 American Airlines pilot Roger Yoder, Goshen, Ind., a 1979 graduate of Hesston College's aviation program, recounts some of his discussions with people in the airline industry that give him an opportunity to share his faith. |
May 4, 2006
One Hesston College aviation graduate told aviation students, staff, and
alumni he wishes he had another opportunity to talk with a co-pilot on one
of his flights.
Roger Yoder, Goshen, Ind., a 1979 graduate now serving as a captain with American
Airlines on flights based out of Chicago-O'Hare International Airport, said he
was captain on a flight in January 1997 with Dave from Chicago to Las Vegas. "We
talked about our families," Yoder recalled. Dave was not on the next flight
Yoder flew to Las Vegas, but an airline stewardess on that first flight told
Yoder that Dave didn't feel comfortable sharing he was gay because, as she put
it, "he thought you seemed a little religious."
"Regardless of my personal beliefs, God calls me to love people as a creation
made in God's image," Yoder said. "I wish I would have that chance."
As it turns out, some three and one-half years later, Dave co-piloted American
Airlines Flight 77 from Washington, D.C. (Dulles) to Los Angeles on September
11, 2001. Dave's plane eventually slammed into the side of the Pentagon at 9:43
a.m.
"I never again will have the opportunity to talk with Dave," Yoder
said. "Even though I'm religious, I'd like to tell him I accept him and
love him as he is."
Yoder began as a first officer with American Airlines in 1986, and will have
served as a pilot for 20 years and as a captain for 10 years in November. "Regardless
of where we are or what job we have, we are pilot missionaries," he said. "People
are hurting and need to know what you have to tell them.
He recounted a month's worth of discussions with another pilot who is an atheist.
And he told about present conversations with still another co-pilot. "When
I first asked him 'How's life?,' he said, 'Do you really want to know?'" Yoder
said. "I said, 'Yes.' And he has unloaded. I didn't have to do anything.
I just listened. I'm not sure how to react other than to pray."
Yoder was one of four Hesston College graduates who shared on the theme "Aviation
as Mission" Friday evening, April 21, and Saturday, April 22.
John Murray, pastor of Hesston Mennonite Church, related how he wanted to learn
to fly as a Hesston College student from 1979 to 1981, but couldn't put the finances
together. However, he experienced a call to the ministry, and when he returned
as pastor of Hesston Mennonite Church in 1999, he had the opportunity to learn
to fly through the college's aviation program.
According to Murray, a private, instrument-rated pilot, aviation has given him
the opportunity to walk alongside people. When his sister's husband died unexpectedly
in Springdale, Ark., in January 2002, Don Horst, an elder of the church who operated
a charter business at the time, flew Murray to be by his sister's side in a matter
of 90 minutes after she informed him by phone.
"For me, mission and aviation are deeply and inseparably connected," he
said. "Often these kind of stories come to mind. It is my prayer that all
of us will be open to creating and living these opportunities.
"God provides us with daily opportunities to encounter people and develop
relationships with people when we may be one of the few expressions of Christ,'
Murray continued. "If you become a charter or corporate pilot, you'll rub
shoulders with some of the wealthiest, influential people. You'll spend lots
of hours in pilot lounges, hotels, and restaurants. Each present an opportunity
to be the presence of Christ.
"As a follower of Christ," Murray concluded, "seek ways to demonstrate
and communicate the love and grace of God with everyone you meet.
 Air Serv International chief pilot Kurt Neuenschwander, a 1990 Hesston College aviation graduate, describes some of the flying situations Air Serv pilots encounter in overseas settings traumatized by natural disasters or war. |
"We are not a mission," he said. "We are a relief and development organization. But a lot of people who fly with us are Christians."
Neuenschwander briefly mentioned a recent Hesston grad, Steve Bontrager, who is flying in Chad with Air Serv. "He's really enjoying it," he said. "As a Christian aviator, he is able to use that influence."
"What you believe has a serious impact on who you are and what you do in life," Neuenschwander said before reading Proverbs 24:3-6. "We are waging war. We need guidance to wage war in life. The Bible has guidance for life, life's text. The day we compromise that text, we compromise our lives.
"God needs to be in control of our lives," he said. "It's not as important what you do with the aircraft, which is a tool, as what you do in life."
Neuenschwander said he's had many life-changing experiences with Air Serv, and has been part of the great things Air Serv is doing in the world. "Many people have been saved through Christians serving with Air Serv," he said. "Churches and Bible studies have started."
Neuenschwander said the pace of work at Air Serv is finally slowing down, following a flurry of activity flying medical and relief workers into Asia following the Dec. 26, 2004, tsunamis, followed by the earthquake in Pakistan last fall. In addition to Pakistan, Air Serv presently flies into Afghanistan, Indonesia, the Congo, Chad, Uganda, and Mozambique.
When asked the question--What best prepared you for what you're doing now?--Neuenschwander responded, "Two things. Telling God I'll go anywhere and a heart of service."
Murray replied, "I'm so grateful for the opportunity to fly. But I also cannot imagine being anything else than a pastor."
According to Yoder, he's wanted to be a pilot since age 8. "When I came to Hesston, I got all the flight training I could get at Hesston College," he said. "But I grew as much as a person and as an individual. That definitely gave me a solid footing and put me on the right track.
"God calls us all to different spots," Yoder concluded. "I really do believe in what happens here (at Hesston)."
 Winston Yost, Larkspur, Colo., who attended Hesston College 1965-66, stands in one of the two engines of the Boeing-777 airplane he flies overseas for Continental Airlines. The engine's diameter is 10 feet. |
"I had been attending Palmer Lake Mennonite Church (near Colorado Springs), and consulted with people there. But before the strike, things were going good and I didn't need anything," he said. "My prayers consisted of thanking God for this or that. Now I wanted an answer yesterday."
Yost decided to get another job as a stockbroker, rather than cross the picket line, since his hobby was trading stocks and options. The strike lasted three years before he was called back to Continental in 1986. In the meantime, he enjoyed the stockbroker business.
One of three children of well-known Hesston businessman Lyle Yost and his late wife Erma, Yost got his solo license at the age of 16 and his instrument and commercial licenses at 18. He graduated from Hesston Academy (high school) in 1964.
Hesston College hadn't yet begun its aviation program when Yost was a college student during the 1965-66 school year. He received his instrument flight instructor certificate during that year. He eventually graduated from Wichita State University.
His first job was with Air Midwest out of Wichita, flying a night mail run to Dodge City, Kan., and Pueblo, Colo., and back.
With Continental, Yost began as a flight engineer on the B-707 at the age of 22. For the past year, he has been ranked number one among pilots at the airline, given his seniority. "It doesn't mean much, except I am awarded my first bid choice each month," he said.
Since 1999, Yost flies a Boeing 777 from Houston to London, Paris, or Tokyo. "It's a beautiful plane holding 300 passengers," he said. "It's the most hi tech plane right now." Staff on the plane include a co-pilot, relief officers, and 13 flight attendants.
He likes the London trip the best, since the flight time is 8 hours and 30 minutes eastbound, as opposed to 14 hours to Tokyo. Even then, it's a long time day. At 9 a.m., he takes a commuter flight to Houston, then his 777 departs for London at 7 p.m., arriving at Gatwick Airport at 10 a.m. the next day.
After a 24-hour layover, he captains a Continental flight back to Houston. Flight time westbound, due to the head winds and the jet stream, is scheduled for 10 hours and 30 minutes.
"I put in 40 hours in six days and average 80 hours a month," he said. "At your age, you'd kill for that much flight time.
"I'm having the most fun I've ever had," he said. "I thank God that he's put me in this position. I've had a great career, but I've experienced financial ups and downs (because of the airline industry).
At 59, Yost has four months left to fly, unless present rules requiring commercial pilots to retire at age 60 are changed by Congress.
According to Yost, getting a job as a commercial pilot is tough these days. "One thousand pilots each are on furlough at United and Delta," he said. "Only Continental and Southwest are hiring, and they each have 8,000-10,000 applications on file. But a lot of us will retire soon, including about 1,500 at Continental in the next three years.
"You're at the best place possible," Yost told Hesston aviation students. "You have great instructors and great training here in Kansas, like learning crosswinds landings and so on.
"What better facility than Hesston College," he said. "I wish I'd had the experience. It might have been easier for me."
Hesston College Aviation