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Steven Noble
Editor, Internal Publications
p. 403.440.5692
e-mail: snoble@mtroyal.ca

Fred Cheney
Media Relations Officer
p. 403.440.5195
e-mail: fcheney@mtroyal.ca

 

Generally the departure of a faculty member is disappointing news.

But while the flight of Bissett Aviation instructor, Judith Dupuis is Mount Royal’s loss, it’s Africa’s gain.

Dupuis and her husband Mike, also a pilot who serves as an examiner for our flight students, are hoping and praying they will raise enough funds to join the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF)  in Kenya Africa, where they'll be based out of Nairobi.

The Dupuis are giving up their job security, they’re leaving their home and their friends in a tight-knit community near Springbank, to transport medical personnel, church mission volunteers, teachers as well as relief and development workers to war torn areas of Africa for the next five years.

Mike and Judith Dupuis were valued members of the Mount Royal community. Now they're taking their talents and passions overseas to begin a completely different phase of their life.

They may be shot at. They will have to deal with hostile politics. They will have to deal with searing heat, a wide range of terrain, poisonous bugs and deadly animals.

Not only that, the MAF mandates that its pilots fund raise the money necessary to make the move and support themselves in their volunteer duties.

The Dupuis family has been fund-raising full-time since Sept. and have nearly reached the goal necessary to be accepted into the final training session in England, Feb 2010 before taking flight for Africa.

They have currently raise just over 55% ($6000) of the monthly ministry support they need, and have built up 40% of their Out-Going amount($35,000).
Support raised will employ both of them while working in Kenya. There is still a ways to go though.  

Before they can pack their bags for the final training sessions in Idaho and the UK they need to be at 90% ministry support,

While the move may sound borderline crazy to some, it’s hardly a rash decision.

“It’s something we prayed about for quite some time,” says Judith.

“While both Mike and I were excited about the idea of using our abilities to help others in need, we believe God can use us to help people in Calgary as well as he can in Africa, so we really were careful not to get our expectations up too much one way or the other.”

One by one though, the pieces fell into place over the last two years. As more and more reports of religious and political conflict come out of Africa, it’s become clear the Dupuis’ immediate destiny lies overseas.

Bissett School of Business Dean, Wendelin Fraser is as excited for the Dupuis as she is disappointed to lose a great faculty member.

“Within the business community, there is often the misconception that everyone’s only in it for the money,” says Fraser.

“But quite a few people look to enter programs because they have a calling or want to make a difference, whether it’s in non-profit studies or aviation.

“What great role models Judith and Michael are for our students . Not only do they continue to work on developing their skill set, but they are passionate about flying and the greater community.”

Fraser couldn’t have said it better. The Dupuis are adamant when they talk about community and what that word means to them. In their eyes community is bigger than Mount Royal or Calgary or even Canada. It’s a bond shared by humans around the world.

And in Africa, where children are starving, wars respect no boundaries, creed or culture and every day can be a struggle, that type of attitude may be the only thing that will make a difference.

“Watching this mission come together has been amazing,” says Dupuis. “It really is ordinary people doing extraordinary things together, sharing the same vision. Our team is made up of family, friends, co-workers, colleagues and the Springbank community.”

If you’d like to find out more information on the Dupuis and their mission, or are interested in offering some support you can visit them online or contact them directly.

"Some people may find it unusual that we have to find our own finacial support team," says Judith.

"This is definitely a challenging stage. As pilots we are often independent personalities and we have to be for the work we do. This is different though because the ministry support aspect makes us dependant on other people.

"When we get overseas, and times get tough, our prayer support team will see us through. We know we have a great team started and we trust the rest of the team will come forward. It also confirms our call to service.

"The long term benefits are out of this world."

— Steven Noble, Dec. 17, 2009

Financial support of the ministries of missionary families is necessary to sustain the workers in the field. As MAF Canada missionary career staff, Michael and Judith are required to help raise a monthly support stipend equivalent to $ 6000 a month for a family. Out of these funds, MAF Canada fully covers all expenses regardless of family size. One time donations will be applied to the outgoing expenses ($35,000). This amount is used to train, prepare and place mission families into the field. Judith and Michael are unique in that they both will be active as pilots. Ministry partners can be assured that the work being accomplished through their financial support of their ministry will be effectively put to use. They will receive a family salary of $2300/ month, not two salaries. Partnering with Michael and Judith through their work with MAF enable the Kenya operations to continue ministering and serving over 130 different agencies and organization. The Dupuis Dispatch website to see how each ministry partnership dollar is put to work on your behalf. Since September 1st/2009 Michael and Judith have been working full time to build our team of Ministry Partners. As of December 15/2009, our monthly ministry support is now at 55% of our target , with our Outgoing fund level at 40%.