"Pilots for Christ" Fly Over, Pray for State Capitol

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By Heather VacLav

Story Created: May 6, 2012 at 8:55 PM CDT

Story Updated: May 6, 2012 at 9:02 PM CDT

Pilots for Christ, a national charity who flies missions for those in need, flew across the nations’ 50 state capitols on a “PrayerFlight” as the country recognized the National Day of Prayer, May 3. However, bad weather postponed Alabama's PrayerFlight, so the Pilots for Christ flew over Montgomery Sunday to send prayers and blessings over the city and state.

"Dear Lord as we fly today, as we look out over all the majesty that you have created for us in Alabama, every county in Alabama, every municipality in Alabama,” Chaplin Fred Kelley prayed as the Pilots for Christ plane flew over the capitol. “We ask you to give our leaders the encouragement that they need during the hard times in our economy.”

Kelley, a veteran pilot left the cockpit to work with passengers as a Chaplin for the Pilots for Christ ministry.  “I call this living church,” Kelley said. “Instead of just going to church, a lot of days, and Sundays we fly people.” Kelley says he and his crew have church every time they are in the air.

Pilots for Christ fly weekly missions to promote the gospel of Jesus Christ, transporting those who either financially or physically can not afford to so.

“A lot of these people are in a life or death situation and what I try to do is minister to them, be them for them if they need to talk,” Kelley said. “Instead of just getting them from point A to point B very fast, we're able to [minister them] possibly with the rest of their life, should they not make it.”

Since Alabama’s chapter opened in 1994, Pilots for Christ have formed lasting relationships with patients and their families, serving more than 900 patients in their ministry.

“I look at my little girl and I see that pretty smile on her face, and I thank the Lord that He placed us where He did,” said Carol Matchett. Her granddaughter needed clef lip surgery four years ago, but Matchett’s family could not afford travelling from Monroeville to Texas for the procedure.

“Pilots for Christ agreed to take us out there, and there she is,” Matchett said holding up a before and after picture of her granddaughter. “She's four years-old now, but she was 10 months old when she had her mouth done.” 

“This is our purpose for our life,” pilot and President of Alabama’s Pilots for Christ Tommy Lee said. “God has called us to do this to help our fellow man; it’s an honor and a privilege."

“We have a whole team that does this and it’s what we need to be doing with our life and while we've got time to help each other,” he said.

Lee said Pilots for Christ is a charity that does not ask for donations, but has been graciously blessed by kind people in the community to help fund their trips. To learn more about Pilots for Christ and their services in Alabama, visit their website: http://www.pfcal.net/

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