Living a Life of Sacrificial Service
“Only one life, ’twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.” This quote by British missionary C.T. Studd deserves our serious reflection. Time is running out. Jesus is coming soon. How are we spending the life that we have? Missionary pilot Gary Roberts, and his wife and family, have dedicated their lives to service. But it has not been without a high cost. They lost their son in the mission field to malaria while their son was still young. Later Gary's father, also a mission pilot, was killed in a plane crash while serving. This summer, Gary himself was hit with an inoperable brain tumor diagnosis. And yet, even in the midst of his downward spiral with terminal illness, Gary's faith stood strong. "No matter what comes, we will trust Jesus," he said. Gary, one of the church's most skilled and experienced mission pilots, is gone now, but it is our prayer that Gary's death will not be in vain, but will inspire many more to get involved with Adventist Missions. We pray you are inspired by the following video of Gary's work in aviation. Again, Jesus is coming soon! Let's use the time we have before it's gone!
[NEWS RELEASE from the Southern-Asia Pacific Division, July 25, 2024]
Gary Keith Roberts, a mission pilot for Adventist Aviation Indonesia, has passed away. Roberts, who was known for his dedication and service, had a distinguished career that involved flying missions across the globe with the ultimate objective of spreading the love of Jesus through mission work and compassion.
Roberts served on missions in the Philippines, the United States, Angola, and South America. Roberts assisted physicians whom his father transported to isolated regions during his childhood. He participated in more than 1,500 eye operations, thereby restoring sight to numerous individuals who had been impaired for five to twenty years. This experience motivated him to pursue a career as a professional pilot, registered nurse, and airframe and power plant mechanic.
Roberts perceived his departure from America for remote locations as a sacrifice; however, he found it to be a rewarding experience. He assisted numerous individuals each day with a single aircraft. The aircraft were the sole source of hope for numerous individuals, serving as lifelines. He found immense satisfaction in knowing that he had made a significant impact on someone's life and frequently played a critical role in sparing lives.
One of Roberts' most significant flights involved the replacement of the aircraft that had crashed, resulting in the death of his father, veteran mission pilot Bob Roberts. He prayed for the countries he flew over during this voyage, many of which are located in the 10/40 window, a region renowned for its socioeconomic challenges and limited access to the gospel.
Gary shared his experience of becoming a missionary pilot for Adventist Aviation Indonesia in one of his interviews in an Adventist Mission video. He stated, "We have been granted the authority to spread the gospel to all corners of the globe, including your neighbors, those who reside next door, and those who reside in isolated villages. You may soon find yourself wondering, "How will they ever learn about Jesus?" And that will be achieved through the influence of an operation such as this, in which you enter and provide them with the necessary items, as well as share the gospel with them. Individuals who are prepared to trust God, relinquish control, and comply with His requests will receive substantial benefits.
Roberts was fervently dedicated to providing assistance to individuals in isolated regions, including pastors, missionaries, and medical personnel, who were transported to difficult locations where assistance was nearly impossible to obtain. His family's activity, in conjunction with his own, had a substantial influence on the communities of Papua and other regions that benefited from their aviation ministry.
Gary Roberts and his wife, Wendy, relocated to Indonesia following the passing of Bob Roberts in order to continue his work with Adventist Aviation Indonesia. Gary Keith Roberts' service and faith have had an enduring impact on the mission field, and the Adventist community in the Southern Asia-Pacific region mourns his passing.
[The suffering for Gary's wife, daughter, and family has just begun, and they need our prayers and support as they work to cover Gary's medical bills and move forward without Gary at their side. If you'd like to assist them in this time of need and great loss, please donate at the following links. IMPORTANT: Please make sure you put "Gary Roberts Fund" in the comments/note section as you donate, so the funds go to his family. Thank you!]
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