Duo prepares for historic flight to church conference
West Akron resident Stephen Hopson, who is deaf, will fly another member of First Grace United Church of Christ, Ryan Mathews, to the General Synod in June.
Photo courtesy of First Grace United Church of Christ
By Kathleen Folkerth
WEST AKRON — Two members of First Grace United Church of Christ (UCC) will take to the skies to attend a national UCC conference this summer in a flight they hope will inspire others.
Organizers say the “Flight to Hartford” project will make history because pilot Stephen Hopson is deaf and passenger Ryan Mathews uses a wheelchair. They will be accompanied by one other person, Sam Kitzler, on the flight to the General Synod in Hartford, Conn., which begins June 22.
“We want people to be inspired
to go after their own dreams, regardless of what they
may be, particularly when they see a deaf pilot flying
an airplane without any special assistance,” said
Hopson, a West Akron resident. “When they see
a deaf pilot who is carrying another person of a disability
who has also achieved so much, we believe they will
be inspired to reach out for their own dreams, using
us as an example of what can be done.”
Mathews said the idea to fly to
the meeting came up at lunch after church one day.
“The idea of a deaf pilot
seems really cool,” said Mathews, of Cuyahoga
Falls. “We thought we could make this into a special
project, so we can raise awareness of the United Church
of Christ, First Grace and how people with disabilities
can overcome adversity.”
Hopson, who has lived in Akron
since 2005, made aviation history in February 2006 when
he earned an instrument rating, which allows
him to fly as pilot in command through inclement weather.
The amateur pilot worked as a stockbroker for many years
before leaving the field in 1996 to devote himself full-time
to motivational speaking.
Mathews said he has used a wheelchair
all his life. The 23-year-old was determined to play
the trumpet and eventually played with the marching
bands of Cuyahoga Falls High School and The University
of Akron. He graduated in December with a degree in
music education and today
works at First Grace as an after-school tutor.
“Nothing has stopped them,”
said Diana Julien, consistory president at First Grace,
about the two active church members.
Julien said the project will
cost about $6,000, which includes the renting of the
small plane, insurance and accommodations for the participants
while in Hartford.
To help the church support the
project, Hopson and Mathews will greet attendees at
a fund-raiser at the church
May 5. A reception will begin at 5 p.m., and donations
for the trip will be accepted at that time.
Then at 7 p.m., a concert featuring
Christian rock musician Shawn Thomas will take place.
Thomas has appeared at the church before, Julien said.
Mathews will play before Thomas
with his band, Street Theory, which plays classic rock
covers, he said.
Julien said the church is hoping
for a big crowd.
“We would love to pack
the house,” she said. “Five hundred people
would be wonderful.”
Attendees can attend both the
reception and the concert or just one, Julien said.
A free-will offering will be taken.
First Grace UCC is located at
350 S. Portage Path. For more information, contact the
church at (330) 762-8469 or go to www.firstgraceucc.org.
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