Ministries
My greatest passion is to provide my skills in Photography to both local and international ministries. Any legitimate Christian ministry can have access to my skills at my cost. Christian Radio Station WAYFM, in Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids, Youth For Christ, and Otsego Baptist Academy are frequent users of my skills.
Overseas Missionary work has been a passion and calling of mine for many years and I have completed 5 mission trips since my college years.
In February of 2001, ABWE sent me to spend 2 weeks with their team in Iquitos Peru, on the Amazon. On April 20th 2001, the Peruvian Air Force shot down the Mission’s little plane, over the Amazon River, after identifying it as a potential drug plane. Jim and Roni Bowers and their 8-month old daughter, as well as Kevin Donaldson, of that same team, were in that plane. This tragedy became the biggest story in the world for the next week and a half, and my photos played a part in that story. The photo of Roni and Charity, her 8-month old adopted daughter, made the cover of Time magazine. God chose to take Roni and Charity home to be with Him, and their sacrifice was in part the catalyst for jump-starting international Christian missions around the world.
Jim and six year old Cory survived unhurt physically. Cory, understandably, had some difficult times and is now doing well. Jim, was totally unflappable through all this, and represented his God and Savior better than anyone could ever expect. Jim has now remarried, and he and Cory are doing well.
Kevin Donaldson, the pilot, was badly wounded in both legs by the Peruvian Air Force Jet’s 50-caliber bullets. He has been able to recover enough to return to Iquitos, Peru and continue his mission aviation ministry
