Space: The Final Frontier
Dallas Balentine has quite literally been shooting for the stars ever since graduating from Maranatha in 2022. Now in his third year at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida (the highly prestigious, #1 university in the world for aviation and aerospace), Dallas is on a fast track to outer space. Although most of his classes contain some of the most complicated math on the planet, Dallas loves where he is and knows that he is living out God’s will for his life.
Dallas’ love for outer space began all the way back in the 1st grade. “We were in class; we were reading a book about Neil Armstrong. [...] Ever since then I just kept asking my parents to go to the library to pick up space books, books about rockets, and moons, and planets, and things like that.” In middle school, Dallas even had the opportunity to attend space camp and a Washington D.C. trip to see space museums. “Now, here I am, my third year into aerospace engineering, and I am loving every second of it.”
Being called into aerospace engineering has been no easy task, and Dallas has a handful of big goals he has been working toward. Over the next ten years, Dallas sees himself becoming a test pilot as a stepping stone toward the astronaut track. Dallas also enjoys jets, rockets, and experimental aircraft, but his true passion is physically going into space and perhaps even stepping on the Moon/beyond. “A goal I do have is to get in space in general—but potentially going to the Moon. I do not know about Mars ‘cause a mission will take about 3-5 years. I do not know if I want to be away from home for that long. I think the Moon is good enough for now,” Dallas laughed.
When asked about trying to imagine what it would be like to stand on the Moon, looking down at the Earth from a view very few humans get to witness, Dallas said, with a huge smile on his face,
“I think about it all the time—just standing on the Moon, looking at our beautiful planet. Especially this planet that God has created for us—it is a beautiful place to live.”
Dallas gives all the credit to God for where he is now and the opportunities that have come his way. Dallas grew up a Christian but said his faith really did not become his own until he moved down to Florida [all by himself] for college. “It really took for me to be alone and down here by myself to [...] understand, wow, this is why we need God.” Daily diving into the Word and staying prayed-up, Dallas said, are key to staying strong in the faith.
Reflecting on his faith journey throughout high school, Dallas said, “A big thing that I took away from Maranatha was it gave me the early tools that I needed to grow my faith with God. [...] I do give Maranatha credit for [...] those early stages and understanding theology, what it’s like to study the Bible, read the Bible, worship, and things like that.” These are things that Dallas still clings to this day as he attends church each week and is a part of multiple on-campus Bible study groups—Dallas was even recently baptized! “I’m taking my faith very serious—very strong in that, very confident in my faith.”
Dallas is not shy or insecure about his calling, identity, and faith in Christ. While shooting for the stars has always been his goal and deep passion, Dallas lives out every day to be a light to those around him as he influences at the top of a field on the cutting-edge of what is next for humankind.
