ALUMNI FEATURE A Life of Mission and Aviation in Alaska
GRANT FRITZ ‘09 has found his calling at the intersection of aviation and ministry in the rugged landscapes of Alaska. Living with his wife, Hayley, and their six children in Palmer, Alaska, one hour north of Anchorage, Grant has made it his mission to serve the isolated villages of the Alaskan wilderness with the unique gift God has equipped him with—aviation. After graduating from Meadow Creek Christian School (MCCS/Legacy), Grant pursued a path in ROTC at Northwestern University–St. Paul. Commissioned as an Army aviation officer, he spent years moving his growing family between bases in Arizona, Texas, and Korea. By 2021, after feeling called to Alaska, Grant and his family drove from Texas to Palmer, a decision that marked the beginning of a new chapter.
Once there, God moved in miraculous ways to provide the resource Grant would need to use his gift of flying in Alaska—a plane. He met the Christian owner of an aviation company who granted him sole piloting of a plane, the exact model he had flown in the Army. Today, he flies commercially a few days a week and dedicates the rest of his time using that same plane to serve Praying Pelican Missions and other missionaries in village Alaska. "For everything you use your vehicle for, people use planes in these villages," Grant says, highlighting the unique logistical challenges of Alaskan life. He recounts stopping in ten villages in a single day of flying, picking up a doctor at one spot and delivering them in the next town over.
Grant and Hayley have also been on a journey of listening to Jesus and understanding what church is supposed to look like in their community. Their home has become a church for worship and discipleship, where families gather over meals, study Scripture, and pray together. Reflecting on his time at MCCS/Legacy, Grant expresses deep gratitude: "There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of something I learned from my time there." The mentorship and spiritual foundation he received continue to influence his life and mission today as he brings the love and joy of Jesus to the people of Alaska’s remote villages.
ANNUAL REPORT 2023-2024 // 21
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