Josh’s Testimony
I grew up in Texas as an airplane nut and a Pastor’s kid. I was saved when I was 12, and when I was 13, I started wondering if God might want me in Mission Aviation. My Mom homeschooled me and my six younger brothers, and I took every opportunity to turn my math and science lessons toward aviation. By the time I turned 16, aviation had totally consumed me. I didn’t have money to fly, but I did the best I could with a computer flight simulator and an imagination, until one day God stepped in. He showed me very clearly that aviation, rather than a passion for Christ, was consuming me, and he asked me to lay down my desire to fly. Reluctantly at first, I obeyed. The next four years were busy ones. Finishing school, various training opportunities, mission trips, and ministering with our pastor filled my thoughts and my time.
During the summer of 2000 I began seeking God for his purpose for my life. I knew he wanted me in ministry, but I didn’t know where. That Fall, God brought Candy Stoker back into my life after her family had been in Wyoming for six years. She was seventeen, I was twenty and we both had a passion for missions. We quickly grew to be best friends, and discovered that God was leading both of us to the Mission Field. God again made it clear to me that he was leading me back into aviation, this time for his glory. I began pursuing all of the training and licenses that I would need as a pilot and mechanic serving overseas, and my relationship with Candy continued to grow.
We were married in February of 2003 and completed training with New Tribes Mission in 2007. Our two children were born during our years in training. In 2009 we moved to the Philippines. After spending a year in language and culture study, we finally began the ministry we spent 10 years preparing for!
After flying and serving primarily through aviation for several years, in 2018 the Lord began moving us into new roles. I now serve as Director of Maintenance for our Philippines flight program, as well as serving on the leadership team that oversees all of our church planting in the Philippines.
We are thrilled to be part of winning Christ’s Bride out of every tribe nation and language.
Candy’s Testimony
I was born in Texas and have lived there most of my life. My dad was a pastor for 8 years in Wyoming and that is where I spent most of my teenage years. When I was nine, my family started to take in kids who needed a family. It started out as just my brother and I and now there are 16 of us kids. So now, I have 8 brothers and 7 sisters. We have a lot of special memories together as a family, but also a lot of painful things that we have walked through. It has been hard at times, but I know that God has used these things to make me more like Jesus. I love my parents and each of my brothers and sisters very dearly. They mean the world to me.
At the age of 19, I married the most wonderful man in the world whom I had known since I was 4. We have two beautiful children, who keep me on my toes (to say the least). I love, love, love my hubby and kiddos!
Growing up, I always remember being interested in missions and what God was doing in the far places of the earth. As a teenager, I began really seeking God for what He had for me and I was sure He wanted me to be a missionary. I had heard about New Tribes Mission, now Ethnos360, as a kid, but experienced them for myself when I went on a summer trip to Papua New Guinea at 17. There, God confirmed that this is for sure what He wanted me to do. As, I began to pursue that call, God again brought across my path the young man who is now my husband. He was also interested in missions and particularly aviation. Lo and behold, NTM had an aviation program and so, wala! Here we are. We moved to the Philippines in July of 2009. After studying Tagalog, the national language, for a year, we moved to the island of Palawan, where we lived for 6 years serving the missionaries through aviation. We now live on the island of Mindanao where our ministry is to disciple and help new missionaries coming to the field, provide leadership for our missionaries here in the Philippines, and oversee maintenance on the helicopters. I stay busy supporting Josh, having people over, & homeschooling our two teenagers. Our God has been so faithful and we look forward to taking each step on this adventure with Him!
My name is Joshua & I am 14 years old. I just finished 8th grade. I enjoy playing guitar and drums, and being with friends. Basketball is my favorite sport, and I play or watch games any change I get.
My name is Christiana, but everyone calls me Anna or Sweet Pea. I am 12 and just finished 7th grade. I love to read, write novels and short stories, and act. I also like knitting, crafts, & baking. I love singing and am beginning violin lessons.