From small begininnings

Our Story

PAMAS was founded in 2007 by Dwayne Harris, a helicopter and fixed-wing pilot/mechanic who grew up on a ranch in Montana. He was inspired to start a wholistic aviation ministry in the Philippines. With the help of many self-sacrificing volunteers, PAMAS has expanded to cover four main areas of the Philippines with bases now in Palawan, North Luzon, South Luzon, and Mindanao. PAMAS has a vision to expand.

PAMAS is a Philippine registered non-profit humanitarian organization that provides aviation, medical, education, and agriculture services.

PAMAS stands out for it’s commitment to provide services to everyone regardless of their financial, religious, or social standing.

Mission & Vision

Our Mission is to impact remote communities with the gospel through aviation, medical,
education, and agriculture services.

Our Vision is to create disciples in every isolated people group through wholistic mission aviation

Strategies for achieving our goals

Strategy #1

Provide Access to difficult to reach areas through aviation.

Strategy #2

Disciple people to be Christ followers,
equipped to reproduce the same mission goals and objectives in subsequent generations.

Strategy #3

Enhance Partnerships and build mutually productive relationships with partners who share the PAMAS vision.

A look behind the scenes...

Why We Exist

PAMAS exists to demonstrate God’s love to people in difficult to reach areas through compassionate service. PAMAS strives to do this through providing access to difficult to reach areas through aviation. We desire to see disciples made by training and mentoring people to be Christ followers who are equipped to reproduce the same mission, goals, and objectives in subsequent generations. We are actively enhancing partnerships and building mutually productive relationships with partners who share the PAMAS vision and will help to speed the spread of the gospel to the ends of the earth.

PAMAS In The News

"The issue was never 'if God will provide' or 'if we can work this issue out.' It was just trying to think bigger, moving forward, seeking God for wisdom, and trusting Him with the details."

Adventist World

"On a recent trip, Bennett brought three mothers and their kids home to the costal town of Palanan. The area is cut off from uriban areas by the Sierra Madre, the longest mountain range in the country. It takes between one and two days to travel by boat and bus to the nearest capable hospital - but a flight cuts that to 30 minutes."

Washington Post

"'When the house burned down, it got me thinking about priorities in life,' Dwayne said. 'It made me realize that the material things that we collect on Earth are nothing compared with eternity. The only thing that matters is our own salvation and the salvation of others.'"

Adventist Mission

FAQ

How can I volunteer with PAMAS?

The first step of our application process, is to fill out an interest form. Click Here to learn more. We look forward to hearing from you!

How do the missionaries support themselves?

All PAMAS missionaries serve gladly as volunteers. They receive no salary, and their basic needs are supported through donations. They are happy to sacrifice in a small way for their Lord who gave all for them to have eternal life and a hope for the future.

How did PAMAS begin?

Dwayne Harris, a volunteer pilot/mechanic from Montana was inspired in 2007 to start a much needed aviation ministry in the Philippines. He brought a small helicopter over and began to serve the needs of the people in Palawan. A year later, he married Wendy (Guptill) Harris, a missionary nurse who was already serving in the mountains of Palawan with Adventist Frontier Missions. Land was donated and an airbase built by 2009 in Brooke’s Point, Palawan. PAMAS quickly expanded to the north in Luzon with another airbase, and eventually to the south in Mindanao as well. As God provided more aircraft and more missionaries, the services also grew to include Jungle schools, Bible work, Agricultural services and more.

Why use helicopters

The Philippines is full of mountainous terrain where many native people groups are isolated from the rest of the world. They are in need of medical help, education, and the good news of Jesus Christ. Many areas are so steep and rugged that it is impossible to land an airplane or even enter with trucks or motorcycles. There is a huge and unique need here for helicopters to help speed the spread of the gospel message to the world.

How many pilots and missionaries do you have?

We have 7 total pilots. Four are helicopter pilots (2 of those are both fixed wing and helicopter pilots). God has blessed us with more than 70 total volunteers throughout all the bases. We have around 8 foreign families or singles and the rest are local.

Helicopters are expensive. How is this funded?

We feel that God is ready, willing, and able to make our efforts for Him successful if we trust Him. PAMAS is a faith-based organization funded entirely through donations. God has faithfully provided month by month for the needs of this project as we have stepped out in faith and been willing to sacrifice for Him.

Why not just use airplanes?

Airplanes are also very useful for faster and farther travel and we currently use four of them. But airplanes are limited to established runways or flat areas where a runway could be placed. There are very few possibilities for airstrips in the mountainous areas where many of the greatest needs are for air-support

Do you need more helicopters?

We have an R66 helicopter that is currently serving in Palawan. There is a desperate need for helicopters for both Mindanao and Luzon as well. Everything is set up and ready to immediately start using them when they become available. There is also an urgent need for a helicopter in Mindoro.