JAARS Executive Director Honored by LeTourneau University
For more information, contact:
Arthur Lightbody
JAARS Media Relations Officer
1-704-843-6048
arthur_lightbody@sil.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WAXHAW, N.C. — November 1, 1999 — LeTourneau University honored JAARS Executive Director Jim Akovenko as alumnus of the year during their homecoming festivities on October 30.
The criteria that Akovenko met for winning the alumnus of the year award were: being an alumnus of a LeTourneau degree program; demonstrating continuing service in a wide variety of areas, such as church, community, profession and the University; and above all, having a strong and active personal faith in God.
LeTourneau University was founded in 1946 by noted Christian inventor and entrepreneur R.G. LeTourneau and is a nationally recognized nondenominational Christian university based in Longview, Texas. It offers almost 50 degrees, including the liberal arts, but is best known for its most popular majors: business, engineering and aeronautical science.
Akovenko joined Wycliffe Bible Translators in 1976, serving first as a pilot, providing transportation for and bringing supplies to Bible translators in isolated areas in Asia. After thirteen years of flying, he served as an overseas administrator. In 1992 he was assigned to JAARS, Inc., in Waxhaw, NC, and in 1996 he was appointed its executive director.
Reflecting on his decision to join Wycliffe Bible Translators to serve as a pilot, Jim Akovenko said, “My spiritual motivation was connected to my technical skills. If I didn’t go and use those skills for God, who would? I needed to step through that door.”
Aviation always intrigued Akovenko, 53. It was natural for Akovenko to join Wycliffe in 1976 to serve as a pilot, because aviation beaks down barriers of distance and terrain to reach people that need God’s Word. For 13 years he flew short-take-off-and-landing Helio Couriers and a helicopter, providing safe and efficient transportation for Bible translators and bringing them needed supplies.
Jim and his wife, Sue, met while attending North Dakota State University where Jim graduated with a B.S. in Agriculture in 1968. After graduation he joined the Air Force. While waiting for his orders to enter pilot training, Akovenko saw Billy Graham on television and responded to Dr. Graham’s invitation to become a Christian. During flight training he met people discipled by the Navigators and he began studying the Bible.
Akovenko served five years in the Air Force. Some of his missions involved flying doctors, dentists, or other helping people into small villages in Vietnam and Thailand to work among the people. This showed him how aviation could be used in ministry.
While still in the service, Akovenko read Jungle Pilot, the story of aviator Nate Saint who was martyred in 1956 along with four other missionaries while trying to bring the gospel to the “Aucas” (now called Waorani). This book helped to redirect him to mission aviation when he completed his military tour.
Following his military service, Akovenko worked in a sales job in Birmingham, Alabama, while considering mission aviation. The Akovenkos attended Briarwood Presbyterian (PCA), a church that was very involved in missions. Its pastor encouraged the Akovenkos to join Wycliffe Bible Translators which works in a cooperative agreement with Mission to the World (MTW).
It was necessary for Akovenko to get aviation maintenance training to serve with Wycliffe and MTW, so he attended LeTourneau University, graduating with an Associate Aeronautical Science degree in 1976. The Akovenkos joined Wycliffe and MTW in 1976, receiving evaluation and orientation with JAARS, which provides technical services for Bible translation efforts.
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