SERVANT
AIR MINISTRIES, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
12/31/2004
Servant Air Ministries in the year 2004 had probably the most diverse
activity of all the preceding ten years. This being the eleventh year
of the organization’s existence, SAMI continues to provide quality
flight training and missionary flight services. The ministry consists
of three prongs which are: 1. a chapel on the field at Merritt Island
Airport, 2. missionary flight training, and 3. air transportation for
missionary and mercy flights.
A slate of officers was presented by Mr.
Fred Pino and voted by the Board re-electing Dr. Robert E. Lehton, as
president, Mr. Steve Miller as Vice President, Mr. Ryan Roberts as
Secretary, and Mr. Bill Oyler as Treasurer. Likewise, the Board
welcomes Tom Liston who was voted in as a general Board member of the
organization. Tom will be serving with Kyle Dixon coordinating Air Show
Evangelism throughout Florida and the southeast part of the United
States. The motion carried for the election of all the officers and
general membership.
The financial position of Servant Air Ministries remains stable, with a
positive cash flow, and unlike 2003, had no large expenditures replacing
engines in aircraft. All three aircraft have been paid off and loans
secured. Our Cessna 172 is used exclusively for primary flight training
and the Aztec and Saratoga for missions.
Flight training changed this year, the Board of Directors decided to use
Florida Institute of Technology and Voyager Aviation on Merritt Island
to conduct flight training. Also, the Board recognizes Dick Todd and
Bob Lehton, flight instruction, along with Roy Coy at Voyager Aviation
and Jack Sabba at Florida Institute of Technology.
This year our Cessna 172 was utilized for additional mission and training
flights and provided 77.5 hours of flight training, not including flight
training conducted at Florida Institute of Technology and Voyager
Aviation. Our Saratoga PA-32-301T was utilized for missionary flights
consisting of 104.7 hours, and our new Aztec became the work horse of
the ministry being utilized for 214.4 hours over this calendar year.
Regarding mission trips, we had the privilege of partnering with a
missionary flight school in Stewart to provide aircraft for missionary
trips over this past summer, 2004. Servant Air flew 69 missionaries
internationally, mainly to the Bahamas this year, and conducted flights
for such organizations as Covenant Players, Overland Missions, Faith
Temple, and Ft. Pierce Alliance Church. These are the large mission
trips that were primarily flown by Ryan Roberts and Steve Miller.
Flights mainly were conducted to Cat Cay, Marsh Harbor, and Grand Island
through Walker’s Cay in the Bahamas.
A new member of the organization, Dick Todd, who is an AI and A&P
mechanic and flight instructor assisted with maintenance and
instruction. Dick has been a blessing doing much of our maintenance on
all three aircraft which includes annual inspections and routine
maintenance throughout the year. Dick is a welcome addition to Servant
Air Ministries because of his dedication to charity flights and helping
those in need.
August and September were horrific months because of the number of
hurricanes that hit the State of Florida. Four hurricanes struck Florida
this year which consisted of Frances, Charley, Jeanne, and Ivan. Our
Aztec received some damage during the first storm, Frances, by having the
hanger doors collapse and damage the aircraft. But thanks to the help of
Scott Langston, we were able to repair the damage done to the fiberglass
structure and actually improve the strength and quality of the nose of the
Aztec. In September, 2004, Dr. Lehton was scheduled as the main speaker
at a Pilots for Christ convention in Shelby, N.C. However, Servant Air
Ministries had to cancel this meeting based on the hurricane damage and
activity that followed the storm which left a gap at the convention for
the participation of the Florida Chapter. Servant Air Ministries
continues to make joint “Pony Express” flights for Pilots for Christ
internationally and has participated in a number of relief flights.
In October, 2004, Servant Air Ministries along with Torah study group
sponsored the tour of 50 pilgrims from the United States to Israel. This
trip coincided with the Feast of Tabernacles of International Christian
Embassy in Jerusalem. This was an eleven day trip of which we made a
video on a DVD to help raise money for those ministering in the Muslim
communities. All 50 people had a wonderful time, not only visiting
Biblical sites within the Holy Land, but also being participants in the
Jerusalem March and the activities of the Feast of Tabernacles sponsored
by the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem.
In December, 2004, Servant Air Ministries collected over $3,000 and sent
that to the National Headquarters of Pilots for Christ to be delivered to
disaster sites in India and Sri Lanka. The generosity of the Florida
chapter reaching out to the chapter that is in India that was struck by
the Tsunami was admirable. All the chapters throughout Pilots for Christ
throughout the United States gave heartily to help support the brothers
and victims of this disaster.
In conclusion, it has been my privilege to again serve as president for
Servant Air Ministries for the past eleven years, and once again, thank
the Board of Directors and Volunteers for the efforts and service in
Jesus’ name. The summer of 2005 looks again fruitful for carrying a
number of missionary flights back to the Bahamas, as well as Central
America, and working with such groups as Covenant Players and Overland
Missions. Likewise, we would like to acknowledge again Bill Oyler and
Ryan Roberts for putting together and maintaining the web site, and all
the instructors and volunteers that make this organization possible.
We sincerely thank all the members, Board, pilots and supporters of
Servant Air Ministries for a fine year in 2004 and expect the Lord to
produce great fruit in this coming year.
Respectfully Submitted,
Robert E. Lehton, CFII, MEI
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