Dave and Donna Jacobsson

Dave and Donna Jacobsson are missionaries with Mission Aviation Fellowship assigned to the Democratic Republic of Congo since 1988.  They serve with the East DRC team from the eastern town of Bunia.

Congo is a vast country with beautiful people who have endured 25+ years of war and violence. The suffering is incomprehensible yet, God invites His people to join His heart of compassion to bring healing and hope. The flying in eastern DRC supports the Congolese Church, Bible translation, Christian Hospitals, crisis aid as well as serving students, medical workers, businesspeople, and more who need safe passage over insecure areas.

Dave leads the East DRC team as program director. He still loves the days he gets to serve flying in the Congo skies.  Donna supports Dave along with other involvements including hospitality for visitors and coordination of an Orphan Baby Formula program through Nyankunde Hospital.

An important verse to Dave is John 9:4 (NIV). “As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming when no one can work.” Dave says, “Because of the many years of insecurity and war in DRC, and repeated evacuations, we live with a sense that time is short. We want to serve Jesus and the needs whole heartedly, wherever we are, and be available for windows of opportunity to serve for however long opportunities exist.”

Donna cites Hebrews 12:1b-2a (NIV): “…let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…” She says, “Persevering in a war-torn country can feel discouraging with the endless violence year after year and the suffering and displacement of people. These verses shift my focus to keep my love for the Lord Jesus current, first and foremost. It is a humbling privilege to serve with our East DRC team, fellowshipping and partnering with our Congolese brothers and sisters to share the Gospel, pushing back the darkness with Christ’s life-changing love and hope.”

Born in Sweden, Dave is a third-generation missionary to Congo. He spent his early childhood in Sweden and California. Dave began his walk with Jesus as his Savior when he was six. He moved with his family to DRC (formerly Zaire) in 1971 where his parents served with the Swedish Pentecostal Mission. God called Dave to mission aviation through the death of a missionary pilot friend. He obtained his Airframe earned his private and commercial pilot’s licenses, along with instrument ratings, in Santa Barbara, CA.

Donna grew up in Michigan, where her father pastored with the Free Methodist Church. She trusted Jesus as her Savior when she was eight. Donna received a BS in nursing from Seattle Pacific University and worked four years in Seattle as an RN. After a short-term mission trip to Haiti, she went to DRC in 1989, with the Free Methodist Mission as a nurse. Donna and Dave met and fell in love in Bukavu where he was serving his first MAF term. They married there in July 1990.

The Jacobssons, now empty nesters, are thankful for God’s faithfulness in raising their two sons in Africa. Their son Matthew, a doctor and third year general surgery resident, and his wife, Annaliese and baby daughter live in Tacoma, WA.  Newlyweds Andrew and Megan are students at Boise State University. Andrew graduates with a Computer Science degree in December 2022 and his wife is studying nursing.

The Jacobssons are grateful for the prayers and support of friends through the years. “God’s faithfulness through His people is such an amazing encouragement and blessing for us!”