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Featured Stories

Stories from around the world, right here for you.

2024 Annual Report

Because of your generosity, we built rapid momentum in 2024 to equip the next generation and extend our reach to the ends of the earth.

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Whatever It Takes Documentary

Hear amazing stories from the past 75 years and watch how God provides whatever it takes for JAARS to reach the world with God's Word.

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Covering the Last Mile

Buckle up and experience what it is like to travel to the furthest corners of the planet!

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Land and Sea Ops in Africa

A unique opportunity brings JAARS to provide both motorbikes and 4WD vehicles as well as life-saving water-safety training to mission workers in Uganda and Tanzania.

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Bush Week

An early morning wakeup call takes aviation mechanics to the site of a crashed airplane. Watch as the JAARS team repairs the craft with the limited resources of the bush.

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Sea Ops: Vital for Remote Missions

While traveling for hours through dangerous waterways in remote rainforest regions, what matters isn’t whether you might capsize; it’s how your group responds when you do. 

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Flying to the Ends of the Earth

When missionaries need to reach remote mountaintop villages, they rely on skilled pilots capable of flying and landing them safely.

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From behind the scenes to the front lines, experience remote missions that transport you to the heart of God’s work.
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Fly With Us in Indonesia

Join JAARS President Steve Russell as he spends a thrilling day flying with YAJASI, our aviation partner in Indonesia—touching lives by delivering a language project, valuable cargo and passengers. And buckle up for the final approach!
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Sustaining Ministry Through Maintenance

Translation work in Chad would be impossible without the aid of motorcycles and 4WD vehicles to cover the muddy tracks, rocky roads and flood waters. Land Ops provides critical maintenance to keep the work going.
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Water Safety Training in Papua New Guinea

In the open waters surrounding Papua New Guinea, 10-foot waves can topple the ocean dinghies that are meant for calm, flat water, leaving travelers fighting for their lives. Our Sea Ops team members train local Bible translators in water safety.
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From Fixed-Wing to Rotor-Wing Pilot

What does it take to be retooled as a helicopter pilot? Kodiak pilot Christopher Clark embarks on a wild, fun and sometimes terrifying journey as he trains with a variety of JAARS staff while in the US on furlough to return to Papua New Guinea with a whole new set of skills.
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Deep and Generous Partnership

How does God provide resources for the work of his kingdom? Through partnership. Recently, Samaritan's Purse generously donated a Bell 206 LongRanger and a Cessna 208 Caravan to JAARS. Watch this exciting story to see how it all unfolded.
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Mountain Week Community

In the mountains, people take care of each other by building relationships and investing in the pilots and staff that participate in Mountain Week. Their service enables God’s Word to spread in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Africa and beyond.
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Engage with powerful stories of how God is working through ordinary people with extraordinary callings as they bring the gospel to the most remote and unreached corners of the world. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Ray Rising on Surviving Jungle Captivity Part I

In this gripping episode of Uncharted, Ray Rising shares his harrowing experience of being held captive for 810 days in Colombia, as detailed in his book "Gorilla Hostage." The conversation begins with a vivid recounting of the moment he was kidnapped, highlighting the tension and fear of that fateful day. He reflects on his decision to wait for divine guidance rather than escape immediately, emphasizing the importance of faith and patience during his ordeal...
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David Kooistra on Training the Next Generation

In this conversation, Dave Koostra shares his experiences as an aviation mechanic with JAARS, detailing innovative problem-solving techniques in challenging environments. He recounts a real-life incident in the Philippines where he had to recover a downed helicopter, emphasizing the importance of creativity and teamwork in aviation missions. The discussion also highlights the critical role mechanics play in ensuring aircraft safety and functionality, especially in remote locations...
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Bonus Thanksgiving Episode

In this special Thanksgiving episode of Uncharted, Craig Russell and Nate Gordon reflect on the importance of gratitude, especially in the context of mission work. Nate shares personal experiences from his time in Indonesia, discussing how different cultures celebrate Thanksgiving and express gratitude. The discussion highlights the impact of the Yajasi organization, the power of community collaboration, and the significance of gratitude in all things...
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John Marselus on Being Available

In this episode, John shares his journey of faith and service as he prepares to move to Papua New Guinea with his wife, Kim, to work with JAARS. He reflects on his past experiences in the Air Force, his calling to serve God, and the importance of being available for God's work. The conversation highlights the challenges and rewards of transitioning to a new mission field, the significance of community in faith, and the encouragement for the next generation to pursue their calling.
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Paul Smith on Waiting on God

In this episode of the Uncharted podcast, Paul Smith shares his remarkable journey of faith, aviation, and service with JAARS. From a near-fatal flight experience to his early calling in ministry, Paul recounts the pivotal moments that shaped his life. He reflects on the inspiration drawn from the martyrdom of missionaries, the testing of his faith during his time in the Marine Corps, and the moments that led him back to his calling in aviation...
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Holmes Rodriguez and Mariela Del Pozzi on Delivering God's Word

Holmes and Mariela explore the challenges and successes of Bible translation efforts in the most remote places on Earth, focusing on the importance of communication, community engagement, and the dynamic nature of language and culture. The guests share their experiences with sociolinguistic surveys, and the critical role of transportation in reaching remote areas...
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Explore inspiring stories of how God is using regular people with specialized training to deliver the gospel to the ends of the earth.
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Air Ops

Experience the Real Thing

From the Carolina woods to the mountains of Avery County, JAARS prepares aviation mechanics and pilots to relay the gospel to remote places overseas during Pre-Flight Orientation, a four-month intensive course for aviators.
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Sea Ops

River Safety: A Reality in South American Missions

Missionaries in the Amazon region risk their lives using dangerous waterways to forge a path to communities where rebel groups roam. Through JAARS Sea Ops, God is making those very rivers a safer means of travel.
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Land Ops

Tackling Sub-Saharan Terrain

Transporting equipment, carrying a sick woman to a hospital and opening literacy centers are just a few examples of the many ways that 4WD vehicles and motorcycles are helping to ease the burdens of our brothers and sisters in Africa.
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JAARS Stories

Keeping a Helicopter in the Air

A surprising and generous gift from Samaritan’s Purse provides for kingdom work. God unites like-minded partners to meet a daunting need.
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