In 1965, The Quiet Hour, under the leadership of founder J. L. Tucker, made its first appeal for the purchase of a Cessna 180 plane to be used in Papua New Guinea. The amount needed for this special mission project was $23,500, a vast quantity of 1965 dollars.

In the November 1965 issue of Echoes, J. L. Tucker said, “This, with the other more regular projects, will seem to some a step of faith too large to encompass.” Yet, he appealed to the readers to have faith anyway.

There was a great need for a plane in the rugged areas of New Guinea. Pastor Len Barnard, one of the four missionary pilots in that needy field, stated, “The amount of extra work we are able to do is astonishing and I often marvel at what is accomplished every week.” He continued, “This land of savages is stirring as never before and God will have many precious jewels from this dark land.”

That Cessna 180, named the J. L. Tucker, served the mission work in Papua New Guinea for nearly 40 years.

Papua New Guinea’s dedicated missionaries are in great need of another aircraft. There are still many people in the mountainous, rugged areas of this country waiting to hear about Jesus. They need medical supplies, emergency evacuation support, and materials to build jungle chapels and schools. In many areas, it would take days or weeks for a team to traverse the countryside to reach villages. With a plane it only takes a few hours of flying time.

In celebration of 70 bountiful years of working for God, The Quiet Hour is again raising funds for a plane for this needy country. This plane is a turbine-powered single-engine aircraft, with a cargo capacity of 1500kg (3300 pounds), and able to carry up to 10 passengers.

In addition, The Quiet Hour is responding to a request from the Philippines for an additional plane to serve villages in nearly inaccessible areas. In partnership with Adventist World Aviation, we are raising funds to refurbish a Cessna 182D.

That’s two airplanes for two needy countries for a total of $1,709,150—a lot of money for a big need! These two planes will help change many lives. More people will be able to hear about Jesus. More jungle chapels will be built. More lives will be saved. More lay workers will be able to enter more jungles and mountainside villages.

Like J. L. Tucker, we have faith in you to help us reach this goal, and faith that God will multiply your resources and desire to participate.

The 1965 Echoes readers had faith and raised enough funds for the first Quiet Hour plane sent to Papua New Guinea, and we have faith that our readers today will help with two more planes. Donate now to the Airplanes for the world project.