As a young boy, David Pearce clearly remembers reading the Mission Aviation Fellowship magazines that lay on his parents’ coffee table. More than two decades later, he reflects on his own calling as an MAF mission pilot and now looks ahead to a new chapter as a defence chaplain.
Story by Kathy Burrows
“MAF is a special organisation, and it will always have a very special place in our hearts,” said David.
David has served with MAF in a range of roles—from pilot to Flight Standards Manager—across Africa and Australia. Now he’s embarking on a new journey into ordination, hoping to become a chaplain for the Royal Australian Air Force.
With over 10,000 hours flying in remote and hostile environments, he has many stories to tell of bringing hope to isolated communities, such as those in Chad.
“It’s remote, hard, hot, dusty – with a completely foreign culture and insecure regions,” said David.
“70% of the work in Chad supports frontline evangelical mission, so it’s really rewarding.”
He recalls flying Bible translators far up into the desolate Tibesti Mountains in northern Chad.
“You really feel remote there, even with the aircraft,” he said.
It’s a few days of driving through the Sahara Desert. But to do that in five hours of flying, and to be able to load up six months’ worth of supplies for them – the work was really appreciated.
Operating in vulnerable regions, David’s flights in various African nations with MAF often served as a vital lifeline for those in urgent need.
“There were so many medical flights where you were evacuating gunshot wounds from inter-tribal conflicts,” he said. “We’d just happen to be passing through, dropping off supplies and suddenly, there’s a desperate need to evacuate patients.”
David recalls one flight which involved the collaboration of several organisations to save the life of a young child in South Sudan.
“I needed fuel because I’d been diverted, and Africa Inland Mission (AIM), had stationed drums of jet fuel for their work,” he said.
“I was tired but here was a request from Medair, at a Serving in Mission (SIM) location, moving a little one to a Samaritan's Purse hospital with the fuel from AIM Air! It was an amazing day to see them working together and supporting each other.”
It was during David’s time flying in Kenya that he met his wife, Lisa, who had felt led there after completing her teacher training in Canada.
“My first knowledge of MAF was meeting a young pilot at church!” said Lisa. “I joined MAF by marriage!”
Lisa devoted many years to supporting fellow missionaries while raising their four children. She remembers fondly the times when families would come for respite at the MAF compound in N’Djamena, Chad.
“I have a lot of memories sharing cups of tea with these amazing people that God had called to very remote places and just feeling privileged to be a part of enabling them to be there.”
Even in the challenging times, Lisa and David always saw God’s provision.
“Our most difficult time throughout all our years in Africa was probably when we were in Lokichogio, in northern Kenya,” said Lisa. “I know that God really sustained us and used that time to stretch and grow our character.”
The family are now transitioning into their next season in Australia where David has begun chaplaincy training and Lisa is working in a school supporting children with additional needs.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how God’s going to work things out over the next few years,” said Lisa. “It’s just been amazing how the doors open along the way.”
For David it will be a busy season of studying before he qualifies but he is looking forward to the challenge.
“I just feel blessed to be part of that already and just seeing the journey that the Lord has us on,” he said. “And who knows where the Lord leads? After these years of pastoral training, the Lord might redirect and get us right back into mission somehow!”
