John Flynn

John Flynn was born in Moliagul, which is near Bendigo in Victoria. Early in his life, he was sent to the western suburbs of Melbourne to go to school. He graduated in 1898 and became a school teacher. By 1903 he was certain he wanted to be a minister.

He attended Ormond College in Melboume where he studied Divinity. He was ordained a minister in 1911. Flynn soon felt called by God to minister to the people of inland Australia. Flynn served God by ministering to the spiritual needs of the people. In addition to this ministry, he began to care for the physical needs of the people. In 1912, he the first missionary hospital in Beltana, South Australia.

Flynn spent several years expanding his ministry to the people of inland Australia. When World War I broke out, Flynn saw that planes were being used in battle. He believed that planes would be the perfect way to reach people in need of medical help. After ten years of hard work and patient waiting, the first Flying Doctor's flight took place in 1927.

John Flynn lived his life for Jesus Christ. He sought to care for both the spiritual and physical needs of people. Today the Royal Flying Dodoes service makes more than a quarter of a million flights each year. This is certainly the result of the many men and women who have served as doctors, nurses and pilots. And it all began because of John Flynn's commitment to God.