Why Oshkosh

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Is the goal of missions to glorify God by establishing thriving churches where there are none?

What good things are NOT happening where the Church has not been planted and where there are no Christians?

Our objective as mission mobilizers is to find people who will join us in reaching the people of unreached language groups.

When thriving churches are established among these people groups then they, too, will be joining us in the “good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Eph. 2:10

So, do you want to plant a thriving church near the ends of the earth…?

Would aviation be helpful in accomplishing the mission? Are aircraft essential?

Well if you live near the ends of the earth, it really helps to have an aircraft to get there!

Yes!  Aviation is essential in some places. Without aviation, many of the missionary families would not be able to work where they work. Surface travel takes its toll physically in many ways and greatly slows the work. Rugged terrain, muddy muggers, treacherous trails, raging rivers, biting bamboo, ravaging rodents, malicious mosquitoes, irritating illnesses, all take their toll, demanding tribute.

Aircraft often cost more money, initially, until you consider the total cost in medical bills, recovery at more expensive accommodations, and time away from doing what you were intending to accomplish.

A minute in an aircraft can save a missionary an hour of surface travel. An hour in an aircraft can save a missionary a week of surface travel. So, aircraft greatly speed the work of establishing thriving churches where there are none.

It’s the same for indigenous missionaries. The work is just as difficult for them, or more so. Without aviation the physical losses in health, time and opportunities are great.

Our task is urgent. Time is important.  …Not only because of saving lives in urgent, life-saving of medical evacuations, but even more urgently because of the eternal destiny of the dying. The less time it takes to evangelize and equip disciple-makers, the more of an impact we will have on the people in the many unreached language groups of this generation.

The thing is, we need people fly and fix those aircraft.

We need bookkeepers to handle the finances, coordinators to schedule flights, builders to construct buildings, teachers to teach children, administrators to administrate, parts managers to track parts, shippers to ship supplies, electricians to keep the lights on, IT managers to keep us communicating effectively and  a host of other skilled people to keep the teams moving forward toward our objective. A Thriving Church for Every People.

We need people… willing hearted people… skilled people… people of faith… people who are steady because of a steadfast conviction that God can and will use them as His vessels to accomplish His purposes among unreached people groups.

Where will we find those people?

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Each year in July, Oshkosh, Wisconsin hosts the largest gathering of civilian aircraft in the world. During the EAA Air Venture convention, there are aircraft in every direction as far as you can see, and beyond.  People come from countries all over the world come to see the latest in technological advances, purchase equipment, observe numerous air shows or just enjoy people and their aircraft.
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To make it possible for aviation missionaries to minister at this convention, local churches near Oshkosh work together in an organized effort under the Mission Aviation Support Association. They provide, for over one hundred missionaries, housing in homes, transportation to and from airports, cars to borrow, opportunities to speak, labor to set up tents for ministry, three meals a day and other services during the weeklong event.
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At Oshkosh, we meet people who have a strong interest in aviation but may know very little about missionary aviation. Many know little about eternal life through Christ. Most have little knowledge of the remote unreached language groups of people whom we serve.
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We set up a display in a large tent with missionary aircraft outside. As people come by, we talk to them about using aviation to transport the missionary messengers and the people they serve. Friends, supporters, and senders stop by to get re-acquainted or talk about their missionaries and missions experiences. As they meander through the tent, passers-by learn about the condition of the lost, the sufficiency of Christ alone to meet their need, and the urgency of teamwork to deliver the Good News message where Christ is not known.
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As missionaries, we have a lot of interaction with our host families, the churches where we speak, the people who serve us meals, other missionaries from around the world and the people who come by to learn about missionary aviation. We invite people to attend forums which we host at local churches where they can learn more about what God has done, and is doing, through Ethnos360 Aviation.
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Potential missionary aviators often come by our tent intentionally to talk about qualifications, training and missions. We give them information about the unreached tribes and Ethnos360 Aviation.
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Aviation schools, flight and maintenance instructors, school recruiters, pilots in training, aircraft mechanics, and students are likely to be at Oshkosh in abundance.
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Some attendees are looking for ways to help us in serving as missionaries themselves. Some are already in training to be future missionaries. People from whom we purchase aircraft or parts may be there where relationships can be renewed or strengthened. A few aspiring pilots and mechanics are there actively seeking God’s direction for their lives. Skilled aviation enthusiasts will also be there.  Perhaps they might be interested in working with us; if only they knew what we do.
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We often speak in local churches near Oshkosh.  Ethnos360 (as NTM) has a long history in Wisconsin, so we often meet people at the air show who are familiar with our work and are eager to hear what God has been doing as a result of their prayers and support. Sometimes we host an event at a local church and bring in a renowned speaker such as Gracia Burnham to talk about missionary aviation and her experiences.
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Being there enables us to talk to Christians about God’s heart for the remote people of the world, to renew friendships with alumni, update friends of the mission with current stories of what God is doing, bolster the support of fellow missionaries who are from the area, encourage nearby missionaries who are on Home assignment, and multiply the number of people in the mission aviation community who are aware of what we are doing.
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Sometimes the best part is sharing the Good News with someone who has not heard and wants to hear.  We love to give the best news in the world: A Holy God, who goodness is so great that those of us who are helplessly unrighteous cannot approach Him, has provided payment for our sins and clothing in perfect righteousness. Jesus paid it all!
We get to invite others to join us or help us with the distribution of the Good News among people groups who have no other access to hear it.
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Please pray for the Ethnos360 Aviation team as they speak to inform, inspire, invite people to glorify God and reach the unreached.
Pray that God will send the people He wants the team to talk to.
Pray for stronger relationships with churches who will send missionaries.
Pray for laborers to help the missionary teams with planting thriving churches where there are none.
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Ethnos360 Aviation – http://ethnos360aviation.org/
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