In a country like Peru, where mountains, rivers, and dense forests often separate entire communities, the sky has become a lifeline, and faith the fuel. Through missionary aviation, the Seventh-day Adventist Church is reaching people in some of the most remote regions of the country, delivering emergency care, humanitarian aid, and the message of Christ, flight after flight.
While the Adventist Church has been involved in aviation projects since the 1960s, it wasn’t until 1997 that Peru Projects was officially launched. Inspired by a General Conference initiative in the United States, a group of Adventist pilots came together with a singular focus: to use aviation as a tool for mission.
An earlier aviation initiative in the 1980s had been discontinued, but the remaining funds were set aside, reserved with the vision of one day resuming aerial missionary work when the opportunity returned.
A Childhood Dream Takes Flight
Eben Ezer Espinosa, now director of Peru Projects, first dreamed of being a missionary pilot when he was just four years old. Raised in Mexico, he studied theology and began serving local churches, but the desire to combine ministry with aviation never faded.
“After four years of ministry, I had the chance to study aviation at Andrews University,” he recalls. “I didn’t have the money, but God provided what I needed little by little. That process strengthened my faith.”
Espinosa originally hoped to serve in Papua New Guinea, but when that door closed, a professor connected him with Peru Projects. At the time, the project had limited infrastructure and no stable income. Missionaries shared meals, bought food in groups, and trusted God to supply their needs. Espinosa arrived in Peru ten years ago and has led the project through growth and challenges ever since.
Bridging Heaven and Earth
The aviation base in Pucallpa currently hosts around 14 volunteer missionaries, both local and international, who serve for varying lengths of time. Dozens more missionaries are active in the Peruvian jungle, sharing Bible teachings and offering support in hard-to-reach areas.
The planes fly four to six times a week, sometimes completing multiple trips in a single day. They transport critically ill patients, medical personnel, and supplies, along with something just as valuable: the message that God sees and cares for every person, no matter how isolated.
According to Espinosa, one of the most common requests from villagers is simple: “We want Bibles.” Thanks to a donation from Light Bearers, 20,000 Bibles are now being distributed during mission flights.
“We pray before every flight,” Espinosa shares. “Sometimes we don’t know what weather we’ll face or whether the patient will survive. But we trust in God.” That trust has seen the team through countless miracles—from safe landings in dangerous conditions to unexpected recoveries and moments of deep spiritual impact.
Challenges and a Vision for the Future
Despite its success, the program faces significant logistical challenges. The small aircraft currently in use are more than 60 years old, with limited range and cargo capacity. While one plane is in the air, another is often undergoing repairs. Maintenance is costly, and replacement parts can take months to arrive.
The team hopes to acquire a newer, more capable aircraft that would allow them to expand their reach to even more remote regions of the country. “We believe God will provide at the right time,” Espinosa says, a sentiment that echoes the faith at the core of the project.
Peru Projects is a non-profit, self-supporting ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The original article was published on the South American Division Portuguese news site. Join the ANN WhatsApp Channel for the latest Adventist news.
