ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 2126, Garden Grove, CA 92842-2126 USA

Sunday, May 15, 2005

By Michael Ireland*
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA (ANS) – Two teenagers met in 1951 at Sydney Gospel mission, and went on to start an aviation Gospel mission that today covers the nation of Australia.

When they return to Indiana in June for their 50th Anniversary, Les and Martha Nixon of Australia's Outback Patrol will have come full circle: around the world and around the family, according to an article circulated by Ramon Williams of Worldwide Photos Ltd** – The Religious Media Agency. (Pictured above: Les and Martha Nixon).

Les Nixon was raised in suburban Sydney, Australia during the Great Depression, and converted to Christ at his family Baptist Church at 14.

At age 19 he completed a trade certificate as a Cabinetmaker, then tinkered with photography and sales, and was a volunteer musician with Sydney's Open Air Campaigners. He was mentored by local notables Jim Duffecy, Les Werry and Dick Hall.

When Neil and Pat Macaulay arrived from the US with singer Martha for a mission, he was already involved. That's where Les met Martha.

Les then attended Bob Jones University, in a giant act of faith and trust. He did it on a shoestring, working, selling and speaking. Ordained in 1955, in 1960 Les earned FAA and DCA (Australia) pilot's licenses, and also his IFR rating, and has used light planes to cover the real outback ever since.

Nixon goes down in Aussie flying history piloting his fifty year-old twin-engine fabric De Havilland Dragon biplane to every remote township in the nation to reach people for Christ.

All along he has encouraged volunteers to do the same thing. Together, flying hundreds of hours, the Nixons reach more than 50 isolated Australian communities for Christ every month.

In 2001 Nixon published his training manual, "The Words of Jesus," and made a 90-minute video on the 1788 beginnings of Christian faith in Australia.

Les was included in the official 2O04 Australian of the Year Awards List, and in 2005 named as one of the top 25 Christian leaders in Australia. He is still an active pilot, speaker and manager.

Martha Chastain was born in Indianapolis, raised in the tiny family farmhouse working the farm, and graduated from Campbellsburg High and the Indiana Business College in 1949, joining the Macaulay Musical Messengers as secretary/singer.

The Messengers arrived in Sydney for an Open Air Campaigners sponsored Mission, and that's where Martha met Les. Their wedding in June 1955 was at Martha's home church. They returned to Sydney for Gospel outreach, and joined the Billy Graham Crusades in 1959 in Australia and New Zealand as associate team.

Three sons made a family, and Outback Patrol was begun.

Martha Nixon has been the anchor for a daily Gospel children's TV program for 30 years, and has released several singing LP's and CD's. In 2001, the Nixons released their 90-minute history video, 'How We Began,' and Martha continues to broadcast their weekly 'Flynhi' one hour radio Gospel program across Australia.

The Nixons, whose motto is "Don't back-out on the out-back!" fly patrols inland regularly, produce the Explorers Magazine each month, and daily conduct phone Scripture classes with schools. An opportunity exists for a padre/worker to work with the Nixons. See contact information below to apply.

The Nixons are parents to three adult sons, and four grandchildren who live on two continents.

One hundred members of the two families are to gather at the Mt. Tabor Christian Church, Salem, Indiana, on June 4/5 to celebrate with this unusual couple who are still busy serving the Lord well into their 70s.

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Les and Martha Nixon and Australia's Outback Patrol may be contacted at:
36 Georges Cr., Georges Hall NSW 2198 AUSTRALIA;
Phone: 61 2 9727-2759 -- 61 2 9727 8194;
Email: Les: flynhi@internode.on.net
Email: Martha: outbackpatrol@internode.on.net
Website: www.outbackpatrol.com.au <http://www.outbackpatrol.com.au/>  

** Worldwide Photos Ltd. rlgmedia@ozemail.com.au
The Religious Media Agency - Ramon A.Williams
PO Box 494 - Padstow NSW 2211 - AUSTRALIA
phone: +61-2-9792-2393 - fax: +61-2-9792-2881
http://au.photos.yahoo.com/rlgmediaau
http://community.webshots.com/user/ramon_williams

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*Michael Ireland is an international British freelance journalist. A former reporter with a London newspaper, Michael is the Chief Correspondent for ASSIST News Service of Garden Grove, CA. Michael immigrated to the United States in 1982 and became a US citizen in Sept., 1995. He is married with two children. Michael has also been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station.  

Visit our web site at: http://www.assistnews.net. E-mail: danjuma1@aol.com

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Remember: 'Don't back out on the outback!'

Opportunity down under Go to our opportunity down under page.

Home Page Back to Outback Patrol's Home Page.

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