Soaring on God's provision
It’s really best when Mark Faires’ job is boring.
Faires, a missionary pilot in Alaska, plays a key support role in SEND’s efforts to reach the unreached villages of the Far North. Hundreds of these small communities are off the road system, so anything that would travel by car in the Lower 48 has to go by plane.
“Maybe it seems exciting, and I do enjoy it, but the flying isn’t what it’s about. I look at what I do as enabling others to do the exciting work of sharing the gospel,” Faires says. “My goal is to make my flights not exciting. My goal is to make it boring for the passengers.”
Faires first started flying a four-seater plane for SEND, but he quickly realized that it was a bit small, especially for picking up missionary families in remote villages and for carrying heavy supplies. So, he started praying.
God answered his prayer when another organization offered to loan SEND a six-seater Cessna 206 that can carry twice the cargo load of his former plane.
“We quickly put it to use. It was much more helpful,” Faires said. “For one summer camp, I was able to fly in 900 pounds of groceries and a passenger, and I landed on a gravel bar on the river because there was no runway. This plane can both haul a lot and can go into more difficult places.”
That borrowed plane was already an answer to prayer — and then the owner offered to sell it to SEND. For half price.
Now that’s exciting!
But SEND still needed $60,000 — a big chunk of change.
“It gave me a lot of peace to remember that God had provided the plane in the first place,” Faires said. “As long as I was faithful in following him, he was going to work it out. So, I just started praying. Eventually, God put on my heart people to talk to about this opportunity.”
The money for this plane practically flew in. A matching grant for $20,000. Another $10,000 donation. Lots of smaller — yet still so significant — gifts. Three weeks after SEND made the need widely known, the project was fully funded, and SEND is now the proud owner of the Cessna 206.
“When people are obedient and attentive to what God calls them to do — willing to give generously as God calls — that’s an act of obedience and a blessing to everyone,” Faires said. “I’m thankful that people were willing to be obedient in order to be a blessing.”
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Fly-by Pastor:
Airplanes are crucial to supporting believers and reaching the unreached in tiny communities in the Far North.
Video:
It takes a team of people to reach out in the Far North. This short video shows how we use aviation to make a difference in people's lives and how you can be involved.
Give:
Help keep SEND North's airplanes fueled and functional.
Additional Posts
Choosing a Missions Organization: Why SEND International Stands Out “Why should I be a missionary through SEND International?” Jenna, a new missionary in Eastern Europe, shared with us what she appreciates about working with SEND. The highlights for her are: - Devotion to prayer - Diligence in communication - Commitment to development - Intentionality in accountability Prayer “Back in September of 2022, the Lord reconnected me with SEND after I had met them a year prior at the Moody Bible Institute. However, before he would sign me up for anything, my Missions Coach encouraged me to pray. He said something to the effect of, "I know that you've been praying on your own for a long time. But as the Church, we are not called to walk alone. So, you and I won't talk for about a month unless you have questions. I want you to go pray with 5 or 6 others from your church about where God is calling you." That October, more than 10 friends prayed with me and we saw God answer as He directed me to Romania. From February 2024 to November 2025, I had the pleasure of being a part of team meetings in Romania with my SEND colleagues. Our meetings were four hours long, two for prayer and two for business. This has been the minimum for our team. There are also prayer meetings with the local churches we partner with, among smaller groups within our team, of course prayer with many of you across the pond, including those at our US office. The organization was built, has been sustained, and continues to run on prayer. This is my favorite thing about SEND. Communication As I mentioned above, we have a two hour block for business / ministry details in each of our meetings. This provides consistency across our team which works alongside three different churches and in a variety of ministries. It also helps us to communicate about the need for change or growth, alongside what is working well. In addition, my team director also meets with each of us, allowing us to communicate needs, considerations, and prayer requests. I've also enjoyed getting to work with SEND workers outside of my immediate region . We receive emails with the minutes from the Europe leadership team, Friday communications from our international director, and information regarding projects that affect our work among the unreached. In December of 2024, our international director at the time wrote a note to my parents for the first Christmas that I was gone. If nothing else had convinced my mom yet, this did. He took the time to care for me, but also to care well for the parents that were sending me (What it meant to my dad and mom for him to do this well has been one of the greatest ways I've been supported.). I also have some pretty wonderful regional directors. These people have prayed alongside us (while also serving in their own countries of service), they have taken time to come visit and encourage our team, and they have also taken the time to encourage the people in our churches. Development SEND has provided much in the area of development and care (spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally). At our regional conference (every three years), there have been medical check ups available, counseling options, and time for connecting with others on the field with similar experience. At our conference last October, I connected with a missionary who served overseas for many years, and is now serving on the administrative side of SEND. She has met with me since then for mentorship and has also invested much of her time recently in preparing a retreat for the singles across Europe. Accountability Over the years I have read and heard amazing stories of how God has worked through missionaries. God has done great things and great things He is still doing! However, people who have committed their lives to the Lord in this way are not “super Christians”. We are still humans with the same struggle against flesh that others have . A major challenge is in being isolated -- living in areas with little to no presence of other believers to sharpen them can cause many difficulties. SEND has been a great resource in this area too. Through my team, I have an accountability partner that I meet with monthly. When my regional director came to visit, he and his wife spent a day with me and asked intentional questions about how I lead, handle conflict, and how I am growing in general as a Christian. In addition, my teammates share their wisdom with me on a regular basis. These things and more have assured me that SEND International is a highly valuable organization and I'm excited to partner with them in service to, for, and with our great God! Interested in being sent by SEND?
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