Today we’d like to introduce you to Deyvid Batista.
Hi Deyvid, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I began my journey in ministry in the United Kingdom, serving as an ordained minister of religion. From a young age, I carried two deep callings: a commitment to serve God and people, and a lifelong dream of flying. For many years, aviation remained a distant dream, but faith has a way of calling us to take bold steps.
Eventually, I took a step of faith and pursued flight training, earning my Commercial Pilot License, Multi-Engine rating, and Instrument Flight Rating (IFR). What quickly became clear was that flying was not an end in itself—it was another tool for service.
That conviction led me to missionary and humanitarian aviation, where aviation becomes a lifeline rather than a luxury. I joined nonprofit aviation work serving underdeveloped and remote communities, combining ministry, leadership, and aviation to meet both physical and spiritual needs.
Today, I serve as President of Adventist World Aviation (www.flyawa.org), where we use aircraft to support medical outreach, disaster response, community development, and mission projects around the world, with operations in the United States and internationally. My story is ultimately about obedience—saying yes to God’s calling, even when it requires leaving comfort behind, and discovering that when faith and service meet aviation, lives are changed.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not easy at all—it’s been deeply rewarding, but far from smooth.
The journey involved significant personal, financial, and emotional challenges. Transitioning from full-time ministry into professional aviation meant starting over in a demanding field that requires intense training, discipline, and constant evaluation. Flight training itself was costly and humbling, especially while balancing ministry responsibilities and family life. There were moments of uncertainty, doors that didn’t open as expected, and seasons where faith was tested more than affirmed.
In missionary and humanitarian aviation, the challenges continued: operating in underdeveloped regions with limited infrastructure, scarce resources, regulatory hurdles, and the constant pressure of funding aircraft, maintenance, and missions. Leadership brought its own struggles—making hard decisions, carrying responsibility for people and equipment, and staying focused on the mission during times of criticism or fatigue.
Yet each obstacle clarified the purpose. The struggles shaped resilience, deepened dependence on God, and reinforced the belief that this work is not about comfort, but about service. Looking back, the road wasn’t smooth—but it was meaningful, and every challenge helped prepare me for leading Adventist World Aviation today.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My work sits at the intersection of faith, leadership, and aviation. As President of Adventist World Aviation, I lead a global humanitarian aviation nonprofit that uses aircraft to serve communities that are isolated by geography, poverty, or lack of infrastructure. Practically, that means overseeing flight operations, aircraft acquisition and maintenance, pilot and volunteer development, fundraising, partnerships, and long-term mission strategy—both in the United States and internationally.
I specialize in mission-driven aviation leadership: building sustainable aviation programs that are safe, compliant, and mission-focused while remaining deeply connected to the communities we serve. My background as an ordained minister and a commercial, multi-engine, instrument-rated pilot allows me to bridge two worlds—spiritual mission and professional aviation—without compromising either. That balance is something AWA is known for.
What I’m most proud of is helping turn vision into reality: seeing aircraft restored to service, pilots mobilized, and real people reached with medical care, food support, education, and hope—often in places that are otherwise forgotten. I’m especially proud of building teams that believe in the mission and are willing to serve sacrificially.
What sets me apart is that I didn’t come into aviation for status or career advancement. Aviation is the tool, not the goal. My leadership is shaped by ministry, faith, and lived experience in humanitarian contexts. I understand both the technical demands of aviation and the human realities on the ground. That perspective drives everything we do at Adventist World Aviation—flying with purpose, integrity, and compassion.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
This has never been a solo journey. Above all, God deserves the credit—every opportunity, provision, and strength along the way has come from Him.
My wife has been my greatest supporter, carrying the sacrifices and uncertainty with faith and grace, and my children are a constant source of motivation and perspective. I’ve also been shaped by mentors in ministry and aviation, along with dedicated teammates, volunteers, donors, and partners who believed in the mission and helped make it possible.
Together, their support—and God’s guidance—made the work of Adventist World Aviation a reality.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.flyawa.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adventistworldaviation/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flyawa.org
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deyvid-batista-8755243a7/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AWASDA
- Other: https://flyawa.org/donate/
