Josh and Kristi Adelsberger

Josh was born in Ohio but, because his father was in the military, he grew up traveling the world. He has always been interested in mechanical things and in high school learned God needed mechanically skilled people in missionary work. Josh says, “I went to college for missions, met a mission minded nursing student, married and 10 years later through many ups and downs we arrived at MMS in May of 2005 with 3 kids in tow.”

At MMS, Josh is an Aircraft Maintenance Supervisor. He oversees a variety of maintenance events, but much of the time Josh manages the engine shop. He obtained an FAA A&P mechanic certificate in 1996, and holds an Inspection Authorization.

Bob and Kym Campbell

Bob and Kym met at a square dance, and have been married for 26 years. They have six children, three boys and three girls, and live just outside of Mount Vernon, Ohio. They love the Lord and mission work. After they toured MMS with their church group, they began to ask how they could be involved with the work. Bob works in construction and home remodeling, and has been involved with property management. Bob will be serving MMS as the facilities maintenance manager.

Dale and Deborah Coates

Dale and Deborah are from Zimbabwe. Shortly after his schooling, Dale obtained his commercial pilot’s license. His experience and that of others showed him the value of being a mechanic as well as a pilot. Mike Dunkley, then a mechanic with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) introduced Dale to missionary aviation. An MAF pilot/mechanic in Zimbabwe who had been an apprentice at MMS told Dale about maintenance training at MMS Aviation. The Coates came to MMS for training and, when that was completed, joined the MMS Staff.

At MMS, Dale is the Chief Inspector. He obtained an FAA A&P mechanic certificate in 1996, and holds an Inspection Authorization.

Austin and Sharon Cleator

Austin and Sharon met at the Ethnos 360 training center in Colombia. Sharon is from Bogota, Colombia. Austin is from the U.S. and grew up in Georgia. Austin has felt a calling to missions from a young age and began studying Spanish because he felt the Lords leading to Colombia. Sharon responded to the Lords prompting in her early twenties to dedicate herself to full time service to the Lord while she was in college.

Austin enjoys working with his hands and studied aviation maintenance before going to Colombia. He desires to serve in missions through missionary aviation maintenance. Sharon enjoys languages and hopes to serve in missions teaching literacy or helping with translation of God’s word. Austin will be an apprentice at MMS Aviation.

Keith and Karen Dodson

Keith was born and raised in California. Karen was born and raised in Pennsylvania. The Lord brought them together in ministry and marriage through mutual acquaintance with an apprentice family at MMS Aviation. Keith & Karen have a passion for sending “workers into his fields” and do so through providing administrative support and partnership services to those preparing for, and continuing in, faith-supported ministry. They train mission personnel to develop, maintain, and nurture the personal and financial relationships necessary to not only start field service, but to also stay in field service. With more than 20 years experience in candidate development and partnership services, Keith and Karen are, in many respects the first contact for those inquiring about service with MMS Aviation. Keith enjoys reading, writing, photography, and shooting. Karen enjoys crafting, sewing, baking, and shooting (though not necessarily in that order). Keith and Karen have previously served with MMS Aviation and have four years of mission service with MissionGO. They remember when the MMS parking lot was dirt. Keith serves as Mobilization Manager at MMS.

Mike and Isobel Dunkley

Mike was born in England and grew up in Zimbabwe. Isobel was born and raised in Zimbabwe. Mike did a five year aviation maintenance apprenticeship with the national air carrier and worked for the airline before he and Isobel joined Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) in 1985. After 10 years of service in four different MAF programs in Africa, Mike became a maintenance instructor at Moody Aviation in Tennessee. Mike and Isobel joined the MMS Aviation Staff in 2005.

At MMS, Mike is an Aircraft Maintenance Supervisor. His work with Air Zimbabwe and MAF provides a wealth of turbine aircraft engine experience. Mike is highly experienced in avionics installation. He obtained an FAA A&P mechanic certificate in 1986, and holds an Inspection Authorization.

Chuck and Cathy Egbert

Chuck is from north-west Pennsylvania and had an interest in flying from an early age. He enrolled in the flight program at Kent State University. At Kent State he met Cathy and their interest in missionary service grew. Chuck began his apprenticeship at MMS March of 1996. After completion the Egberts served with a ministry in Alaska for a year. In 2001 they moved to South Africa to serve with Mercy Air. Non-renewal of their Visas by South Africa forced them to leave that work. Chuck and Cathy then joined the MMS Staff.

At MMS, Chuck is an Aircraft Maintenance Supervisor. Chuck is highly experienced in airframe restoration. He obtained an FAA A&P mechanic certificate in 1998, and holds an Inspection Authorization. Chuck also serves as a DME (Designated Mechanic Examiner).

Jenny Haver

Jenny grew up in a Christian family in northeast Ohio, and was homeschooled along with two younger brothers. After graduating from the University of Akron in 2011, she worked as a mechanical engineer for three years before coming to MMS. Since her teen years, Jenny had a growing interest in missions. In college she looked into what role she might have and discovered the great need for mechanics in missionary aviation. Jenny says, “I became excited at the possibility of serving in this technical, hands-on, background sort of way!”

At MMS, Jenny is an Aircraft Maintenance Supervisor. Her engineering background is an asset that adds value to her service.

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Ryan and Mary Hokuf

Ryan grew up in Maryland and Mary in upstate New York. Both were raised in strong Christian home environments. They met while attending Cedarville University where both earned Mechanical Engineering degrees. Their desire to serve in missionary aviation grew out of wanting others to come to faith in Christ, recognition of their abilities, and an interest in aviation.

Ryan is pursuing service as a Pilot/Mechanic in missionary aviation.

Dwight and Rena Jarboe

Dwight grew up on a family farm in central Kentucky. He joined Wycliffe Bible Translators in 1972 to be an aircraft mechanic with JAARS, Wycliffe’s technical support arm. Rena was born to missionary parents in India. They met while Dwight served with JAARS in North Carolina and together they were with the JAARS’ DC-3 program in Bolivia. The Jarboes joined MMS Aviation’s staff in 1982. Dwight was CEO from December 1983 through October 2016.

At MMS, Dwight is President Emeritus and aircraft mechanic. He obtained an FAA A&P mechanic certificate in July 1968, has held an Inspection Authorization since 1982, and in 1991 became an FAA Designated Mechanic Examiner.

Chris and Angie Jutte

Chris grew up on a farm in western Ohio and enjoyed the mechanical work that went along with farming. After high school, he went to technical school and began working as an auto mechanic. When Chris and Angie accepted Christ as their Savior in 1987, the Lord began to direct heir hearts to missionary service. On a short-term mission trip, Chris discovered the use of airplanes in missionary work. The Jutte family served in southeast Asia for 18 years and in 2018 returned to service with MMS. Angie volunteers in the financial department at MMS.

At MMS,Chris is an Aircraft Maintenance Supervisor. He obtained his A&P license as an apprentice at MMS in 1998 and holds an Inspection Authorization.

Cheryl Lawson

Cheryl was born and raised in Ohio in a Christian family. Her father preached in various small churches around central Ohio. Cheryl entered the work force after 2 years at New York Christian Institute. She became interested in missions in the 1990’s and has been on short term mission trips to India, Sri Lanka, North Africa, and Peru. Cheryl holds a Bachelors of Business Administration degree from Mount Vernon Nazarene University. She’ll be serving on staff at MMS primarily in an administrative role and, since she enjoys mechanical work, will also be helping on the hangar floor as needs arise.

Phil and Elizabeth Maddux

Phil is from Kansas. After graduating from Ozark Christian College, he began ministry as a Youth Minister. When exploring options of how to be involved in missions, he found there was a great need for pilots and mechanics in missionary aviation. He, Elizabeth and their children moved to Ohio in 2005 and Phil began his apprenticeship. After finishing the MMS program, Phil and his family served in Africa for 3 ½ years. As that assignment ended, MMS invited Phil back to join its staff in 2011. The MMS Board of Directors asked Phil to serve as MMS’ third President & CEO. He took office October 28, 2016. He obtained an FAA A&P mechanic certificate in 2007, and holds an MBA from Mount Vernon Nazarene University. Elizabeth volunteers at MMS as an administrative assistant.

Rebekah Martel

Rebekah grew up in Vermont and has a heart for missions which was mentored through High School and college via short term mission trips.  She obtained her degree, Bachelor of Science in Mission Aviation with a Maintenance concentration, through LeTourneau University.  During 3 of her 4 spring breaks, she served at MMS Aviation, discovering the need for avionics technicians.  God encouraged her training in avionics through her love of electricity, and while working at an avionics shop after college, she learned some of the finer points of avionics system installation and wire diagram drawings.  The need for people in this field is slowly being filled, and she is excited to be a part of that goal by serving on staff at MMS Aviation.

Bryan and Maria Martin

Bryan and Maria met at work, where Bryan the mechanic kept deliberately messing up the paperwork to talk to Maria the secretary. It worked, and they got married in 2013. Bryan has felt called by God to mission aviation since 2007 but was too stubborn to follow the call. In January of 2019 God worked anew in Bryan’s heart and after praying about it with his wife, decided to obey and trust God in this next step. Bryan and Maria live near Lancaster PA and have two children, Frederick age 3, and Aria age 2 months. It is their goal to bring glory to God by using the tool of aviation.

Terry and Laurie McClary

Terry is from southwestern Ohio. He retired at the end of 2009 from GE Aircraft Engine, Cincinnati, Ohio. During his time with GE, Terry and his wife Laurie, who is a Registered Nurse, participated in short term medical missions to Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras. These trips brought them to sense a call to full time Christian service. Terry’s aviation background made missionary aviation a logical focus and the McClarys joined the MMS staff in March of 2010.

Terry has now retired from MMS, but he and Laurie still serve as Advocates for MMS, traveling to conferences and churches to share what God is doing through the ministry of MMS Aviation. He obtained an FAA A&P mechanic certificate in 2004 , and holds an Inspection Authorization.

Jim and Mary Newman

Jim is from northeastern Texas. Jim graduated from LeTourneau University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology/Aviation Maintenance Technology. In 2000 he and his wife, Mary, joined World Gospel Mission to work with their aviation ministry in Bolivia. They were in Bolivia until 2009, at which time they were loaned to MMS Aviation. Jim says, “What attracted me to MMS was the quality of aircraft and mechanics they were preparing for the mission field.” Mary ministers to apprentice wives.

At MMS, Jim is an Aircraft Maintenance Supervisor. He controls the flow of aircraft maintenance through MMS. He obtained an FAA A&P mechanic certificate in 1994.

Tim and Michele Obarow

The Obarows were active in their local church while living and working in the Reading, Pennsylvania area. In 1999 they responded to the Lord’s call to serve in missionary aviation. After acceptance into the apprenticeship at MMS and enlisting their support team, they began serving at MMS in August of 2001. Tim was no stranger to aviation maintenance as he’d been an aircraft mechanic in the US Air Force during his military service.

At MMS, Tim is the Director of Maintenance and Accountable Manager of MMS’ FAA Certified Repair Station. He obtained an FAA A&P mechanic certificate in 2003, and holds an Inspection Authorization.

Bob and Lisa Schwartz

Bob is from Minnesota and Lisa is from Texas. After college, Bob served in Alaska with SEND International (now SEND North). Lisa, a Medical Technologist, also went to Alaska to work in the medical clinic started by SEND. That’s where they met and continued to serve together after their marriage. One of Bob’s roles was as a pilot. When health concerns necessitated them leaving Alaska, they transitioned to MMS Aviation. After Bob’s completion of the maintenance apprenticeship, the Schwartzes joined the MMS staff.

At MMS, Bob is the Director of Training. Bob and Lisa’s passion is to prepare people to not just survive, but thrive in their missionary service. Bob obtained an FAA mechanic certificate in 2006.

Jay and Debbie Shearer

Jay grew up in Southeastern Pennsylvania and Debbie is from Colorado. They were married in 1984 and have three grown children. Jay has been working in general aviation since 1976 when he graduated from LeTourneau College.

He will be serving as a Maintenance Supervisor at MMS.

Dave and Sherry Shelly

David was born in Venezuela to missionary parents. During his childhood the family moved to southeastern Pennsylvania where his father pastored a church. David says, “My story is a story of a mediocre Christian life with a heavy bent on the ‘American Dream.’” However, God changed that. After 20 years of industrial work that included product production, facility maintenance, and safety services, David and Sherry were ready to accept staff positions at MMS Aviation.

At MMS, David is the Facility Maintenance Manager and Safety Officer. Sherry works in the finance department. They have been on MMS staff since 2005.

Kyle and Karissa Wagner

Kyle & Karissa met in flight school in Florida. They were married in 2013 and have two daughters together, Charlotte age 4 and Norah age 1.

The Wagner’s currently live in a small town in rural Nebraska. Kyle is a fencing specialist, mechanic, and truck driver by day and spends the evenings remodeling their old farmhouse. Kyle has 125hrs of flight training and earned his instrument pilots license through Missionary Flight Training in Ft. Pierce Florida.

The Wagner’s goal is to bring glory to Christ through service in mission aviation. Kyle will be an apprentice at MMS.

Ben Winsley

Matt and Melanie Woods

Matt and Melanie Woods have both known Jesus since they were teenagers, and early in their relationships with Him, they developed a heart for missions. They met each other while fundraising for a mission trip to Southeast Asia. Matt has had an interest in aircraft from an early age, taking flying lessons at the age of twelve. When the Woods family learned there was an opportunity at MMS to combine their love of Jesus, their passion for reaching the unreached, and their love of aviation, they knew this was the Lord calling them.  They are raising support to be an apprentice family at MMS; they have 2 children, Monica and Isaac.

Jack and Katie Harper

Jack and Katie Harper, along with their first baby (due September ’21), live in Longview, TX.   Jack works as an aircraft mechanic, and Katie works as a highway designer.  While growing up, Jack took mission trips primarily to Mexico, and Katie took mission trips across the U.S. and Europe. Since they were young, they have had a desire to devote their lives to full-time ministry.  Jack’s passion for mission aviation sparked when he was a senior in high school.  He then attended LeTourneau University where he pursued a degree in mission aviation. There he received his A&P, commercial pilot license, and flight instructor license. Jack will serve as a staff member at MMS Aviation as well as serve the community alongside Katie.

Brittany Umphress

Brittany was born in South Carolina but has since lived in several different states and countries around the world. She grew up in a Christian home and accepted Jesus as her Savior around the age of 4 or 5. While her desire to become a part of what God was doing throughout the world began around age 8, it has been a journey to discover just how that desire would become reality. Through God’s sovereign hand, Brittany has been guided towards serving with missionary aviation. She currently holds her Private Pilot certificate, and she will come to MMS Aviation as an apprentice to then receive her A&P (Airframe and Powerplant License).  Her future goal is to serve as a pilot/mechanic to the unreached people groups in Africa.

Tyler and Sharee Sensenig

Tyler and Sharee are from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Tyler has always been interested in mechanics and especially how those skills could be used to serve the Kingdom. He as an Associate’s degree in Electro-Mechanical Technology from Thaddeus Stevens College.

Sharee has been on several short-term mission trips and always considered serving in a cross-cultural context someday. Becoming an aircraft mechanic was not on her radar until the Sensenigs visited MMS and Sharee enjoyed working in the hangar with Tyler. They are excited to share this time of apprenticeship together, and they will be the first husband and wife apprentice team that MMS has ever had!

Dale and Jillian Liff

Dale and Jillian were both born and raised in Northeast Ohio and met at Kent State University in 1985 where Dale received a bachelor of science degree in Aerospace Engineering Technology and later a masters degree in Electrical Engineering Technology. Following their marriage in 1992 were many years of raising a family, meeting and maturing in Christ, and serving together in cross-cultural ministries. In 2017 they moved to Illinois for Dale’s job as a Director of Engineering. By this time Dale and Jillian sensed God’s calling into full time missions and discovered that Dale’s many years of experience in electronics uniquely suited him for avionics work at MMS Aviation not far from their starting point in Ohio.

Ben and Mercedes Plitt

Ben and Mercedes were born and raised in Northeastern Wisconsin. They got married on New Years Eve 2012 and have since had 5 children: Ezra, Evelyn, Boaz, Grace, and Felicity. 

While attending EAA Air-Venture 2019, the Plitt’s felt called into missions aviation but did not know how it would look for them as a family of almost 6. They spent the next 2 years seeking the Lord’s desired path. After adding another baby and attending Air-venture 2021, they started communicating with MMS and are now raising support for Ben to become an apprentice. 

Ben feels God leading to use his skills to be a missions aviation pilot and mechanic to further God’s kingdom by supporting church planting and Bible translation. 

Phil and Becca Sperling

Throughout their lives, Phil and Becca have had passion for mission work. Now they serve together with MMS Aviation in Coshocton, Ohio preparing missionary aircraft for service around the world. Mission aviation’s biggest need is for mechanics, and God gave Phil a passion to work with his hands to meet that need. Phil will serve as an apprentice at MMS, and Becca will use photography and media to help MMS communicate the mission’s vision.