Jephthah Ndlovu

One of my earliest childhood memories is the fire in my belly to become a pilot. I had never boarded an airplane or visited an airport, but I was, interestingly, inspired by the birds that I'd see flying in the sky.

One of my earliest childhood memories is the fire in my belly to become a pilot. I had never boarded an airplane or visited an airport, but I was, interestingly, inspired by the birds that I’d see flying in the sky. Their graceful flight kept me thinking that one day I, too, could fly the boundless skies. Being cognizant of my dreams, my eternally optimistic mother would always look me straight in the eyes and say, “My son, God will make you fly a plane one day.” Her words added hope to my dreams! I am forever indebted to God for giving me a mother who has UNRESERVED faith in me!

I am blessed to have grown under godly parents who are my secondary role models after Jesus Christ. My dad is an ordained Seventh-day Adventist minister, and because of that my childhood was adventurous. One of the early lessons that life taught me was the inevitability of change. My dad’s pastoral ministry meant that we would frequently relocate homes when dad was assigned to a different church. Eventually, my dad accepted the call to serve at Solusi University in Zimbabwe, the place which I now regard as my home.

Growing up in a pastoral family and African home meant that I grew up in an extended family. My dad and I were the only males at home until early in my teenage years, when my younger brother was born. In jest, I would use my family dynamics to explain why my cooking skills are less than perfect. As a family, my father instilled in us an honor for the principles of Gethsemane and OneAnotherness. Our Gethsemane is a designated prayer place where our battles are won. And our OneAnotherness promotes love for everyone by understanding that “we do not need to look alike, just love alike.” These principles still serve me well. I have a deep respect for people and a burning desire to spread love—God’s love.

In 2014, I had the awesome privilege of attending the Pathfinder Camporee in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and visited Andrews University. On my flight back to Zimbabwe, my prayer was, “God, you have placed this calling to be a pilot within me. Moreover, I’ve seen firsthand the fleet of planes at Your institution. Next year this time, I need to return to Andrews and pursue aviation so I can fly and take the Three Angels’ Messages to the whole world.” At that time all I had was a dream! I was on my way back to a country that was still regarded as Third World. I reviewed the information from Andrews University—tuition was beyond my reach. I claimed the promise that “with God all things are possible.” I wanted to become a part of a family of world changers.

God saw to it that the next year, fall 2015, I enrolled as an aviation flight student at Andrews. I believe in a God who still answers prayer, and each semester here at Andrews has propagated a testimony. One of the many is God’s mind-boggling intervention in my finances at Andrews. I received an email which I label as a “divine hook-up.” The email was from then-provost Andrea Luxton. At first, I thought it was one of the random messages that we receive as students, but this one had my name on it. God had answered our family prayer. I had received the “Dare to Dream” scholarship, which alleviated my financial burdens.

During my first semester at Andrews University, there were countless moments when someone would mistake me as a seminary student. Being a religion major had never crossed my mind. But then I had a life-threatening experience during the second semester of my freshman year and was admitted to the ICU. After this experience and many other indications, I was convicted to add religion as a second major to my aviation flight. I believe these two will complement each other well in my dream to be a missionary pilot. Since my time in the hospital, it has never been medically explained what actually caused the experience. The Federal Aviation Administration interrupted my aviation journey because they would not risk me flying after that experience. They still have not cleared me to fly, though they have asked for information in an ongoing review process. As disheartening as that could be, I am currently in my senior year and scheduled to graduate with a BA in religion. My faith is unwavering because of the promise that He who has begun a good work in me is faithful to mold me into the missionary pilot that He would want me to be.

I am humbled to serve with the Watchmen, a contemporary gospel a cappella group delivering an urgent message to a cold world. Since its formal inception on February 9, 2017, God has confirmed that He is willing to use even the chief of sinners to fulfill His great commission. This ministry serves to announce that it is time to make Jesus go viral! Because of God, we just recorded our debut album at the 3ABN studios. It will be released on February 9, 2019. Some of the group members are international students who have been blessed with the grand opportunity to attain knowledge at Andrews University. It is for this reason that the ministry has created the Watchmen Educational Scholarship Fund* to financially support international students who aspire to study at Andrews University. This initiative will be primarily enhanced by the album project.

Andrews has greatly influenced my perspective on life. I am determined to change the world starting from the smallest circle of influence I have. I am going by faith into the next phase, praying that God fulfills my dream to be a missionary pilot. My definition of “missionary pilot” has always been about service. Hence anywhere, anyhow and whomever that God wills that I serve, may His will be done. I pray someone is inspired to live to their fullest potential as they await a Jesus who is coming in the fullness of time!

Thus far I don’t know how that will happen, but where God leads I will follow!

*The Watchmen Educational Scholarship Fund is currently organized and processed by the Watchmen and is independent of Andrews University.