While world missions look very different today than they did in Orville and Wilbur Wright’s day, the impact of the Wright brothers’ invention on global ministry can’t be overstated. JAARS (Jungle Aviation and Relay Service), one of the pioneers of missionary aviation, remains one of a very few organizations that can “cover the last mile” so that off-the-grid missionaries can reach the world’s most isolated and marginalized people. Today, in multiple ways, JAARS now provides active support to roughly one-third of all mission aviation efforts worldwide. As the U.S. celebrates National Aviation Day on Orville Wright’s birthday, JAARS’ honors its partnerships in the aviation industry that make this work possible.
“Based here in the same state as the famous first flight, we celebrate the Wright Brothers’ extraordinary achievement, making what we do today possible,” said JAARS president Steve Russell, a decorated Army veteran, and former US Representative. “In addition to our operations using special-purpose aircraft, boats and off-road vehicles to deliver God’s word, to convey missionaries, or to supply villages, we are grateful to collaborate with multiple ministry and aviation partners as we help each other recruit, train, equip, deploy, and sustain the worldwide effort.”
Millions of people around the world live beyond the reach of an airline flight, boat charter or bus route, with no access to God’s Word. The distance between these unreached people groups and the Gospel is what JAARS refers to as the “last mile of missions.” JAARS covers this last mile using specialized aircraft, boats and off-road vehicles to reach across these transportation barriers.
JAARS operates in the green band of the world’s rainforest climates. This includes regions with mountainous terrain, wide expanses of open ocean, treacherous rivers and little to no roads, public transportation or communications infrastructure. They carry Bible translators, other missionaries and vital supplies into these communities that are hungry for God’s Word.
Russell explains the purpose for this mission: “What we do is difficult, dangerous, and expensive, but we do it because we long to see God’s love and glory overcome all barriers, enabling people from every tribe and tongue to have a relationship with the Creator and to know the truth of His Word.”
As one of the aviation industry companies partnering with JAARS in its mission, StarHagen Aerospace and the Anderson family express their support for the ministry with their National Aviation Day matching gift. “Our family has committed to match every donation between now and Aug. 19 in honor of National Aviation Day, so that others’ gifts will go twice as far to train mission pilots, maintain aircraft and support Bible translation worldwide,” said Scott and Randi Anderson. “We believe in this ministry – it’s changing lives and we are so honored to be a part of it.”
Individuals can give toward the National Aviation Day matching gift at www.jaars.org/match.
