Mission
Agape Flights is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, Christian aviation ministry transporting continuous and critical supplies to support missionaries, their families and their unique missions. Agape is committed to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ through the missionaries it serves.
Our purpose is scripturally aligned with our mission statement where the apostle Paul gives us a clear picture of God's desire for us to "supply the needs of the saints." For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of saints, but is also overflowing in many acts of thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:12. With that clear mandate, we are committed to continuous and critical support of our missionaries, their families and their unique missions.
Nearly thirteen million people live in the areas regularly reached by Agape’s flights to Haiti, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas. The critical supplies transported to over 350 missionaries, their families, and their missions are used to change lives, one person at a time. Each year, Agape Flights touches the lives of over 1.5 million men, women, and children through its affiliated missionaries who provide clean water, community health, education, evangelism, medical services, micro enterprise, orphan care, and vocational training.
Serving Christ by Serving His Missionaries
Core Values
At Agape Flights, we strive to honor God, obey His Word, and follow His living example of love, Jesus Christ. "Agape," the Greek word for God's unconditional love, and the word chosen to represent this organization by our ministry's founders, is an integral part of what guides our daily actions and ministry service.
This set of shared values acts as a foundation for everyone working together at Agape Flights. Living out our core values helps Agape Flights stand accountable and reflect our mission, purpose and beliefs in all that we do.
Our Core Values are: Service, Integrity, Excellence and Shared Purpose
Agape Flights' Core Values Statement
History
Agape Flights was founded by Keith and Clara Starkey on October 24, 1980. In the words of Clara Starkey, "God laid it on our hearts to buy an aircraft to fly supplies into Haiti." They chose the Greek word for love, AGAPE (the unconditional love He has for each of us) to describe their mission and their ministry.
On November 15, 1980, Agape’s inaugural flight left the Sarasota- Bradenton Airport, bound for Cap Haitien, Haiti. The small Cessna 411 was loaded with donated emergency supplies and mail for about 25 missionary families.
Today, Agape Flights serves as a lifeline from family, friends, and supporters to over 350 missionary families in Haiti, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas.
Why Agape Flights?
Agape Flights serves missionaries living and working in some of the most challenging mission fields in the world. Agape's routine mail and cargo service is dependable and cost effective. One of Agape's biggest strengths is that it is available to the missionaries; a support system on the other end of the phone or email that understands what they need to receive is important and not easily purchased "down the street". The original principles that Agape was founded on thirty years ago continue to work today. The cooperative effort forged by missionaries, donors, volunteers, board members and staff, is grounded by faith in God's son, Jesus Christ to change and save lives.
Please follow this link for Agape's Case for Support.
FAQs
1. How long does it take to fly to Haiti from Venice?
It is about 850 miles to Port au Prince and takes approximately 4.5 hours, including a stop for fuel. Due to weight limits of the plane, the fuel stop in the Bahamas allows the pilots to fly with more cargo and also provides the opportunity to serve missionaries based there.
2. How many missionaries does Agape Flights serve?
While the numbers fluctuate, we currently serve over 300 missionaries, their families and their missions.
3. How do I become an Agape Flights Member Missionary?
If you are interested in becoming an affiliated missionary with Agape Flights, please refer to the Agape Flights Missionary Application for more information. Agape Flights provides ministry support to any missionary or mission organization whose fundamental beliefs are consistent with our Statement of Faith and who has provided a completed, and approved, application.
4. How much does it cost to send a package from Agape Flights to a missionary?
Agape's total cost to deliver cargo to the missionaries is $4.00 a pound. Missionaries affiliated with Agape Flights contribute $1.50 a pound toward the total per pound cost. Most people that send a package to a missionary don't want them to incur the cargo cost. Most people that send a package to a missionary don't want them to incur the cargo cost; so the senders are quick to include an amount to cover the missionaries' cost. Senders are also encouraged to include an additional gift amount to help Agape cover the actual delivery cost. Any thing above the $1.50 per pound helps Agape Flights continue to provide this vital ministry service. Click here for detailed instructions about how to send a package.
5. How much cargo can the plane carry?
The Embraer 110 (Bandit) can currently carry about 3,000 pounds of cargo.
6. Does Agape fly passengers?
In the past, and on different airplanes, Agape Flights has flown passengers. However, at this time, our focus is the transportation of cargo to the various airports we service.
7. Does Agape organize short term mission trips?
We do not organize short term mission trips.· However, we can put you in contact with missionaries in need of assistance.·
8. In what locations does Agape Flights serve missionaries?
Mission flights regularly land in the following airport locations:
Eleuthera, Bahamas
Cap Haitian, Port au Prince and Les Cayes, in Haiti
Santo Domingo and Santiago in the Dominican Republic
Statement of Faith
God is a Person who has revealed himself as a Trinity in unity. The Bible is a divine revelation, the original writings of which were inspired by the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is the image of God who took our nature, being conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary. He died on the cross as a substitution sacrificed for the sin of the world. He arose from the dead and ascended into heaven where He is at the right hand of the Lord. He will return to set up His Kingdom. Man was created into the image of God but fell into sin. Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ who His own self bore our sins. The Church is an elect company of believers baptized by the Holy Spirit into one body.
For the full reading of our statement, please view Agape Flights' Statement of Faith.
For over thirty years, this Christian aviation ministry we call Agape Flights has done our utmost to follow God’s leading to assist and supply the needs of His missionaries. In 2 Corinthians 9, the apostle Paul gives us a clear picture of God’s desire for us to “supply the needs of the saints.” With that clear mandate we are committed to continuous and critical support of our missionaries, their families and their unique missions.