Takoma Airmen Take Flight

A 2018 Takoma Academy (TA) graduate, Taylor Waters matriculated to Andrews University (Mich.), where he received a dual degree in Business and Aeronautical Science in 2021.

“When I was 7 or 8, my family traveled to Antigua, and the experience was amazing! The pilots let me sit in the cockpit and press a few buttons. Since then, I always had the desire to be a pilot,” says Waters. “During high school, I learned that Andrews had a flight school and considered that path. Before I left for college, I was hanging out with some friends near Reagan National Airport. Watching those planes land and take off really sealed the deal for me.”

Waters says that one of his flight school instructors always told him that “experience is what you get when you don’t get what you wanted.” In other words, if things don’t work out the way you want them to, you still have the experience to learn from.

“One piece of advice I would give to anyone who wants to be successful at their goals,” says Waters, “is to go through life always trying to start and end your day with prayer and making a connection with God.”

Nick Ashman always wanted to be an engineer. A member of TA’s chapter of the National Society of student who got good grades and was sure that engineering was the path for him.

After just a few semesters at the University of Maryland, College Park, however, Ashman became disinterested in engineering and began contemplating his future. “Too much bookwork and theories and not enough hands-on activities caused me to basically give up,” he recalls.

Ashman remembers the many times he heard his mom pray that the Lord would guide his path. He remembers waking up from a dream in the middle of the night, going to his mom and asking her what she thought about him becoming a pilot. “It’s funny how the Lord works,” says Ashman, “because my mom told me that every time she flew she imagined me being the one flying the plane.”

Ashman’s career path in aviation took him to Montgomery College (Md.) and later to Andrews University where he obtained a Bachelor of Technology degree in Aviation with a concentration in Flight. For a year and a half, he worked as a flight instructor—first at Andrews, then Blue Line Aviation (N.C.), and lastly Freeway Airport (Md.).

Today, both Waters and Ashman completed their pilot’s certification and work as first officers for SkyWest Airlines.

WGTS Staff Visits Spencerville Adventist Academy

At a recent school assembly, Spencerville Adventist Academy students gathered for a special program with WGTS on-air hosts Jerry Woods and Johnny and Stacey Stone. Jerry and Johnny told their stories of how God led them to radio ministry. Stacey challenged them to think about what they are watching or listening to, encouraging them to guard their minds and hearts and stay true to Jesus. She says, “It was such a joy to be back at a school and talking to students.”

Following the presentations, the students enjoyed a fun game of Bible or Not, a Bible knowledge game that’s also played on the air with listeners each weekday on WGTS 91.9.

Elementary Vice Principal Paul Bragaw says, “The students, parents and staff were blessed by the enthusiastic interaction through games and personal testimonies of WGTS 91.9 team members. The ability to reach ages PreK through 8th grade and keep them so engaged was simply amazing!”

Sharing Jesus, Live at the Cherry Blossom Festival

On the first day of spring and with the cherry blossoms almost at their peak, afternoon show hosts Johnny and Stacey Stone broadcast live from Cherry Blossom Village, near the edge of the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C.

They spoke with a National Parks Service expert about the blossoms, prayed with listeners and played several rounds of Bible or Not, during which listeners can guess if Johnny’s phrase is from the Bible. Many listeners and tourists stopped by, including a radio host visiting from Ireland. This broadcast is the first time WGTS 91.9 has participated in the national festival with a live on-location broadcast.

Listeners Sponsor Children in Peru

WGTS listeners generously sponsored 679 children, mostly in Peru, during the Days of Compassion event in February. This Hands and Heart project ensures that children have access to schooling, food, spiritual and medical care, all of which moves them away from the cycle of poverty.

“Thinking about the number of children sponsored by WGTS listeners over the years warms my heart in a big way. It truly is life-changing for them,” says president and CEO Kevin Krueger. “It’s wonderful when the WGTS staff and listeners team up to influence and change the world through Hands and Heart initiatives such as this.”

Over the past nine years of partnering with Compassion, WGTS 91.9 listeners have sponsored over 8,700 children worldwide.