Boys in the hood take flight

Lutheran, The, Nov 2002

When Mike Schaser of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Eden Prairie, Minn., read "Boys in the Hood" (May 2002, page 32), he knew he'd found what he'd been looking for.

Schaser is a co-founder of Pilots in Christ, a Minnesota-based group of Christian pilots and small-plane owners who use their hobby and skills for ministry. After reading the story, Schaser contacted Leslie Hunter at Chicago's Holy Family Lutheran Church, home of Boys in the Hood.

In late September, Pilots in Christ took 15 of the boys in four small planes on flights over Chicago landmarks. It was the first time in the air for most of the boys. After landing, the group ate dim sum at a restaurant in Chicago's Chinatown-another first for most of them.