JAARS Installs New President, Dedicates New Kodiak Aircraft
Eighth president in sixty-year history of the organization to continue introducing change and driving new technology and assets, such as the Kodiak
For more information, contact:
Arthur Lightbody, APR
JAARS Media Relations Officer
1-704-843-6048
arthur_lightbody@sil.org
Loren Rutledge
1-214-635-3025
lrutledge@lewispublicrelations.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WAXHAW, N.C. — April 8, 2009 — In special ceremonies conducted Saturday, JAARS, Inc.—a nonprofit organization committed to speeding Bible translation for all people through the provision of technical support services and resources—formally installed David Reeves as president and officially dedicated the organization’s first Kodiak aircraft.
Reeves, a 24-year veteran of the Wycliffe Bible Translators family of organizations, was installed by Judy Boyd, chairperson of the board, and accompanied by a team of leaders and personal advisers to the incoming president. The event, held in the auditorium at the JAARS Center in Waxhaw, southeast of Charlotte, N.C., was attended by more than 400 colleagues, supporters and organizational leaders.
Keynote speaker was Paul Schaller, CEO of Quest Aircraft Company, and four of Reeves’ former pastors delivered scriptural readings, prayers and spiritual encouragement during the event. The ethnomusicology group Izibongo, with members from Dallas and Chicago, performed music from diverse people groups from around the world.
In reflecting on the charges to service delivered by Dr. John Watters, president of SIL International, and Dane Skelton, pastor of Faith Community Church in South Boston, Va., Reeves commented on the perspective he has as he leads JAARS into the future by drawing on the experiences of Joshua in the Old Testament.
“Thinking about one of the oldest recorded transitions of leadership, that of Moses to Joshua, I imagine that Joshua was feeling a bit intimidated by the task that lay ahead and the fact that he, rather than Moses, was the leader of the people. In his day, Moses cast a long shadow,” said Reeves. “During the installation, I looked around the room at the five of seven past presidents of JAARS and realized what a very, very long shadow that is cast by these men, one that traces back to JAARS and Wycliffe Bible Translators founder William Cameron Townsend. As I and a team of dedicated professionals are rewiring JAARS for a future that will see the development of written language systems and the completion of a Bible in the heart language of every people group in need of these vital items, I am standing on the shoulders of those who served before me.”
A key aspect of the future focus of JAARS was evident during the weekend with the official U.S. dedication of the Kodiak, the first of a new generation of JAARS aircraft. Manufactured by Quest Aircraft Company, this airplane currently is being prepared to provide service later this year to Bible translation and language development personnel in Papua New Guinea. The JAARS Kodiak program was initiated by outgoing JAARS President Jim Akovenko, demonstrating the continuity of leadership in responding to the needs of missionary and language development.
Following comments on the significance of the Kodiak to the future of mission and language development aviation delivered by John Watters, a series of prayers were led by Schaller, Akovenko and Reeves that sequentially addressed the inception of the Kodiak, the initial plans for acquisition of Kodiak aircraft and the delivery and future of the first JAARS Kodiak. Currently bearing the tail number—N498KQ—that will remain on the aircraft until it is ferried to Papua New Guinea following the EAA’s 2009 AirVenture Oshkosh, the Kodiak is the first of a number of aircraft that are a part of the JAARS aircraft fleet renewal. The new plane seats 10 people, features a turbo prop engine capable of short take off and landings, and uses readily available jet fuel.
About JAARS
JAARS, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that was established in 1948 by Wycliffe Bible Translators co-founder William Cameron Townsend to provide aviation and technology services to speed Bible translation. Today, JAARS provides technical support services and resources to Wycliffe Bible Translators, SIL International and related organizations around the world, including aviation, maritime and land transportation; information technology and telecommunications; construction and maintenance; and vernacular media services. JAARS is an active leader in the Wycliffe Last Languages Campaign, under the direction of Wycliffe USA. More information about JAARS is available at www.jaars.org.
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