Global Focus Week concluded with students hearing from missionary pilot Jim Streit during Convocation Oct. 2 in the Vines Center.
Streit shared his experience on the mission field as a pilot in Africa with Samaritan’s Purse during an interview with President Dondi Costin. Streit challenged students to reflect on their intentions.
“When you get to heaven, what is going to be important in terms of the decisions that we made?” Streit said.
During a routine flight Dec. 2, 2025, Streit’s airplane was hijacked. The perpetrator held him and one passenger at gunpoint and attempted to divert the plane to Chad.
Streit discussed the many miracles that occurred that day. He said that there was another Samaritan’s Purse DC-3 airplane flying nearby that was able to assist him and notify authorities of the hijacking.
Streit said the hijacker began to yell that he was going to kill all three individuals on board. Despite the situation, God spoke to him in that moment, putting Ephesians 6:12 on his heart.
“You wrestle not against flesh and blood,” Streit said.
Streit preached the gospel to the hijacker, allowing Streit to save their lives and land the plane safely.
“I’ve often said that one of the reasons I think that God led me into missionary aviation is because … so often it has brought me into situations where he has had to show up,” Streit said.
Freshman Avalyn Hostetter reflected on the importance of missions in her own life.
“Missions is something really important to me and my testimony, and hearing about people who are on the mission field … is really interesting to see what they come across,” Hostetter said.
Freshman Jayden Seitz shared how Jesus gives peace in chaotic situations.
“Jesus’ peace that he gives you was with him (Streit) in super intense moments and how cool and fascinating that was to listen to that in real time,” Seitz said.
Bloom is a news reporter for The Liberty Champion.