What's Up With Alex - September 2010

A Job Well Done

Today was the last day of my summer employment at Epps Aviation. I worked as an aircraft mechanic at Peachtree-Dekalb Airport (PDK) in Chamblee of Atlanta, Georgia.  PDK is the second busiest airport in the state and we had plenty of customers with broken airplanes. The best part of this job was not merely the financial boost it had for my next phase of flight training but instead was the learning experience. One day I could be in a jungle miles from the nearest airport providing mechanic service. Who am I supposed to call when a tire blows or I find a fuel leak? Who is supposed to change the oil and maintain the proper working condition of every pulley and cable and rod? One day I could be the only door of an entire group of indigenous people to clean water, medicine, and most importantly the gospel. If that door breaks, I ought to be able to fix it for the sake of the salvation of a tribe. I have certainly learned, at least the basics, of how to do many of these essential mechanical tasks to maintain an aircraft.

I will be heading back to Liberty University next Saturday to continue my flight training and bachelors degree. Junior year here I come! 

Also my biannual newsletter (summer edition) should be on the way within the next two weeks. If you would like to be added to the mailing list please Contact Me. Please list if you would like additional copies for church bulletins, etc.

Passing on a Legacy

This is a special blog post in that it is not about me but about an individual who has invested in me. Jerry Cooper, my grandfather, is the man who introduced me to aviation. Since I was very young he would pour his aviation knowledge into me pointing out how an airplane flew or how an engine worked. He would begin giving me official flight instruction by the time I was 16 and eventually led me to obtaining my private pilot license when I was 19. About one year and a week after he soloed me he once again left me, but this time I remained on the ground as he flew off to glory. My grandfather and dear flight instructor Jerry Cooper (ATC, INST, CFI, CFII, ME, MEI, ATP) unexpectedly passed away on May 21, 2010. The last time he flew was with me at the controls of a C-150 on May 14 just before sunset, exactly one week before his death.

Jerry was a huge fan and avid reader of Terry Thompson's The Aviator's Devotional. The 29th day of the devotional is entitled "Passing on a Legacy." It speaks of all the great aviation legends and industry leaders that have shaped how we see aviation today. It also speaks of the importance of passing on our personal legacy to children and grandchildren, and that's exactly what he did. He invested in all of his children, grandchildren, and especially me by instructing me all the way through to my private pilot license. He taught his wife, three children and a granddaughter all the way up to the point of solo. I can't attempt to explain how I feel that Jerry has passed and has essentially passed down the mantle to me as being a pilot. But what I do know is he fulfilled his calling, if nothing else in my life. He got me my license, helped me to get my newsletters started to raise support for my missionary endeavors, and most recently helped me secure the job here at Epps aviation. He definitely got me started rolling and established in the aviation industry and there's no stopping now.

Terry Thompson takes his devotional one step further. He implores us to "ensure that our spiritual legacy is planted deeply in the minds and hearts of those who are following in our foot steps." If Jerry were not a pilot he would still have much legacy to pass on. He was a spiritual father to many and he ensured he passed his spiritual legacy by gifting a New Living Bible to each of his children and grandchildren with his hand-scripted favorite verses in the front page. Thompson's devotional ends with this verse:

Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come. Psalm 71:17-18

Jerry never felt that he was necessarily called to missions but he had a heart for sharing the gospel just the same. He had a role in many coworkers' lives as a corporate pilot and had a huge influence on countless students he instructed. No one left a flight with Jerry without first learning about how an airplane works and second learning how large an effect God had on his life. He may not have been on the front lines as a missionary pilot but you can be assured he was watering the gospel everywhere he flew. And what better way to pass that legacy on than for his grandson and flight student to take a part of him to the mission field as a missionary pilot.

Over the Hump!

I have officially completed two full years at an institution of higher learning. Liberty University has treated me well  these past four semesters and I'm half way through! It has had its ups and downs and curve-balls just as any period of life but I emerge accelerated for what is to come. For those of you interested in knowing I have a mere 53 credits till completion and I currently have a 3.04 GPA. This past semester I have studied Jazz, Statistics, Physics, GPS Navigation, and Aerodynamics. The Physics course was highly enjoyable for me as I was able to relate the physical processes of the world scientifically to both aviation and music. My GPS and Aerodynamics courses were taught by my aviation professor Kurt Reesman. His excellent instruction has challenged my assumptions and encouraged me to study for myself especially in his assigned paper The History of Aerodynamics in Aviation. This 16 page report stretched me to research the founding fathers of aviation and my knowledge has expounded proportionally. I thank him for the level of professionalism he has brought to my learning experience. As I look towards the horizon I await the many blessings God has in store for me in my next chapter as I aim to complete my education. The first step for me is a summer job at the Peachtree-Dekalb Airport in Atlanta, Georgia as an aviation mechanic. This incredible opportunity with Epps Aviation is a blessing for me to gain the mechanical experience I need for my missionary career along with some financial sustenance to help pay my quickly accruing flight training costs. I cannot wait to see how God will not only use this to do amazing things in my life, but to use me in the presence of many other lives in North Atlanta.

The HOPELINE

Last Sunday night I just started volunteering for Dawson McAllister's HOPELINE for struggling teens and young adults. We provide Christian based "coaching" for thousands of desperate people across the country. As Dawson McAllister coaches someone on the radio there are hundreds of volunteers in the background coaching others with deep emotional and spiritual needs. Last night I talked to a few hurting teens and hopefully made a lasting positive impact on their lives. But just as much as I effect their lives by volunteering to be a Hope Coach, this will surely have a lasting impact on me and my ability to minister once I am on the missions field.

Flight Costs - Liberty University School of Aeronautics

Flight Costs - Liberty University School of Aeronautics

These are the approximate flight training costs over four years at Liberty University ON TOP of tuition.

Missionary Aviation?

New Tribes Mission Video

Check out this video from New Tribes Mission about missionary aviation.

"Because there were no roads in these areas ... It reminded me just of the time I used to hike over the jungle. What it would take us a full day, the travelling you could do four minutes in an airplane. And what I remember taking a week hiking took us about 46 minutes in an airplane."

Missions Emphasis Week

On February 15-18, Liberty University hosted its biannual missions conference called Missions Emphasis Week (MEW). To my delightful surprise SIX aviation missions organizations participated this year. These organizations were JAARS*, MAF*, NTB*, UIM*, AIM* and ABWE*. I had the privilege of not only hearing some of the representatives in class and at the airport, but I was also afforded the privilege of talking to many of these wise, godly men personally; one-on-one.

This years new addition to MEW, UIM, hosted Liberty's Aviation seminar during the conference. I met UIM's chief pilot David Wolf and Michael Busenitz who asked if I would be interested in a short term missions trip to Mexico with UIM to get a feel for their organization. This would be a uniqe opportunity if the logistics are worked out in the future for UIM to host a short-term aviation missions trip for Liberty aeronautics students.

continued...

Liberty University

For several years Liberty University has been labeled as the largest Evangelical University in the world. Recently surpassing Dr. Falwell's vision of 50,000 students it has become the 8th largest Private University and the largest Nonprofit University. It's Distance Learning Program is ranked as one of the top 5 overall online degree programs in the world. Also in December, 2009, Liberty received a Level VI (highest level) accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). You can rest assured that my highly valued tuition dollars are going to a world class university whose principles are firmly rooted in biblical truths.


Dr. Falwell’s enrollment vision fulfilled: 50,000 students

New Slogan!

In appreciation of the intuition of my grandfather I have initiated a new slogan:
"NO POD REFUSED"

POD is an acronym for "Prayers Or Donations." I do not desire to appear insistent on only the financial side of things but it is true that I will not refuse what is graciously given me.With that said I have recently added a Paypal donation option on the bottom and side of my blog which works with most major credit cards. No pressure at all, but remember...


NO POD REFUSED

Kodiak Quest

This is one of the new Kodiak Quests recently acquired by the Missionary Aviation Fellowship. While at Oshkosh, I took the advantage of inspecting what could one day be my instrument to impact the world. This very plane is now serving in Haiti transporting the injured to safe hospitals in rural Haiti.
New MAF KODIAK Aircraft Goes Right to Work in Haiti Relief Effort
Keep track of the Kodiak Quest as it transports much needed supplies and injured Haitians.
Live Interactive Kodiak Map
You can help the Missionary Aviation Fellowship as they spearhead the distribution of supplies at the hectic airport in Port-au-Prince.
Donate to MAF in Haiti

Oshkosh '09

Last summer I visited Oshkosh, Wi for AirVenture 2009. I was fortunate to hear from aviation missionary legends as Nate Saint and Gracia Burnham. The famed Sully Sullenberger, Captain of the "Miracle on the Hudson" flight, and his First Officer Jeffrey Skiles spoke to thousands of pilots one evening. I reunited with some old aviation friends and met plenty new ones too. Perhaps I can take a week's migration to Oshkosh once again in 2010 to learn and discover even more from the best pilots of our time.

Newsletters

Please feel free to view, download, and print my newsletters located in the tab "newsletters" link on the top of this page.