IN THIS ISSUE: From the CEO [2] Reasons to Rejoice [3] Notes from the Field [4-5] On the Field [6] Giving Update [7]
SUMMER 2018
Water For Life in Haiti April 2018 Statistics: Wells drilled: 13 Pumps installed: 6 People served: approximately 2,100 Pumps repaired: 50 People served: approximately 17,500 Mobile clinic outreach: 635 persons
I
magine‌You are living in Haiti, the poorest country
in the Western Hemisphere. You are less than 800 miles from Venice, Florida, and yet a world away. The only clean water available for miles around flows from a community well and it just quit working. You need a mechanical part to repair the well so that clean water will flow again. Mechanical parts and repair shops are nowhere to be found. Miraculously, the mechanical part is aboard Agape Flights’ Embraer 110 aircraft along with 3,000 pounds of other needed supplies. Like every other week, the aircraft and pilots are scheduled to leave the Venice Municipal Airport (VNC) early Thursday morning and will land in Haiti by midday. Help is on the way. Thank you for helping to propel Agape Flights’ mission so that we can serve missionaries like Leon Miller of Water For Life (WFL) in Haiti. Here is a recent email update from Water for Life: The children of Carcasse, in Grand Anse, Haiti have seen their lives improve when their new well was installed in their village. The hand pump is to serve an average of 350 people. Over the course of years the population in the village grows and pump parts wear out with daily usage. Pump maintenance is an essential factor to ensure a secure water source for the villagers, and to prevent water related disease outbreak.
In the case of a breakdown, the villagers will often go back to using traditional unsafe sources. Maintaining the pump involves cleaning the pump stand and immediate area which the villagers are responsible for. Water for Life, through the help of their generous donors, provides the special skills and quality spare parts that are necessary for the repair. The WFL pump repair program, where technicians are sent to the communities to repair hand pumps and to verify that the water committees are taking care of the water point, keep the hand pumps functioning; assuring that the community, especially the children, are trained in how to use the pump, providing hygienic education, and protecting the water source with respect of the protocols established for repairing hand pumps. Because of your support, pumps that have over 33 years of service are still providing the Haitian people with clean drinking water. Thank you for helping us imagine a better tomorrow and for being the wings and wheels of Jesus to those who so desperately need His love and care.
From the ceo
IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES...
FLIGHTLINE A publication of Agape Flights 100 Airport Ave E. | Venice, FL 34285 Phone: 941-488-0990 | Fax: 941-485-3020 Website: www.agapeflights.com Email: gomissions@agapeflights.com Allen T. Speer CEO
Board of Directors Kyle Henson, chair Realtor, Coldwell Banker Res R.E. Bradenton, Fla. Ed Loomis, vice chair FAA Operations Inspector, retired Lt. Col. USAF/AF Reserve, retired Nokomis, Fla. and Minnetonka, Minn. Adrienne McCutcheon, secretary Critical Care Registered Nurse Osprey, Fla. Charlie Thompson, treasurer Captain, Federal Express, retired Lt. Col. U.S. Air Force/Air National Guard, retired Venice, Fla. Craig Faulkner Teacher/Coach, Sarasota County Schools Venice, Fla. Bradley Hume Dentist/Partner, Palmetto Dental Center Palmetto, Fla. Dan Manningham Captain, United Airlines, retired Venice, Fla. Kimberly McCallum VP, Human Resources and Marketing, Dept. of the Interior Federal Credit Union Venice, Fla. Jim Whitney Senior VP of Innovation, Sceptre Hospitality Resources Nokomis, Fla. David Yohn Owner, iBusinessSolutions Myakka City, Fla.
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Ephesians 3:20 NIV: Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. God has been so good to Agape Flights! From our inception to now in our 37th year of service and ministry, Agape Flights has experienced the amazing presence and provision of Almighty God! In the seven plus years that God has allowed me to lead this ministry I could not in this limited space begin to account for the immeasurable movement of God that I have witnessed. From praying for an airplane and God providing one that same day, to seeing how God blessed two ministries beyond imagination when asking God for a second aircraft. The possibilities are endless for what God will do in and through Agape Flights and the missionaries we serve. All the while He uses people like me and you to join Him in this amazing journey. IMAGINE with me... What if Agape Flights… •
Delivered love and hope to mission partners in more locations throughout the Nations of the Caribbean?
•
Received the $65,000 to pay the Chieftain in full and perform hangar upgrades; including a new roof and updated electrical services?
•
Doubled church prayer and financial partnership from 130 to 260 churches?
•
Increased the number of prayer partners who intercede for mission partners daily?
•
Was able to expand various program and ministries to provide more encouragement to our mission partners?
The possibilities are endless and I believe God is simply saying, “ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” Will you ask God how you can participate in the Imagine process? Which one of these possibilities is He calling you toward? Lord, thank You for your immeasurable ability to do what we could only dream or imagine. Thank You for being the God who supplies all of our needs according to your riches through Christ Jesus! Please help us to be bold enough to ask and child-like enough to imagine all that You desire to do in and through us. And always help me and all of us remember that it is only according to your power that is at work within us, You must increase and we must decrease. To God be the Glory….
Allen T. Speer, Chief Executive Officer-Agape Flights Serving Christ by Serving His Missionaries
reasons to rejoice
Thank you for PRAYING, PARTNERING, and PROPELLING Agape Flights through the 2018 Giving Challenge! Leading up to and during the Challenge we asked you to pray and to encourage your family and friends to participate in the online Challenge May 1-2, noon-noon, so that we could be a community testimony to God’s goodness and faithfulness. To God’s glory, every one of your prayers was answered! In addition to the 570+ individual gifts and match dollars raised, you also helped Agape qualify for the following awards: $500 “Fast 50” prize for being among the first 50 nonprofits to receive 50 donations $100 “Social Media Shout Out” bonus for reaching our goal of 500 donors and showering our CEO with Propel water $1,000 “Most Donors” 5th place prize in the large organization category –YAY! $500 “Photo Contest” prize for capturing a fun picture of the Agape Girls (female staff ) receiving a Propel Shower from missionaries, Jim and Teresa White (see photo above) The additional prizes brought the total amount raised to (drum roll please…) $96,440! We are praising God for His faithfulness through you and the local foundations who made the Giving Challenge possible. The 2018 Giving Challenge was presented by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, with giving strengthened by The Patterson Foundation. THANK YOU! I will make them and the places around My hill a blessing. I will cause showers to come down in their season; they will be showers of blessing. - Ezekiel 34:26
We are thrilled to introduce Shae Hays... Agape’s new full-time Front Desk Administrative Assistant and Volunteer Coordinator! From being the face and voice of the front desk at Agape to working with volunteers to find their perfect fit in the Agape family, Shae is already busy sharing her southern charm and servant heart. “I am blessed to be serving in a ministry that encompasses the goal of my heart in serving people and sharing the Gospel. With Abba’s blessing, I look forward to a long and fulfilling bond with the Agape family and the missionaries we support,“ states Shae.
“Nonprofit of the Year” Finalist & Grant Award On May 23rd, Agape CEO Allen Speer attended a luncheon where Agape Flights was recognized as a Venice Area Chamber of Commerce “Nonprofit of the Year” finalist. As a finalist, Agape received a $500 grant award from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation. Praise God! www.agapeflights.com
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Notes from the field
Marc Donald & Krista Germeil Haiti Bible Mission | Jeremie, Haiti
“Hey there Agape Family! We, along with our HBM family, are constantly praying for you all. We hope you are well. We wanted to share these pictures with you. These shoes were donated as a part of our Sponsorship Program for our 150 students at Te Wouj Elementary School. We measure each students feet and give each student a brand new pair of shoes every year! The students look forward to this as all of our students walk to school- most waking through a river and up a small mountainside- and some walking up to two hours to attend our school! We want to thank you, Agape, for partnering with us to make this shoe distribution possible. We couldn’t do it without you all and we appreciate the way you ALWAYS serve and love our (Jeremie) Haiti missionary community. “
Imagine... the blessing of a NEW pair of shoes. Especially when you walk up to 2 hours a day to attend school!
“Dear Loved Ones, Greetings. What are all those children doing there? Are they in a school, a church or where are they? Those children are at the eye clinic for their eyes screening, testing and treatment. They came from our Baptist Church of Pilate, about 4 hour drive from the Cap-Haitian where the eye clinic is. They are the lucky ones to have an early screening of their eyes. This is an effort between the eye clinic and the school administrators to help those children be successful in their learning for a better tomorrow. Many children of their ages and many adults do not have the privilege to have that kind of early serious and thorough screening. They realize when it is too late that they eyes have been damaged beyond repair.
Imagine...
receiving the gift of sight!
John 39:9 “…I have come into this world, so that the blind will see…” 4
At the eye clinic they get thoroughly tested, treated and those needing eye glasses are given the best one can find on our market today. Thank you for supporting the eye clinic so that children like these ones can have a better future.” In Haiti, Nzunga & Kihomi | Cap Haitien, Haiti
Serving Christ by Serving His Missionaries
Notes from the field
Tutoring & SUPER SABADO:
Notes from Ina York The Cercadillo Project Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic “I have spent a great deal of time with three of our village women to train them to be tutors. I’m so proud of how they’ve grown and the way they are working with our children!
Carmencita (pictured above) leading a listening/ letter identification practice.
Imagine... having the tools to invest in the education and future of your community!
Using sombreros to teach the letter “s.” “Another wonderful addition to our teaching times this year is the reading program Estrellita. I am thrilled beyond words to have found these sequential, systematic materials! It is the reading program I have dreamed of for years!”
Bible College Graduation Roger & Margaret Clark | Port au Prince, Haiti “We rejoice in the Lord that 28 of our Bible College students graduated on May 26th. We are proud of each and every one of them that persevered in their studies over a 5 year period and received their bachelor’s degree in theology. Many are already making an impact in their local churches and society as a whole. We are believing for greater works through them for the kingdom of Christ.”
www.agapeflights.com
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On the field
Leadership is Giving
Volunteer Spotlight: Agape Flights’ Board Member Craig Faulkner
C
raig Faulkner is a leader both on the baseball field and the mission field. He recently led the Venice High School baseball team to its fifth state title under his 20 year coaching tenure, and just a week after that he led 46 Venice High School baseball and volleyball players on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic. Faulkner has been leading these mission trips in coordination with SCORE International for the last 10 years (1 trip every 2 years). The student athletes play baseball and volleyball games and share their faith, feed people in surrounding villages, and distribute supplies and sports equipment to orphanages. Most athletes that attend the trips are not Christians but leave forever changed. Past players even invest in current players so that they are able to be a part of this lifechanging experience.
“To see the needs of the people in all of these countries has equipped me to be a better [Agape] board member. If you don’t really Craig Faulkner has been serving faithfully on the Agape Flights Board know the need, and why of Directors since February of 2017 they [missionaries & Agape] are doing this, if it’s really that valuable…you really see firsthand how valuable it is when you see kids suffering because they need medical supplies, or just basic necessities, or just a touch from home…like a thanksgiving dinner…it really makes a big difference,” states Faulkner.
Agape makes special missionary encouragement trip Recently, Agape staff pilots Greg Haman and Jeff Yannucciello had the opportunity to fly encouragement in the form of people instead of boxes into the Bahamas and Dominican Republic.
A special thank you to the missionaries and staff at Eleuthera Bible Training Center, La Casa Grande, and TIME Ministries for their extreme hospitality. Greg Haman (pictured left) playing with missionary kids, Paul & Sophia Anderson. Jeff Yannucciello (pictured right) praying with missionaries in Santo Domingo.
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The pilots and 5 representatives from the Agape staff/board enjoyed “going and visiting with missionaries and seeing where they are at and what encourages them and enables them to keep going,” according to Yannucciello. “Trips like this are important…we’re not here just to bring them [the missionaries] a box, we are here to bring them support,” Jeff adds. This time of fellowship was treasured by all.
Serving Christ by Serving His Missionaries
Giving update
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15 Though tax laws may change…
Your heartbeat for giving remains steady and God’s provision for this ministry is constant. In consideration of tax law changes for 2018, it’s sensible to receive good counsel, plan accordingly, and make wise giving choices. Thankfully, the Agape Family generously gives to serve, fly, and glorify God, not necessarily to receive a tax deduction. Thank you for investing in the ministry of Agape Flights. Thank you for helping us transition from “imagine” to “reality” as we envision a “paid in full” Piper Chieftain Aircraft and a soon to be new roof!
Aircraft Purchase Fund Piper Chieftain, N600AB
Purchase Price: $200,000 Final Payment Due, October 2018: $65,000 $160,216 Contributed -70,000 Paid (October, 2016) -65,000 Paid (October, 2017) $25,216 Fund Balance (as of June 30, 2018)
Please remember to pray for the safety of the work crew as they begin the roof replacement project in mid-July. Showers of blessings are a wonderful thing, but rain showers that land on our desks and computers are not quite as welcome.
$10,000 Pledged toward final payment $35,216 Available toward final payment
The $46,237.00 raised at our annual Pie in the Sky event last March will help pay for the $76,000 total roof replacement. Following the roof project, the hangar will also receive a $5,000 upgrade to the electrical service. Indeed, our “Agape house” is need of some long awaited care. To make a gift toward the hangar improvements, please indicate “hangar upgrades” with your gift.
$29,784.00 Still needed to reach PAID IN FULL for the FINAL aircraft payment, October 2018
We are thankful for you and the “firm foundation” that we have in Christ. We know that He is able to do “immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine.” Will you ask God how you can participate in the “imagine to reality” process? Which one of these possibilities is He calling you toward? Could it be that God has given you the ability to assist us with financial resource to replace the hangar roof, or the electrical upgrades needed in the Agape hangar. What about the completion of the third and final aircraft payment? Could you help us?
“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy” - Phil. 1:3-4
To make your gift specifically for Agape’s Piper Chieftain, please indicate “aircraft purchase” with your gift.
Your gifts propel this ministry... Ways to give financially: Mail (use the enclosed envelope) Phone 941-488-0990 Online at www.agapeflights.com For gifts of stock, annuities, IRA, beneficiary of an insurance policy or your will: Ministry Name: Agape Flights,Inc. EIN # 59-2057436 To make a gift to assist with ongoing needs, please specify General Fund (where funds are needed most) or Aircraft Fund.
www.agapeflights.com
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FLIGHTLINE ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Permit 227 Manasota, FL
A publication of Agape Flights 100 Airport Avenue Venice, FL 34285
We are here to serve you! Allen Speer, CEO Allen.Speer@agapeflights.com
MISSIONARY SERVICES:
Jeff Yannucciello, Director of Missionary Services Darin Martin, Missionary Care Coordinator Rod Aldrich, Cargo Manager Marsha Pavliak, Missionary Accounting gomissions@agapeflights.com (e-mail for all missionary services)
FINANCIAL SERVICES:
Marsha Pavliak, Director of Financial Services FinanceDirector@agapeflights.com DEVELOPMENT (DONOR CONNECTIONS, RESOURCE DEV.): Carole Leman, Director of Development Carole.Leman@agapeflights.com Shelly Watkins, Donor Relations & Database Manager giving@agapeflights.com Abby Duncan, Communications Manager communications@agapeflights.com CarolAnne Dube, Church and Community Relations Coordinator churchandcommunity@agapeflights.com
Connect With Us:
www.agapeflights.com
FLIGHT OPERATIONS: Greg Haman, Chief Mechanic (DOM), Pilot Greg.Haman@agapeflights.com Jeff Yannucciello, Pilot gomissions@agapeflights.com ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT/VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR: Shae Hays, Front Desk Administrative Assistant & Volunteer Coordinator VolunteerCoord@agapeflights.com Agape Flights is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the United States and registered in the state of Florida. EIN 59-2057436. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE (1-800-HELP-FLA OR WWW.800HELPFLA.COM). REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.