Adventist Aviation Indonesia Mission Pilot Gary Roberts Passes to His Rest

Gary Keith Roberts, a mission pilot for Adventist Aviation Indonesia, has passed away. Roberts, who was known for his dedication and service, had a distinguished career that involved flying missions across the globe with the ultimate objective of spreading the love of Jesus through mission work and compassion.

Roberts served on missions in the Philippines, the United States, Angola, and countries in South America. During his childhood, he assisted physicians whom his father transported to isolated regions to deliver medical help. During those times, Roberts participated in more than 1,500 eye operations, helping to restore sight to numerous individuals who had been vision impaired for five to twenty years. This experience motivated him to pursue a career as a professional pilot, registered nurse, and airframe and power plant mechanic.

Roberts perceived his departure from America for remote locations as a sacrifice; however, he found it to be a rewarding experience. He assisted numerous individuals each day with a single aircraft, the source of hope and a lifeline for many. He found immense satisfaction in knowing that he had made a significant impact on someone’s life and frequently played a critical role in sparing lives.

One of Roberts’s most significant flights involved the replacement of the aircraft that crashed and caused the death of his father, veteran mission pilot Bob Roberts. He prayed for the countries he flew over during this voyage, many of which are in the 10/40 window, a region known for its socioeconomic challenges and limited access to the gospel.

Roberts shared his experience of becoming a missionary pilot for Adventist Aviation Indonesia in one of his interviews in an Adventist Mission video. He stated, “We have been granted the authority to spread the gospel to all corners of the globe, including your neighbors, those who reside next door, and those who reside in isolated villages. You may find yourself wondering, ‘How will they ever learn about Jesus?’ And that will be achieved through the influence of an operation such as this, in which you enter and provide them with the necessary items, as well as share the gospel with them. Individuals who are prepared to trust God, relinquish control, and comply with His requests will receive substantial benefits.”

He was fervently dedicated to providing assistance to individuals in isolated regions, including pastors, missionaries, and medical personnel, who were transported to difficult locations where assistance was nearly impossible to obtain. Roberts’s family activity, in conjunction with his own, had a substantial influence on the communities of Papua New Guinea and other regions that benefited from their aviation ministry.

Roberts and his wife, Wendy, relocated to Indonesia following the passing of Bob Roberts, to continue his work with Adventist Aviation Indonesia. His service and faith have had an enduring impact on the mission field, regional church leaders shared. “The Adventist community in the Southern Asia-Pacific region mourns his passing,” they said.

The original version of this story was posted on the Southern Asia-Pacific Division news site.