Dallas and Karen both hail from Alberta. In 1999, they felt God’s call to serve through mission aviation, and after completing the necessary training and gaining the required experience, they stepped into service with MAF in 2010.
They spent their first three and a half years overseas serving in the MAF Uganda program. Dallas flew shuttle and charter flights, as well as medical evacuations in the Cessna 206 and Caravan aircraft, bringing the Hope of Christ to the people of Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan.
Following their time in Uganda, the Derksens transitioned to Mongolia, where they served for three and a half years as a Pilot and then as Country Director/Pilot. During that time, Karen worked as a stay-at-home mom, as well as the school facilitator to their three children, Andrew, Katrina, and Jacqueline.
In 2019, the Derksen family transitioned back to Canada and are now serving with MAF at Prairie Aviation Training Centre (PATC) in Three Hills, AB, where Dallas is working as a Flight Instructor and Support Services Manager. They are excited to be training the next generation of mission-minded aviators, as well as discipling and encouraging young people in their walk with the Lord no matter where their aviation career takes them.
