Brian and Connie Shepson are missionaries with Mission Aviation Fellowship. The Shepsons, along with their children Stephanie and Steven, spent three terms in Shell, Ecuador, as a pilot/mechanic family before returning to serve at MAF headquarters.
Brian says, "As one of the five flight instructors in the training department, I help evaluate new MAF hopefuls, train new MAF pilots, and travel the world checking MAF pilots on the field. We consider it a privilege to help equip new MAFers, not only from the US but also from all of the MAFs all over the globe, to be safe and to do well in their overseas service."
Connie manages the MAF Advocate Wing, a group of volunteers spread all over the US promoting missions and MAF. She says, "What a privilege it is to work with these dedicated people to get the word out about what God is doing around the globe!"
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One of Brian's favorite verses is Proverbs 10:5 (NIV), "He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son." Brian shares, "It is summer, the crops are ready to bring in and we don't have much time left. We need more workers to help us with the harvest." For Brian and Connie, their role as harvesters took them to the jungles of Ecuador where Brian was the flight operations manager, a flight instructor pilot and flew for several mission agencies. Now Brian helps prepare new, young and fresh workers to go out into those fields.
Brian, the son of a pastor, was born in New York and grew up in Minnesota. At age five, he made a personal commitment to Christ. He shares, "A missionary pilot stayed in our home for a few days when I was seven. I was greatly impressed that the Lord could use technical skills in His service and from that time on never wanted to be anything else but an MAF pilot." After attending Saint Paul Bible College (now Crown College) and Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, he earned a B. S. in Mission Aviation Technology at Moody Aviation in Tennessee. Brian is a commercial pilot, a certified instrument flight instructor and an airframe and powerplant mechanic.
Connie was born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She earned a degree in Bible Theology from Moody Bible Institute. She has worked on many special projects for MAF and is currently the Manager of the Advocate Wing. She recruits volunteers from all over the US to represent missions in general and MAF specifically in their own community. She oversees each advocate as they apply, as they go through specific training, and as they make the work of MAF known where they live. She enjoys the challenge of working with these great volunteers and seeing them blossom and serve the Kingdom right where they live. Connie quotes 1 Thessalonians 1:3 as a challenge for her to live by, "We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."
Brian and Connie met while they were members of the Moody Chorale, a mixed touring choir. After courting for three years, they were married in June 1979.
To fund the worldwide ministry of MAF, God is faithful in providing loyal, generous ministry support from thousands of His most caring people. He has called the men and women of MAF to serve Him in a unique way. He is also calling thousands of Christians like you around the world to play a special role in the ministry of MAF.
You are invited to become a ministry partner with Brian and Connie in this strategic ministry. Please prayerfully consider involvement with them through prayer or financial support.
USA, Technical Field Support
The U.S. offices of Mission Aviation Fellowship serve as a hub for MAF services worldwide. A day in the life here includes specialized flight training, staff recruitment and counseling, purchasing and shipping of aircraft parts, finance and accounting, administration of an internet gateway for worldwide email, fund raising, printing and mailing of various materials, and many, many more activities.
