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By Kelly Filgo, November 8, 2010

Dear Friends of Wings for Christ International Flight Academy,

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

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By Kelly Filgo, October 22, 2010

Wednesday night (10/20/2010) it was all smiles at the Wings for Christ airport when student pilot Matt Dillon soloed for the first time. The day was picture perfect as the sun hung low in the West, just before sundown. Matt said that for the first time in his student pilot career, there was no crosswind at all and he buttered his first landing.

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.

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By Kelly Filgo, June 7, 2010

Last Tuesday, June 1st, the population of Waco, Texas increased by two when Matt and Kimberlie Dillon arrived in town. The two day drive from Minnesota was shared with their parents who came to help get them settled. Apart from being a little nervous about jumping right into the Texas summer, the Dillons are happy to be here and are excited about the doors God has opened for them in Waco.

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!