCA as a lifeguard and instructor for this summer.

WfC- Have you found a church home yet?

Matt- We’ve visited Antioch and liked it, but we have not decided on a church yet. Kim and I both have a desire to become heavily involved in a church while we are living in Waco.

We hope this has helped to introduce you to our new friends Matt and Kimberlie Dillion. They are a great couple who are humbly preparing themselves for a life of service to Jesus. We are so thankful that God has brought them into the Wings for Christ family. Please help us welcome them to town. Waco is blessed to have them!

“Not everyone can participate in national and international missions, so this is a way the missions committee at Highland can expose the congregation to places close to home where they can be involved,” said Fuentes. Nearly one hundred and fifty volunteers gathered at the church this morning and were sent out all over the Waco area to learn about and serve local missions and ministries. Mission Waco, Care Net of Central Texas, Generations of Hope and many other groups were visited by groups from Highland. The volunteers were allowed to pick which organizations they wanted to serve, and many were interested in learning more about Wings for Christ.

The painters at work.

The team that came to Wings today worked mostly in three areas. One group made tremendous progress in our painting and rust prevention project in the maintenance hangar, painting all the exposed metal frame of of the structure from the top of the walls down a deep green color to match the exterior trim. A large part of the metal rafters were painted as well, but a lack of tall ladders prevented reaching the peak areas. The group even painted the air compressor to match and it looks like it is brand new.

Another group removed old sheet metal and wood from the old tee hangar. This is the first step of renovating the hangar in preparation for its use as the future home of Burt’s Blessing, our Cessna 172 project plane. This was difficult and dangerous work, and we appreciate the folks who climbed ladders and swung hammers to get the work done.

Removing sheet metal from the old hangar.

The final group worked on something you might not associate with the ins and outs of running a flight school, but is very vital to our mission. They worked with Cheryl Hull on a historic preservation scrap-booking project, taking multiple dozens of old pictures and newspaper clippings and organizing them into a visual history of Wings for Christ. Many of the images are from the early 1960′s and the very beginning of Wings for Christ. Cheryl filled in the details and the volunteers cut and clipped the pictures into a wonderful set of pages documenting our nearly 50 year history.

Making history with scrap-booking.

Overall, the volunteers from Highland Baptist Church put in over 60 hours of volunteer time in just a few short hours. They also had a chance to learn more about Wings for Christ International Flight Academy and how we are serving Jesus Christ through aviation.

All of the people at Wings for Christ would like to thank these great volunteers and Highland Baptist for their work and support. We welcome you back any time for more opportunities to serve or just to visit and do some hangar flying.

Update 11/19/07:
Kate Bronstein memorial service at First Baptist Church, Spring, Tx. A memorial scholarship fund had been established at Baylor University in Kate’s name.

Please keep this family in your prayers.