God’s love. What does it look like? It’s not the hormone-driven affection between two sweethearts, although that is how it is often portrayed. In my experience, God’s love looks more like this: A mother quitting her lucrative job to stay home with a child who needs to be home schooled; a father turning down a promotion because its long hours would deprive him of time with his family; a popular fifth grader who leaves her friends in the lunchroom to sit with the new girl; a nurse who calls her heart patient at his home after discharge to say she will continue to pray for his recovery. Each of these examples involve risk and self-sacrifice. Godly love involves self-denial, as we step out in faith to respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
We see a lot of God’s love in Kingdom Air Corps’ operations. Staff, volunteers, supporters, prayer warriors—all of them working in the power of the Spirit to serve the Lord in this mission work. And, this month, we have the privilege of welcoming a new family who have stepped out in a big way. Ryan and Mary Hokuf and their three children are now serving full time with Kingdom Air Corps on-site at Rock Top Airport in Chambersburg, PA. Ryan, a highly experienced flight instructor and aviation mechanic, is just completing his first month with us. The Hokufs will be moving to Alaska in May to continue their work through the summer flight training season.
Other volunteers include Harry Lippert, who has joined us for a couple of weeks to work on hangar projects at Rock Top. Anton Yudzitski is working with two of our international students, giving flight instruction. Jason Merrick, pilot and heavy equipment operator, is also working on projects at the airport. These volunteers serve wherever there is a need, in Pennsylvania, Alaska, or last month, in Texas at the LeTourneau “Go Week” missions conference.
This Valentine’s Day let’s take a moment to read, again, about God’s love from 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”