Lionel Smith born Dec 6 1942 grew up in a farming community in Pike County, IL, is the founder of Christian Wings for the World, a missionary pilot training organization that prepares pilots for service in third-world countries using airstrips rather than airports. Lionel has served as a flight instructor, training pilots for many different types of flight operations including land and sea, and single- and multi-engine training. Lionel has also been a commuter airline captain, civil air patrol unit commander, banner-tow pilot, ag pilot, accident prevention counselor, ground instructor, and aircraft mechanic. In addition to the above, Lionel has served as a Sunday school teacher for young and old, serves as an elder, has been ordained as a minister, has started two home churches and gone on numerous mission trips.