Lorch, Jamin & Lynelle

Jamin

I was born into a Christian home in a small town in Indiana and accepted Christ as my Savior at a young age. My father was a full-time youth ministry worker. I regularly observed teenagers praying, singing, teaching, preaching, and being encouraged towards developing and using their spiritual and natural gifts for the Lord’s work. As a child, I would find myself squeezed between teenagers in the church bus as we traveled to nursing homes, rescue missions, streets, and door-to-door to share the good news of the Gospel. A spark towards full-time ministry came by reading missionary stories, hearing updates at church, and serving alongside the youth group at outreach events. Upon reaching teenage years my family moved to within a few miles of the local airport. Unique and unsought-after connections with aviation enhanced my desire and God’s calling on my life towards missionary aviation. During these years I also regularly questioned whether mission aviation is still relevant in the 21st century. Are there really groups of people still unreached because they live in geographically isolated regions? It seemed wasteful to pursue specific aviation training if little need remained for this type of work. Unable to shake the calling or the path the Lord was leading me on, I worked for 2 years after high school and then attended the School of Missionary Aviation Technology (SMAT). Over the years the Lord has continued to teach me that “the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his steps (Jer 10:23)”. 

Lynelle

God placed me into a believing home, in a small town in Iowa, surrounded by a large extended family who were also Christians. Though raised on a solid foundation where Biblical truths were taught and demonstrated at home, church, and school, at times I took this heritage for granted and denied Christ’s role as Lord over every aspect of my life. I thought that disobedience in some areas wouldn’t affect my character or faith walk. God continually placed many wise and caring adults in my life who disciplined me and encouraged my walk with the Lord. They demonstrated the worldview that “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, ‘Mine!’ (Kuyper)”. Slowly God used these people, Bible study, and prayer to refine my desires and refocus my priorities. I began to see the importance of dying to self and relying upon Him, which greatly increased by awareness and gratitude for the Holy Spirit. I witnessed orphaned children in the poorest parts of Haiti running and laughing, grateful for all they have. In Liberia, God opened my eyes to his glory reflected by a tapestry of cultures. These experiences instilled in me a desire to share with others their worth, dignity, and value in the sight of God as his image-bearers. Aviation came into my life around the same time He was deepening my call to missions. These two passions became unified when someone brought “missionary aviation” to my attention. God led me to SMAT, where I was further encouraged and discipled by people who sought to put Christ first in all things. One of these people was Jamin…

Together

Having met at SMAT in 2015 we found that we both shared a love for missions and aviation. After being married in 2018 we have assumed a heart posture of “Lord, we know that you know that we are willing to go wherever you lead us”. He has brought us through a combined 8 years of aviation maintenance and 3 years of flight instructing amidst raising two children. In 2020 we moved from Michigan to Dubuque, IA, and found Arbor Oaks Bible Chapel. It’s been a joy to learn, grow, and serve alongside brothers and sisters who also share a worldwide missions burden. Praise God that, in Christ, we have all that we need. What a thrill it is to be a ‘stretcher carrier’ for someone else to encounter Jesus and have their needs met too! (Lk 5:17-26)