Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) provides vital aviation and radio communications services to national churches, Christian missions, and non-government organizations (NGOs) ministering in Kalimantan, Indonesia.
THE NEED
Indonesia’s province of Kalimantan occupies the largest portion of the island of Borneo and shares its landmass with Malaysia. One of the world’s most isolated and remote areas, it remains largely undeveloped. The geographical and logistical barriers are forbidding. Dense rain forests, impenetrable mountains, arduous terrain, and the absence of roads prevent unreached people groups from having access to the Gospel, denying them even the most basic services such as health clinics and education beyond elementary school. Even today, animistic groups deep in the interior live in dire poverty and superstition.
THE SOLUTION
In 1969, MAF began to serve mission groups and the emerging indigenous churches of Kalimantan.
Today, with 14 staff families and seven aircraft, MAF ministers from two bases:
Palangkaraya in central Kalimantan and Tarakan in east Kalimantan. MAF aviation and communications services enable …
- Church planting, Bible translation, theological education by extension (TEE), church conferences, and outreach teams.
- Pastor training in remote locations, student transport to Bible school, and ministerial students to be placed in remote villages for internships.
- Support for medical clinics in remote villages, as well as emergency medical evacuations.
- Community development projects, surveys, and conservancy initiatives.
- Delivery of materials for needed improvements to church buildings, schools, businesses, and homes.
- Transport of goods, medicines, and school supplies.
MAF enables ministry groups to bring the Gospel and basic, life-sustaining services to this primitive and otherwise inaccessible region of Indonesia. The MAF team provides much-needed and appreciated flight services, and maximizes opportunities to minister in ways not available to other mission agencies. Aviation allows MAF to establish and develop relationships with a broad cross section of society. On any given day MAF pilots might minister to the poorest of the poor with medical flights,then later transport officials at the highest level of local government.
IMPACT 2007 HIGHLIGHTS
In the past 12 months, the MAF program in Kalimantan ...
- Saved Christian and humanitarian workers 8,708 days of travel time—or 36 work years redeemed for productive Kingdom work!
- Executed 5,132 flights, transported 14,824 passengers, and delivered 726,128 pounds of cargo in order to provide access to the Gospel and to basic services such as health care, medical emergency evacuations, and education—services otherwise unavailable in jungle locations. These statistics include ...
- Transported church leaders and ministry teams to five leadership meetings or conferences.
- Continued ministry efforts at a local prison. In partnership with Samaritan’s Purse, completed a new chapel for the facility.
- Purchased land near the river in Palangkaraya to build a floating hangar.
KEY GOALS 2008
- Continue providing safe, reliable, and affordable air transport to people living and serving in Kalimantan.
- Begin constructing a floating hangar in Palangkaraya.
- Finish upgrading the MAF facility at Tarakan in preparation for the arrival of a Kodiak aircraft, including purchasing tools and improving the fuel storage facility.
- Increase the number of pilot/mechanic staff families to three. Recruit an additional family to serve in a nontechnical role, interacting with the local church as well as facilitating ministry teams to interior villages.
- Develop strategic relationships with like-minded organizations with the goal of providing short-term healthcare projects to interior villages within three years. This outreach will include dental and vision examinations, as well as general health checkups.
- Finish upgrading the Peninke Hill school facility serving MAF children.
- Complete the training of the MAF chief pilot on turbine aircraft, as well as the training for all maintenance staff on the PT6 engine.
- Be available to preach at interior churches and, upon request, translate for indigenous ministry teams whose English is limited.
MAF STAFF SERVING IN KALIMANTAN, INDONESIA
ADOPT "CHARLIE BROWN"
Learn more about "Charlie Brown," an amphibious Cessna 185 airplane serving in Kalimantan.
earning rewards and enjoying exceptionally low rates!