What Is the Gospel?

Kristy Graham, host of On the Ground with Samaritan’s Purse sits down with Matt Olson, the deputy director of our Mission Aviation Services to talk about flying all around the world with Samaritan's Purse. But first, listeners will hear what Matt recently shared during staff devotions about the simplicity of the Gospel. Matt talked about flying with an Italian priest in South Sudan. Matt also he pointed out Scripture that defines the Gospel, and recounted a dream that greatly impacted him because it depicted the freedom we have in Christ.

“The Gospel is real, it is true, it is beautiful, it is simple. Don't make it more complicated for yourself and don't make it more complicated for others.” —Matt

Matt served in the U.S. Air Force for many years, but once he became a Christian, he felt convicted to serve the Lord in a different area: the mission field. From the outside, Matt seemed to have everything together. He had a great job, a nice house, and lots of friends, but on the inside, he was lost. When Matt was 25, his friend became a Christian and began sharing books with him. Over the next couple of months, Matt started reading the Bible for the first time. One day, Matt went to a church and there was an altar call. He gave his life to Jesus Christ, and in that moment, everything changed.

“Salvation in the Gospel wasn't just an idea. It came with power. And in my life, things began to change, and all the sins I had been powerless to give up faded away. I couldn't do them anymore. I was forgiven and it changed everything.” —Matt

This created a drive in Matt to pursue missional work. Matt was able to continue to use his gift of flying in a different context with his new Commander, the Lord, guiding him. On one of his first missions in Africa, Matt remembers flying over Lake Victoria to transport 500 kilos of Bibles in a new language. In that moment it hit him—nothing he did in the Air Force compared to what he was doing right then. Another story that stands out to Matt was when he flew a young girl who had been trampled by a cow to get treated at a hospital.

“And I just remember thinking, ‘What if I hadn't landed at that place today?’ Because no one else was going to help her. She would either be deformed or die. And that's when I remembered the challenge that I had when I was a new Christian when someone said, ‘Do something that if you don't do it, it might not get done.’” —Matt

Please pray for Matt as he continues to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Pray for Mission Aviation Services and for all that are involved in ensuring Samaritan’s Purse staff fly safely. If you’d like to keep up to date with more stories on the ground, please visit SamaritansPurse.org.