Gene and Jennifer Arnold

Gene and Jen Arnold live in Spokane, WA, where they serve with Mission Aviation Fellowship on-loan to Moody Bible Institute’s mission aviation training program.  Gene draws on his experiences growing up in Indonesia and his background as an aeronautical engineer in training the next generation of mission aviators. At Moody, Gene serves as a flight instructor in both the classroom and the airplane, but for him, the best part of the job is helping students grow in their faith as they prepare to serve others.

Gene was born in Three Rivers, MI, and grew up in Papua (Irian Jaya), Indonesia, where his parents served as missionaries with the C&MA, before returning to Tacoma, WA. Gene received Christ as a young child in Indonesia, while praying with his mother during evening devotions. Growing up as a missionary kid, he was aware of mission aviation from an early age. When he was twenty, Gene made a five-month trip back to Indonesia, an experience that set his focus toward the technical side of missions.

Gene received his B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Washington in Seattle, WA, before working for Boeing for nine years. He then attended Moody Aviation in Elizabethton, TN, where he earned his Aviation Maintenance Technician rating and Commercial Pilot’s license and instrument rating.

Psalm 71:14-19 sets out Gene’s purpose statement as he works with his students: that he would be able to tell of God’s righteousness and salvation, and declare His power to the next generation.

Jen grew up in southern California and Tacoma, WA. She received Christ as her Savior on Easter Sunday at the age of four with the help of her parents, who explained what it meant to be saved. Jen became aware of missions through church and also her parent’s habit of keeping missionaries as guests in their home throughout the years.

Jen received her B.S. in Nursing from the University of Washington in Tacoma, WA, and enjoyed working as an R.N. in a variety of contexts.  Gene and Jen met in Tacoma in 1983 and were married in March of 1995. Together, they have four adult children: Nate and Andrew born to them, and Rose and Rachelle adopted as teens from Haiti.

Philippians 4:6-7, 13 constantly reminds Jen to keep a heavenly perspective on everything she does and to trust in God completely: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. . . . I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

God calls the men and women of MAF to serve Him in unique ways. He may also be calling you to a special role in Gene and Jen’s ministry. Please prayerfully consider becoming a Ministry Partner with them through prayer and/or financial support.