Luke and Amy Nelson

Luke and Amy Nelson are looking forward to serving with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) while following God’s commission to make disciples of all nations. Through aviation they will be able to help meet the practical needs of people who are physically and politically isolated. Whether it is medical evacuations, transporting pastors and Bible translators, or flying pigs out of a remote village to be sold at market; these services will open doors for the hope of Christ to be shared with people around the world. Through Luke’s technical training as a pilot and mechanic, and Amy’s degree in intercultural communications, the Lord has prepared them to be effective co-laborers with Him as He works to build His kingdom.

Luke grew up in a small town in rural Minnesota. Although he grew up in the church and became a Christian at a young age, he did not get serious about following Jesus until his senior year of high school. Influenced by missions- minded parents and the story of Jim Elliot, he decided to attend Moody Bible Institute in Spokane, WA, to study missionary aviation. Luke first learned about MAF during his time at Moody, where many of the instructors are on-loan missionaries from different agencies. Getting to know these missionaries and hearing about each organization helped clarify that Luke and Amy would fit best with the structure and mission of MAF. Upon graduating from Moody Aviation in 2021, Luke and Amy took the next steps towards joining MAF, as the Lord led.

Amy was born and raised in western Washington in a loving, Bible-believing family. She and her two older brothers grew up going to church multiple days a week from Kindergarten through high school where they were involved in nearly every church ministry. All of these influences helped lead Amy to trust in Jesus as her Lord and Savior when she was 5 years old while sitting on the piano stool with her mom. Throughout high school Amy went on week-long mission trips to rural towns in Montana. She then spent the summer before college on an 8-week internship in South Korea with Awana Korea. That was when the Lord confirmed in her heart a call toward overseas missions, so she chose an intercultural studies major when she went to Moody Bible Institute that fall. Amy continued to go on missions internships during school breaks to Florida, France, Portugal, Northern Ireland, and China. She graduated from Moody in 2017 and has since been working as the Student Ministry Director at Cheney Community Church.

Luke and Amy met in 2015 while attending Moody Bible Institute. They lived in neighboring houses and went to the same church, eventually restarting their church’s youth group together. Luke finally asked Amy on a date in 2016, they got engaged in 2017 and married in 2018. In November of 2021 they welcomed their first daughter, Leona Joy. The Nelsons are thankful that even as they make all these plans, it is the Lord who will direct their steps.

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 the Nelsons’ ministry.  Please prayerfully consider becoming a Ministry Partner with them through prayer and/or financial support.