Our Mission
Gospel Mission Aviation (GMA) exists to be the hands of Jesus, bringing the gospel message to the remote areas of the world through missionary aviation in support of humanitarian, medical, educational, and evangelistic efforts.
What we do
GMA is registered 501(c)3 Non-profit Charity working in north-western Bolivia. We focus on the most remote communities with little or no road access.
With the help of local and foreign volunteer medical professionals we are entering these remote communities carrying in free medical services and the good news of Jesus.
Our mission aircraft serves in an air-medevac capacity and transports medical teams, pastors, and bible workers into these difficult-to-reach areas.
Close coordination with Seventh-day Adventist Church leadership enables us to support church work.
Gospel Mission Aviation is one of the first officially recognized supporting ministries of the Seventh-Day Adventist church in Bolivia. We are also a member of Outpost Centers International and Mission Safety International.
Our Team
The Knott Family
David is a graduate of Andrews University with a BT in Aviation Technology. He is a certified flight instructor and aircraft inspector. Jodi is a graduate of Andrews University with a BS in Elementary Education. DJ and Jodi founded GMA in 2015 with the vision of reaching remote communities in Bolivia with medical aid and the gospel. During their time in Bolivia they’ve been blessed with three children, Hadassah, Tirzah and Joel.
The Kim Family
Ryan and Rocio are local leaders with GMA in Bolivia. Rocio is our lead Medical Doctor, Ryan is our medical coordinator, assistant administrator, builder, photographer, mechanic and dental assistant. He has a Private Pilot License and is building experience to be a pilot with GMA in the future. They met at Instituto Quebrada Leon in 2015 and joined GMA shortly after their wedding in 2022.
The local team
Our team of local Medical Professionals and Bible Instructors make this ministry possible.
History
Jodi returned from her year abroad just in time for DJ’s graduation from Andrews University in spring 2008. In October of that same year, DJ left his life encompassing pursuit of aviation for a service year in Bolivia. Instead of digging ditches and cutting firewood at a mission school as planned, he became the first pilot/mechanic of a brand new medical aviation program in the northern jungles of Bolivia.
Upon their arrival, plans changed and for the next three years the Knotts worked in construction and mission airplane maintenance in eastern Bolivia, Guyana and Tennessee. Feeling a strong call to pursue the dream that God had put on their hearts years before, they founded Gospel Mission Aviation in November 2014.
In February 2015, they moved to La Paz to start the Bolivia Highlands project.
Timeline
2014
JUNE
The Knott’s travel to Western Bolivia and see the Andes for the first time
NOVEMBER
Gospel Mission Aviation Founded
2015
FEBRUARY
The Knott’s launch project in La Paz, Bolivia
MARCH
Begin scouting and making contacts with community leaders
JUNE
First remote trip with the Land Cruiser
JULY - OCT
Scouting by land and air, using borrowed aircraft.
NOVEMBER
First medical trip to remote communities and roadless community by foot
DECEMBER
First trip medical trip with doctors and nurses to 4 communities
2016
MAY - JUNE
New communities entered with medical teams
JUNE
Moved to Cochabamba
DECEMBER
First medical trip with dentistry
2017
AUGUST
A Super Cub is located, and purchased in the USA.
SEPTEMBER
Knott’s gain dual citizenship
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER
Mission plane is prepared for work in Bolivia
2018
MARCH
The Knott’s spend time at Mission Aviation Fellowship in Nampa, Idaho for additional flight training.
MAY
Super Cub arrives safely in Cochabamba, Bolivia
NOVEMBER
Super Cub receives it’s Bolivian registration number and DJ receives his Bolivian pilot’s licenses on Thanksgiving Day!
2019
JANUARY
First flight of the Super Cub as a Bolivian registered airplane.
FEBRUARY
Alex Perez, MD, a veteran volunteer with us joins our core team as our first Bolivian staff.
JUNE
DJ opens various airstrips with the Super Cub. We do our first remote medical trip by air with doctor, dentist and physical therapist.
AUGUST
Marcia Silvestre joins the team as our staff dentist and Aymara translator.
2020
FEBRUARY
Jonathan and Miguel Angel join our team as frontline Bible Instructors in northern Inquisivi province.