PROTECTING THEIR CALLING
OUR TEAM
Our team is committed to equip and establish our candidates with the skills they need to impact the mission field and spread the Gospel.
MEET OUR STAFF
Kerrick & Connie
Tweedy
Kerrick & Connie Tweedy
Kerrick and Connie Tweedy founded SOAR in October 2011. After a 26-year career in insurance software development, the Lord provided a clear plan to Kerrick and Connie to begin a new ministry preparing mission candidates to serve full-time in mission aviation. This plan implemented a new financial model to avoid debt, which takes time out of mission candidates’ progression from training to the mission field. Kerrick serves as the Executive Director of SOAR and as the CEO of IAMA(International Association of Missionary Aviation). Connie serves as the Chief of Staff at SOAR and assists with IAMA tasks. Kerrick and Connie have three adult children, six grandsons, and one granddaughter.
Rex Smith
Rex Smith
Rex Smith first heard the term “Missionary Aviation” when discussing with the preacher who led him to the Lord in 1979, how God might use him in the future. He moved his family to Springfield, Missouri and attended Baptist Bible College for two years once he learned he needed Bible training to be a better “soldier for Christ.” While there, he joined a flying club, began earning his pilot’s license and became a mechanics helper logging time towards an Airframe and Powerplant mechanics rating. Rex became a private pilot in 1986 and a year later an A&P Mechanic; however, by this time, the flying club had disbanded and sadly, he experienced the “death of a vision,” losing his intended vehicle for service. Some years of “adjustment” followed, and Rex then sought employment as, and became, a full-time mechanic with various employers. He did not realize that God was preparing him for a future mission. The day came when Rex was approached by a man who told him God was moving him to do something special, and he asked Rex to be a part of this new mission…which involved airplanes. Rex smiled. The man was Kerrick Tweedy, now Executive Director of the organization known as SOAR. Rex is both humbled and proud to be a part of the mission and thanks to God for the return of the “vision.” He is now helping to get missionary pilots and mechanics to the mission field and maintain the aircraft used in their training. Rex and his wife Linda enjoy spending time with their children and three grandchildren.
Seth & Deb
Whittington
Seth & Deb Whittington
Seth and Deb live in the Ozarks with their two daughters, Isabella and Jordis. Serving regularly at their home church, they wholeheartedly desire to see and encourage people to live sent. In January 2020, they made a life-changing decision to embark on full-time ministry with SOAR. Currently, Seth is fulfilling a vital role at SOAR as a Chief Operating Officer, bringing his expertise to equip and guide future missionary pilots. Meanwhile, Deb is serving as a PD coach, nurturing partnerships and leveraging her marketing skills wherever needed to support the ministry’s growth and impact. Together, they are committed to advancing mission aviation, answering the call to reach the unreached, and share the Gospel with those in isolated areas around the world.
MEET OUR MISSION CANDIDATES
Bailey George
Bailey George
Bailey joined SOAR in May 2022 to begin his flight training and to gain maintenance experience in the aircraft maintenance shop. Born and raised in South Carolina, Bailey grew up wanting to fly for as long as he can remember. While in college, he was challenged by friends and family to pursue missions and aviation together. Bailey earned his A&P while attending Greenville Technical College. With his flight training and maintenance experience, he plans to work as a pilot and/or maintenance specialist on the mission field.
Jared & Sarah Lowell
Jared & Sarah Lowell
Jared and Sarah were married in 2023 and are thrilled to be expecting their first child in early 2025! They met at Liberty University, where they discovered their shared calling to missions. Jared’s passion for aviation stems from his upbringing as a missionary kid where his parents served in a remote region of Papua New Guinea. There, aviation played a vital role in bringing the Gospel to unreached people groups. They are currently raising support as they get ready to move to Bolivar, where Jared will undergo training to become a missionary pilot.
Dustin & Sarah
Penner
Dustin & Sarah Penner
Dustin and Sarah were married in 2015 and have four children: Jed, Ellie, Annie, and Moses. After becoming aware of Unreached People Groups, they began equipping themselves for ministry by attending Ethnos360 Bible Institute. While there, they learned about the need for pilots and mechanics to assist Church Planting and Bible Translation in hard-to-reach, isolated places. They are joining SOAR for Dustin to become a pilot/mechanic to serve among the Unreached.
Michael & Breanne Plummer
Michael & Breanne Plummer
Michael and Breanne were married in 2022. They have a daughter, Verity, and are expecting their second child in November. Breanne attended New Tribes Bible Institute (now Ethnos360 Bible Institute), having felt the call to missions at an early age. Michael first pursued a career in mechanical engineering, but later felt the call to missions and changed paths. They are building their support team to work at SOAR, and once in Bolivar, Michael will train for flight and maintenance to serve in missionary aviation.
Skyler & Nicki Redding
Skyler & Nicki Redding
Skyler and Nicki joined SOAR in September 2023 to begin their preparation for serving in missionary aviation. He was raised in Iowa and always knew the importance of missions. While attending Ethnos360 Bible Institute, God put it on his heart to pursue mission aviation. Skyler and Nicki met while at the Bible Institute and they were married in March of 2023. Skyler is training to earn both his A&P and his pilot’s license.
MEET OUR LAUNCHED MISSIONARIES
Jeremy & Blinda
Dunn
Jeremy & Blinda Dunn
Called to missionary aviation in the fall of 2015, Jeremy and Blinda Dunn were accepted to Ethnos360 Aviation as a maintenance specialist family in January of 2017. In the fall of 2017, Jeremy and Blinda began serving at SOAR. While at SOAR, Jeremy was able to get more experience as the lead mechanic in the maintenance shop and build relationships with new donors. In August of 2018, Jeremy and Blinda started the training process with Ethnos360. In the Spring of 2021, Jeremy and Blinda began serving in Papua New Guinea.
Josh & Bethany Hamilton
Josh Hamilton
Josh joined SOAR in February 2021 and has completed his A&P License. When Josh learned that aviation mechanics play a direct role in helping missionaries reach unreached people groups with the Gospel, he began to pursue Missionary Aviation and was led to SOAR. Josh and Bethany were married in 2024. Josh and Bethany have joined UIM Aviation and are currently building their support team.
Fred & Lydia Holcomb
Fred & Lydia Holcomb
In May of 2020, Fred and Lydia Holcomb and their five boys moved from Bolivar, Missouri to Soldotna, Alaska to begin serving with Missionary Aviation Repair Center (MARC). MARC’s goal, “Giving Wings to Alaskan Missions,” is focused on expanding the reach of the Gospel across the vast state. MARC flies people and supplies where there are no roads, supports missionaries and pastors serving in isolated communities, trains mission-minded pilots and mechanics, provides public flight instruction and aircraft maintenance, and runs the FBO to help fund their mission flights. At MARC, Fred is putting his SOAR training to use, serving through flight instruction and aircraft maintenance. During Fred’s training at SOAR, he received his A&P, Private Pilot Certificate, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot Certificate, Commercial Seaplane, and Certified Flight Instructor. In addition to aviation ministry, the family is very involved in their local church and with a community ministry to men and women in addiction recovery.
Fred and Lydia praise God for how He used SOAR to train Fred in flight and aircraft maintenance, while simultaneously raising prayer and financial support; this allowed the family to be fully funded and debt-free when they received the invitation to join MARC.
“The Lord provided a way, through SOAR, to make an IMPACT and pave the runway for our family’s prompt departure to serve on the field, when the door opened!”
AJ & Stephanie Holloway
Fred & Lydia Holcomb
In May of 2020, Fred and Lydia Holcomb, and their five boys, moved from Bolivar, Missouri to Soldotna, Alaska to begin serving with Missionary Aviation Repair Center (MARC). MARC’s goal, “Giving Wings to Alaskan Missions,” is focused on expanding the reach of the Gospel across the vast state. MARC flies people and supplies where there are no roads, supports missionaries and pastors serving in isolated communities, trains mission-minded pilots and mechanics, provides public flight instruction and aircraft maintenance, and runs the FBO to help fund their mission flights. At MARC, Fred is putting his SOAR training to use, serving through flight instruction and aircraft maintenance. During Fred’s training at SOAR, he received his A&P, Private Pilot Certificate, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot Certificate, Commercial Seaplane, and Certified Flight Instructor. In addition to aviation ministry, the family is very involved in their local church and with a community ministry to men and women in addiction recovery.
Fred and Lydia praise God for how He used SOAR to train Fred in flight and aircraft maintenance, while simultaneously raising prayer and financial support; this allowed for the family to be fully funded and debt-free when they received the invitation to join MARC.
“The Lord provided a way, through SOAR, to make an IMPACT and pave the runway for our family’s prompt departure to serve on the field, when the door opened!”
Madeline
Hooks
Madeline Hooks
Madeline joined SOAR in August of 2021 to train as an A&P apprentice and work as a flight instructor. Raised in Indiana, she developed an interest in aviation. With the intent of pursuing flight training after, Madeline attended a year of Bible training at Emmaus Bible College. While there, God opened her eyes to the great need for pilots in missionary aviation. She went on to earn her pilot’s licenses and become a Certified Flight Instructor – Instrument (CFII) at Indiana State University.
Lance & Caitlin
Rensberger
Lance & Caitlin Rensberger
Matt & Abi
McWhorter
Matt & Abi McWhorter
Matt felt God’s call on his life to be a missionary in early high school, but it wasn’t until his first year of college at Montana Wilderness School of the Bible that he began to understand that the Lord not only wanted him to be a missionary but a missionary pilot specifically.
Abi was called to missionary aviation at a very early age. As a young girl, she grew up next to a crop-dusting airstrip and was fascinated by everything to do with airplanes. After hearing the story of Nate Saint and Jim Elliott, the Lord gave her a more direct purpose for her passion for aviation.
Matt and Abi McWhorter joined SOAR in August 2018. They have both completed their Private Pilot, Instrument, and Commercial Ratings, and their A&P certification. Abi has also received her Certified Flight Instructor Instrument (CFII) License. They are serving with Tanalian Bible Camp and Leadership Center in Port Alsworth, Alaska.
Nathan & Kayla
White
Nathan & Kayla White
Nathan joined SOAR in August 2012, completed his A&P certification in June 2015 and received his IA in August 2018. Nathan recently received his Commercial Pilot Certificate and Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) rating. Nathan, Kayla, and family have been accepted with UIM Aviation. Nathan and Kayla moved to Tucson, AZ to begin their next steps with UIM Aviation.
FIND YOUR PLACE
It takes a dedicated team to keep SOAR running smoothly, from our staff and board to our volunteers. We are always seeking passionate individuals who want to use their gifts and talents to support missions, particularly in training mission pilots and mechanics. If you’re interested in joining the SOAR Team and making a difference, please let us know.
Serve
MISSION AVIATION READINESS
Are you ready to make a difference in the world through mission aviation? Join us at SOAR and gain the essential skills needed to serve on the field. Our comprehensive training program equips you with the technical expertise, practical experience, and strategies to succeed in mission aviation. Embrace your calling and become part of the SOAR Family. Start your journey with us today and prepare to spread the Gospel through aviation.
