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| Don Cressman (right) visits with Dan Miller (left), director of Hesston's aviation program, along with Justin Markoya, an aviation student from Salem, Ore. |
April 26, 2005
A 1978 graduate of the Hesston
College aviation program told current aviation students and staff
how as a Christian he's using his gifts and talents to help others
in need.
Don Cressman and his wife Julie
have worked for nearly 17 years with Air Serv International, a non-profit
humanitarian organization near Washington, D.C. Don recently resigned
as vice president for international flight operations; Julie, who
attended Hesston College for the 1977-78 school year, helps when called
on for special projects, providing finance and accounting expertise.
Cressman shared how Air Serv responded
to the Dec. 26 tsunami, flying medical personnel and others, equipment,
medicine, and vaccines to affected areas on the Indonesian island
of Sumatra, and the island of Sri Lanka just off the coast of India.
An estimated 230,000 people lost their lives on the two islands, with
thousands of others missing.
"After I arrived at the city
of Banda Aceh January 5, I spent a lot of time getting our program
up and running," Don said. "I dealt with the Indonesian
government and non-governmental organizations like World Vision, Save
the Children, and Doctors Without Borders."
"I've seen a lot of natural
and man-made disasters," he said, "but this one was beyond
comprehension. Flying over the affected areas was surreal."
Cressman said a 30-to-50 foot
wall of water washed inland six to seven miles on the island of Sumatra,
leveling everything in its path. "The destruction blew me away,"
he said.
Because the infrastructure was
destroyed in the affected areas, Air Serv set up a self-contained
camp for 20 people for what was expected to be a 60-day response.
"Our five to six million dollar operation with seven helicopters
and two fixed-wing planes will last six to eight months," Cressman
said. "We also provided air service for about 30 days on the
island of Sri Lanka."
Continental Express pilot Pete Roseberry (standing) talks with
Josh Hess-Yoder, a 2000 Hesston aviation grad and a former aviation
instructor (2000-2003), also a Continental Express pilot. |
Cressman and his wife are among a number of Christians who work for Air Serv. "For many of us, it's our way of putting our faith into action, helping others in need." They include Air Serv's international chief pilot, Kurt Neuenschwander, a 1990 graduate of Hesston's aviation program.
Cressman has stepped down from his position as vice president to be available on an on-call basis primarily for emergency responses, but also as a fill-in pilot or manager for existing Air Serv programs.
Cressman was one of three Hesston aviation alumni who spoke during the "Aviation as Mission" weekend April 22-23. Organizer Don Woodward, chief flight instructor for the private pilot course, said the purpose of the weekend "is to have alumni share what they're doing now and how their faith impacts their work as professional aviators." He hopes it can be an annual event.
Pete Roseberry, a 1994 graduate, has been a pilot for Continental Express since the fall of 2000. "Being a Christian is the most important thing for me," he said. "It's the guiding light in my life."
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| Curt Epp discusses his work as a pilot for Cessna with the group of Hesston College aviation students, staff, and alumni gathered at the college's hangar at the Newton City-County Airport. |
"It's tough to be a Christian pilot, especially with the locker room environment in the industry," he explained. "It's hard to maintain a clear, pure mind, and to be true and honest in your marriage."
When he has met Christians in his work, he says it's "an awesome experience. It's amazing how you connect, share about your lives, and pray together."
The third aviation alumnus to speak, Curt Epp, a 1989 Hesston aviation grad, works as a demonstration pilot for Cessna in Wichita. As part of the marketing division, he flies new products worldwide. He and his wife Sarah and three children live in McPherson.
"I have missional opportunities in my day-to-day life," he said. "That doesn't mean hitting people over the head with what I believe, but being an ear for them, letting them talk about what's going on in their life. When you're in a plane with someone for four or five hours, you also have opportunities to share your faith.
The Hesston College aviation program, based at the Newton City-County Airport, has 37 people receiving flight training. Eight will receive associate degrees in aviation during commencement exercises Sunday, May 8.