Last month, Rob and Jeannie traveled to Palau to visit Pacific Mission Aviation (PMA), marking Highlands Community Church’s first visit to the ministry since 2019, before the pandemic. The trip provided an opportunity to reconnect with long-standing ministry partners, strengthen existing relationships, and witness firsthand how God continues to use PMA to expand His kingdom throughout the Pacific.
Rob’s primary role was to capture video footage of the Palau Mission trip Review that will help PMA with future recruitment efforts and provide Highlands with an update on the ministry’s growth and impact since our last visit. Jeannie arrived with a servant’s heart, ready to help wherever needed. It did not take long for her nursing skills to be put to use as she assisted with organizing donated medical supplies and supporting office administration.
Today, PMA’s ministry in Palau includes three full-time missionary families and six paid staff members. Additional missionaries and staff serve on neighboring islands, including Yap, extending PMA’s reach throughout the region.
Since 2019, flight operations have grown significantly. PMA continues to provide free air ambulance services and search-and-rescue flights for those in need. Scenic flights help generate income that supports these life-saving ministries. Whenever possible, the Gospel is shared with passengers, and some pilots distribute New Testaments in the native languages of visiting tourists.
One of the most encouraging developments was seeing the completion of the aircraft hangar—a project in which Highlands Community Church played a significant role.
The hangar now serves as the operational hub for PMA’s aviation ministry and can also function as a community center during times of disaster or crisis.
During one morning operations meeting, the heart of the ministry was clearly expressed: if a call comes from the governor regarding a lost fisherman or scuba diver, or if a remote island requires a medical evacuation, all revenue-generating flights immediately stop so emergency needs can be met. That commitment reflects the very mission of PMA—to serve people with the love of Christ through aviation.
The ministry’s impact extends beyond aviation. Pacific Mission Fellowship, a church-planting ministry established through PMA, now includes churches in Palau, Yap, and several locations in the Philippines, along with an orphanage ministry there.
It was inspiring to see how God continues to use airplanes as tools for opening doors to the Gospel. PMA’s vision for outreach and ministry continues to grow, and we are grateful for the opportunity to partner with them in bringing hope, help, and the message of Christ to some of the most remote places in the Pacific.
Please continue to pray for the PMA team, the missionaries and staff serving throughout the Pacific. We are thankful for your faithful support and partnership in advancing the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
Rob Johns