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NAMPA, Idaho – The Learning Technologies department of Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), a global ministry organization based in Nampa, is offering a workshop on presenting the Gospel using storytelling. The training will be held June 4 – 8 at The Riverside Hotel in Boise, Idaho. Three-day and five-day sessions are available.

“Seventy-five percent of the Bible is in story form. This is the way Jesus, the master storyteller, chose to teach—both the uneducated and the religious leaders alike,” said Regina Manley, MAF oral communications specialist and certified Simply the Story (STS) senior instructor. “Oral Strategies skills enhance communication of Bible stories and truths across generations (from grandchildren to grandparents) and naturally encompasses a wide range of abilities (from the highly educated to including non-literate villagers). Don't miss it!”

According to Manley, over 80 percent of the world’s populations prefer learning by oral communication methods over print. This includes listening to TV, radio or movies and especially interaction with friends. Workshop participants will learn to:

• Tell fun, accurate Bible stories
• Lead interactive discussions
• Teach following Jesus’ model
• Energize their ministry – at home, church or on the mission field

Those who attend the three-day session, held evenings and Saturday, will become certified Story Practitioners. Participants in the five-day Leadership Workshop will have added opportunities to practice and develop their skills, and complete the first step to becoming an MAF certified Oral Communications Advocate.

The three-day session costs $50, and the five-day session costs $150. There is a discount for early registration by May 30 for the three-day session. The fees cover materials as well as meals and snacks during the all-day sessions.  For more information or to register, visit www.maflt.org. If you have questions, please contact Regina Manley at (208) 498-0781 or rmanley@maf.org.

Online Votes Will Determine Winners

NAMPA, Idaho — April 11, 2013 — Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) is one of 15 nonprofit organizations named as finalists for a grant from the Lightspeed Aviation Foundation. Lightspeed made the announcement today at the SUN 'n FUN International Fly-In and Expo in Lakeland, Florida.

"We are honored to have been selected as a finalist once again," said John Boyd, MAF president and CEO. "This is an exciting opportunity for MAF, and we are grateful to Lightspeed for its ongoing support of those who use aviation to do good."

The 15 finalists were chosen from hundreds nominated. Final grant recipients will be selected by aviation enthusiasts who vote online at www.lightspeedaviationfoundation.org. The charities receiving the most votes will be awarded grants ranging from $10,000 to $2,000. Winners will be announced in the fall.

With the support of many friends who voted online, MAF has received $10,000 Lightspeed grants for the past three years. To be eligible for the foundation’s grants, aviation organizations must be committed to growing the pilot community and using their grants for compassion and service to others.

Lightspeed Aviation manufactures headsets that are used by MAF pilots and others around the world.

Jerry Krause of Sahel Aviation Service was flying an aircraft from South Africa to Mali when his plane went missing in the area around São Tomé, off the coast of west Africa, on April 7. 

"We were very distressed to learn that Jerry Krause and his plane are missing, and MAF personnel in Africa have been doing what they can to facilitate the search," said John Boyd, president and CEO of Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). 

Krause served with Mission Aviation Fellowship for 22 years in Mali and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He left MAF in 2009 to work with Sahel Aviation Service, a commercial aviation company in Mali. 

"Jerry and his family have many friends at MAF," said Boyd. "And many are praying on his behalf. We ask for your ongoing prayer until this situation is resolved."  

The Krause family has created a web site to post updates: http://findjerry.com.

Rebuilt Cessna Grand Caravan will support mission and humanitarian work

Nampa, Idaho – Two years after it was badly damaged when a tornado touched down at an airshow, a Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft is beginning a new career as a missionary plane in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). 

In a ceremony today at its Nampa headquarters, Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) dedicated the plane for service in Africa. A crowd of MAF supporters, staff, and local guests offered prayers of dedication and thanksgiving.

“The way this aircraft ended up at MAF is just amazing,” said John Boyd, MAF president and CEO. “It went from being a posh private plane with zebra-stripe interior, to a tornado casualty, to a missionary plane that will help improve life for people living in remote jungle villages.”

With its fleet of 57 light aircraft, MAF provides transportation for churches, medical teams, missionaries, relief agencies and others working in the most isolated corners of the world.

In March 2011 a tornado hit the SUN ’n FUN International Fly-in and Expo in Florida, damaging a number of aircraft including this Cessna Grand Caravan owned by a Florida family. The plane was flipped over and sustained extensive damage.

“When we first heard about the Caravan, we were interested,” said David Rask, MAF’s director of aviation resources. “We had been looking for a Caravan for our program in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and when we learned Preferred Airparts had purchased the tornado plane, we contacted them.” 

MAF purchased the plane from Preferred  Airparts in 2012. Preferred repaired the Grand Caravan with the specialized equipment that MAF needs to operate on remote, rugged airstrips in equatorial weather. And this new-again plane is greatly needed.

“There is a team waiting in the East of Congo – ready to use this tool to its full potential,” said Rick Dickson, MAF Director of Regional Operations. “It will carry life-saving medicines such as malaria treatments, or full medical response teams fighting the next Ebola outbreak. It will fly many groups who seek to bring much-needed care to villages ravaged by roaming militia or the LRA. It will carry both Congolese and expat Christ-followers who seek to build and strengthen the local church.”

The Grand Caravan right after the 2011 tornado. Photo courtesy of EAA/Brady Lane.

The Honorable Gregg L. Prickett, Chairman of the MAF Board of Directors, leads a prayer of dedication and thanksgiving for the new aircraft. Photo by Colby Dees.

Rick Dickson of MAF, Nampa Mayor Tom Dale, and Missionary Kid Reagan Bryant check out the cockpit of the Caravan. Reagan, age five, is the daughter of Luke and Joy Bryant who will be serving with MAF in Indonesia.

Nampa, Idaho – February 20, 2013 – A Cessna 182 aircraft will soon be providing life-saving services to people living in remote areas of Mexico, thanks to a family that discovered Mission Aviation Fellowship on the internet.

At a dedication ceremony held Wednesday, February 20 at the ministry’s headquarters in Nampa, Idaho, MAF staff prayed that the plane will be an effective tool for sharing the Gospel and changing lives. They also gave thanks to God for the way it came to MAF.

According to Dave Rask, MAF director of Aviation Resources, a Texas family owned the small plane but seldom flew it. They believe in sacrificial giving and thought the aircraft would be more useful on the mission field. Not knowing about MAF, they Goggled missions and aviation and MAF popped up at the top of the list. They then contacted Rask and made the decision to donate their plane.

Since arriving at MAF, the C182 has received special modifications that will allow it to operate in rugged areas of Mexico where it will serve with Alas de Socorro, the MAF affiliate organization working there.

MAF is grateful to the thousands of faithful friends who support the ministry through their prayers and gifts.

The latest update from the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) team working in the northeastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) shows an area still beset with uncertainty as well as sporadic violence in the outlying areas. MAF program manager Jon Cadd reports that most NGOs that evacuated in November have now returned. 

In eastern DRC, MAF operates three aircraft supporting the work of the church, missionaries, medical organizations, Bible translators, relief workers, and other NGOs. Four MAF pilot/mechanic families are currently serving in Bunia along with some 20 Congolese staff members, and four families are working from Kampala, Uganda. MAF also has staff and planes in the western and southern regions of the DRC. 

Please continue to pray for the Congolese people, the MAF team in eastern DRC, and all staff who work in such difficult areas.

Bunia, Democratic Republic of the Congo—MAF pilots in Bunia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, report that things feel relatively "normal" in this eastern DRC town, despite insecurity in other parts of the region.

Bunia is located some 325 miles north of Goma, the city of one million inhabitants that was taken over by the M23 rebel group last week.

Though many NGOs have evacuated their staff in the region, the three MAF pilots in Bunia are conducting their usual flights for church, mission, and humanitarian organizations. Some of those flights included delivery of medicines and medical personnel, transport of a Bible translator and a medical patient, and conveyance of church workers to an area where they are conducting outreach activities.

Amid riots last week, MAF relocated its families (including children) to Kampala, Uganda, on Tuesday, November 20, leaving three pilots in Bunia to provide flights for those in need.

Last weekend, the people of Bunia celebrated the 100-year anniversary of the CECA 20/Africa Inland Mission church in the DRC. Thousands gathered at the city stadium for a lively time of worship and celebration. Many from outside of Bunia were in town to attend.

Please continue to pray for peace and healing for this volatile region.

Bunia, Democratic Republic of the Congo—As violence once again shakes the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mission Aviation Fellow (MAF) pilots and planes are on standby to evacuate relief and mission workers who request assistance.

On Wednesday, Nov. 21, MAF families were evacuated from the town of Bunia, where MAF has a base, to Kampala in Uganda. MAF also carried two plane loads of staff from other agencies to safety in Uganda. Three MAF pilots remain in DRC with three aircraft.

This latest round of violence began earlier this week when the M23 rebel group attacked the eastern DRC town of Goma. It has since spread to other towns in the region.

MAF has ministered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for more than 50 years. The organization currently has nine planes serving from bases in Kinshasa, Bunia, and Lubumbashi.

MAF delivers medical supplies to combat a malaria epidemic. Photo by Jon Cadd.

Bunia, Democratic Republic of the Congo — MAF staff working in the northeastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo report a slowing of the malaria epidemic that has killed scores of people this year.

At its worst, during June, Nebobongo Christian Hospital logged five malaria-related deaths per day in its pediatric wards. Last month, the medical director reported that deaths had decreased to two or three per week with aggressive medical intervention.

Likewise, an Ebola outbreak discovered in the Isiro area in August appears to be slowing. An October 26 report from the World Health Organization (WHO) noted 52 cases of Ebola to date (35 laboratory confirmed, 17 probable) with 25 fatalities.

MAF has provided flight support to the WHO, Doctors Without Borders, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other medical organizations in their efforts to contain the illnesses. MAF has transported medicines, medical supplies, doctors and other personnel to remote areas where the viruses have been so deadly.

How you can pray:

• Pray that experts might yet be able to identify what has caused this year’s increased malaria rates and why it has become so deadly.
• Pray for flight safety for the MAF pilots as they deliver critically needed medicines.
• Pray that the red-and-white MAF planes will be a tangible reminder of God’s love.
• Pray for comfort for hundreds of families who have lost children and other loved ones.

NAMPA, Idaho – Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), a global ministry organization based in Nampa, is offering a workshop on presenting the Gospel using story telling. The training will be held October 23 - 27 at Central Valley Baptist Church in Meridian, Idaho. Three-day and five-day sessions are available.

“Seventy-five percent of the Bible is in story form. This is the way Jesus, the master storyteller, chose to teach—both the uneducated and the religious leaders alike,” said Regina Manley, MAF oral communications specialist and certified Simply the Story (STS) senior instructor. “Stories reach the heart! Workshop participants will learn how to use Bible stories to naturally engage their listeners in experiencing God’s Word for themselves.”

According to Manley, some 80 percent of the world’s population either do not read, or prefer to learn without written methods of communication. Even here in the USA, a strong preference for oral communication is expressed by the saying, “When all else fails, read the instructions!”  The workshop presents ways to effectively connect with these oral learners. 

 “The workshop is very useful for anyone who wants to find new ways to teach and share God’s Word, be that on the mission field or with media-savvy teenagers in the U.S.” said Manley. “Some have found this brings family devotions alive. Others use STS to plant churches and train leaders, while others have become STS trainers themselves, multiplying their effectiveness.” 

Workshop participants will learn to …

•  Lead interactive, inductive Bible studies

•  Tell fascinating, accurate Bible stories without using written materials

•  Teach using interactive discussion

•  Design questions that help listeners discover spiritual truths and personal applications 

Those who attend the three-day session, held evenings and Saturday, will become certified STS Practitioners. Participants in the five-day “Leadership Workshop” will have additional opportunities to practice and develop their skills, and will obtain STS Provisional Instructor certification. 

Manley has extensive knowledge and experience in the field of oral learning. She has presented oral strategies workshops in Brazil, Venezuela, India, Colombia, Lesotho, Sierra Leone, Thailand, Guatemala, Mexico, Costa Rica, and northern Africa. Manley also served 17 years as an MAF missionary in Ecuador. 

The three-day session costs $50, and the five-day session costs $130. There is a discount for early registration. The fees cover materials as well as meals and snacks during the all-day sessions. The workshop will be held at Central Valley Baptist Church, 600 N Ten Mile Road in Meridian, Idaho. For more information or to register, visit www.maflt.org. If you have questions, please contact Regina Manley at 208-498-0781 or rmanley@maf.org.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – MAF staff in Haiti are on standby to assist with relief efforts after Tropical Storm Isaac struck the island nation Friday and Saturday. 

David Carwell, MAF Haiti program manager, reports that all MAF staff are safe and aircraft undamaged. One of MAF’s planes, a Cessna Caravan, was flown to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, prior to the storm as it could not fit in the hangar. 

Carwell says the Port-au-Prince airport is officially open, though the terminal is empty of any employees or passengers. Power is out at the airport; many streets are flooded and trees are down in some places. Most businesses are closed, though Carwell noted some small grocery stores were open.

From Jacmel, south of Port-au-Prince, MAF’s Jason Krul reports greater damage, including landslides that have blocked the road between Jacmel and Haiti’s capital. 

As more information becomes available MAF will assess needs to determine what response is necessary.

Photos

Top: MAF’s new global logo, which updates its historic dove emblem. It will replace the two emblems below.
Center: The logo used by MAF-US since 1992.
Bottom: The wings-and-Bible design used by MAF in Europe and some other areas.

NAMPA, Idaho – Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) today unveiled a new logo that gives a fresh look to the aviation ministry’s historic dove emblem.

“From the wings-and-Bible emblem used in some parts of the world, to the dove used by MAF in the United States, the MAF logo has long been a symbol of hope and help to isolated people in remote corners of the globe,” said John Boyd, president and CEO of MAF-US. “This new logo continues that proud tradition.”

Mission Aviation Fellowship is a global family of organizations that uses aviation, communications, and learning technologies to share the gospel and bring vital help to people isolated by poor roads and infrastructure, geographic barriers, natural disasters, or insecurity. This summer MAF has been actively involved in combatting malaria in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, supporting relief work in South Sudan, and enabling the work of churches, evangelists, and Bible translators across Africa and Asia.

Utilizing blue, red, and gray, the new logo’s bold, clean lines reflect the organization’s reputation for professionalism and competency. The dove – part of MAF-US’s logos since the 1970s – was maintained in the new design and represents the Christian faith, aviation, and MAF history.

MAF serves in 32 countries of Africa, Asia, Eurasia, and Latin America, and several different logos are currently used. This new insignia will be adopted in all areas and be easily recognized.

MAF will begin using the new logo immediately. However, it may be some time before all 142 planes in the fleet are repainted with the new emblem.

BUNIA, Democratic Republic of the Congo – Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) is using a new airstrip to bring desperately needed medical supplies to remote parts of Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) plagued by malaria.

“We made our first landing at the new Zobia airstrip on June 9, and on Tuesday we conducted four more flights delivering 1,300 kg of supplies,” said Jon Cadd, MAF’s chief pilot in eastern DRC. “The Cessna 206 was loaded with bulky meds and other medical equipment. We had the smaller medicine boxes stuffed into every available nook and cranny.”

Mission Aviation Fellowship is a Christian ministry organization that uses aviation and other technologies to support some 1,500 church, medical, and relief organization working in isolated areas. With a fleet of 142 bush planes, MAF reaches the most difficult regions of 32 countries.

According to Cadd, the villages in northern DRC have been severely affected by malaria this year. The medical clinic in Zobia is underequipped and unable to effectively treat all those who are ill. In nearby Nebobongo, the small hospital was treating 88 malaria-infected children in a ward with 22 beds. MAF staff in Uganda obtained medical supplies and flew them to DRC, where they were then flown out to the small villages in need

The new airstrip at Zobia was carved out of the jungle by villagers using hand tools to remove trees, brush, and grass. Saturday’s flight was the first to the area in some 20 years.

“We had been told that many people were dying for lack of malaria treatment, and the whole community was out for the great celebration when the little plane landed,” said Cadd. “People from the village had been working tirelessly to get the strip rehabilitated so the aircraft could bring the meds and medical teams that would help them. The paths through the forest are not big enough to accommodate a car, and until the airstrip opened everything had to come in by motorcycle or by foot.”

Malaria is the leading cause of death in DRC. According to Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières, MSF), there has been a 250 percent increase in malaria cases in the country since 2009, with a marked increase in cases in 2012. A period of relative malnutrition and lack of mosquito netting have contributed to the increase. In DRC, 180,000 children under age five die from malaria each year.

MAF has been serving the people of DRC for more than 50 years from its bases in Bunia, Kinshasa, and Lubumbashi.

Several hundred people gathered in Nampa on Saturday to dedicate MAF’s newest plane, which will serve in Haiti. MAF is a global mission organization which uses aviation and technology to improve the conditions of isolated people around the world. Photo by Colby Dees.

NAMPA, Idaho — Amidst a crowd of several hundred supporters, staff, and local residents, Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) dedicated a Cessna Caravan aircraft in an April 28 ceremony at the ministry's headquarters in Nampa, Idaho.

MAF is a faith-based, nonprofit ministry that serves missions and isolated people around the world with aviation, communications and learning technologies.

Funded by gifts from supporters, the new plane will depart in May for Haiti, where it will support the work of churches, medical teams, and relief workers laboring to rebuild the island nation still suffering two years after the devastating earthquake. MAF has served in Haiti for 25 years and has a permanent base at the Port-au-Prince airport.

Talia Wills (top left), Larinda Fuller, Macy Fuller, and Gabriella Fuller explore the new MAF plane destined for Haiti. They are the children of MAF missionaries preparing for service in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A plane dedication event was held on Saturday. Photo by Colby Dees.

"The airplane is the tool that God has given MAF to reach out to a lost and hurting world," said John Boyd, MAF president and CEO. "And two years after the horrendous earthquake Haiti is still hurting, both physically and spiritually."

Dr. David Alexander, president of Northwest Nazarene University, led the prayer of dedication. David Rask, director of aviation resources at MAF, spoke about the plane and the impact it will make.

"One of the principal tasks of this plane will be to carry work teams – people who come from the U.S. for one or two weeks to build schools, orphanages, and medical clinics, to provide clean drinking water, or to build churches," said Rask. "In times of great needs, such as earthquakes and floods, this plane will carry food, water, and shelter."

The dedication ceremony was part of a day of activities that included airplane rides, a pancake feed, a gift drawing, videos, and children’s activities. Staff from MAF's Learning Technologies division demonstrated the latest gadgets for sharing the gospel easily and discretely in difficult areas of the world.

Betty Burge, and other passengers receive pre-flight instructions from Jeff Turcotte. Photo by Colby Dees.

NAMPA, Idaho — When Betty Burge marked her 81st birthday on Saturday, April 28, she celebrated by taking a ride on a small MAF missionary plane as part of her commitment to "do something outside of the box at least once a month."

In December, the spry Ms. Burge had her picture taken with Santa Claus for the first time in her life. In March, she convinced a girlfriend to go with her to a biker church at the Busted Shovel Bar and Grill in Meridian, Idaho.

"Life has become more restrictive for me recently as I have a lot more difficulty hearing," Burge said. "So, I wanted to spice things up a bit by getting creative and trying lots of new things."

She tries different ethnic restaurants and even attended a Romanian funeral that lasted four hours! "I wouldn’t recommend that," Burge said.

Betty Burge seated aboard the MAF KODIAK ready for takeoff. Photo by Colby Dees.

This month her out-of-the-box experience was a ride in one of MAF's missionary airplanes. On Saturday, April 28 -- Ms. Burge's birthday – the Nampa-based ministry organization dedicated a new aircraft for service in Haiti, and offered airplane rides as part of the day's activities. Betty Burge just couldn't resist.

Ms. Burge is a long-time supporter of MAF, and even sponsors one of its missionaries – Brendan Blowers, a Nampa-native who serves with MAF in Costa Rica.

While she hasn't flown in a smaller aircraft in a while, it won't be her first time. When Ms. Burge lived in Moses Lake, WA, she dated a man with a pilot's license.

"He used to call me up and invite me to dinner in Seattle," Ms. Burge said. "Of course, I didn't turn that down!"

MAF personnel in Banda Aceh, on the Indonesia island of Sumatra, are evaluating the situation to determine how to best respond following an 8.7 magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Sumatra Wednesday.

Amber Desist, an MAF pilot/mechanic in Banda Aceh, reports that all MAF personnel are safe. Desist said that the ground shook for 4.5 minutes. Phone service is unreliable and “roads are crazy” as people attempt to reach high ground. At this time there does not appear to be major damage in the area. A tsunami warning issued earlier has now been lifted.

MAF has three international families and five Indonesian staff members in Banda Aceh.

Villagers greet the MAF plane in a remote area of Kalimantan, Indonesia. Photo by Dave Forney, MAF.

NAMPA, Idaho  –– Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) is one of 20 nonprofit organizations named as finalists for a 2012 grant from the Lightspeed Aviation Foundation. Lightspeed made the announcement today at the Sun ‘n Fun International Fly-In and Expo in Lakeland, Florida.

The final grant recipients will be selected by aviation enthusiasts who vote online at the Lightspeed Aviation Foundation website. The five charities that receive the most votes will each receive a grant of $10,000.

“We are grateful to the Lightspeed Aviation Foundation for its support of those organizations that use aviation to do good,” said John Boyd, MAF president and CEO. “This is an exciting opportunity for MAF, and we encourage our friends to vote online!”

Voting is open March 28 through Nov. 2, 2012. Winners will be announced in November.

MAF received Lightspeed grants in 2010 and 2011, with Lightspeed citing the ministry organization’s work to meet the physical and spiritual needs of isolated people around the world. To be eligible for the foundation’s grants, aviation organizations must be committed to growing the pilot community, building awareness, and using their grants for compassion and service to others.

Lightspeed Aviation manufactures headsets that are used by MAF pilots and others around the world.

MAF is located in the Fly4Life Tent

LAKELAND, Florida – March 27, 2012 – Aviation enthusiasts are invited to visit Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) at the Sun ‘n Fun International Fly-in and Airshow, happening now through Sunday, April1, in Lakeland, Florida.

Billed as “Spring Break for Pilots,” the 2012 Sun ‘n Fun event is expected to attract 160,000 to 170,000 visitors from Central Florida, North America and more than 80 other countries. The event is the largest aviation convention in the state of Florida and the first major international aviation event of the year in the Americas.

MAF, a global ministry organization that uses aviation and technology to share the Gospel, will have an exhibit inside the “Fly4Life” tent in the southeast exhibition area, space #8. The MAF exhibit includes murals illustrating the organization’s history, a flight simulator, and videos showing MAF planes taking off and landing at challenging airstrips in remote, isolates areas of the world. MAF will also hold a drawing for a gift basket featuring safari-type gifts valued at id="mce_marker"55.

MAF pilot and recruiter John Hook will present a forum on The Art of Short Field Take-Offs and Landings on Wednesday March 28at 11:00 a.m. in room #7 of the Central Florida Areospace Academy. Hook has been with MAF since 1975, flying in Indonesia and Haiti before joining the U.S. recruiting team.

Sun ‘n Fun is held at the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport. Learn more at

www.sun-n-fun.org.

Mission Aviation Fellowship Dedicates Two Planes for Service in Indonesia

NAMPA, Idaho -- Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), an aviation, communications, and technology ministry serving 1,500 Christian and relief organizations worldwide, today dedicated two new aircraft for service in remote areas of Indonesia.

The Kodiak planes were given as gifts by two donors who wish to remain anonymous. Each Kodiak costs some $1.7 million dollars.

"I know the excitement the sound of these planes will generate in places with names like Kiwi, Bomela, Langda, and Koropun," said Dave Rask, MAF’s director of Aviation Resources. "These are places that have never seen a car. Places so remote that the only way to reach them is a long trek through the jungle, or by plane. In these areas, the missionaries, the medicines, books, Bibles … even the nails for the buildings and the aluminum for the roofs are delivered by MAF."

Mission Aviation Fellowship President John Boyd addresses guests at the dedication of two planes for service in Indonesia. Photo by Colby Dees.

Some 150 people gathered at the MAF aircraft hangar in Nampa, Idaho, to ask the Lord to bless the work of the two planes and the people they will serve.

MAF has been ministering in the isolated areas of Indonesia since the 1950s. Today, MAF has 48 missionary staff members and 102 Indonesian employees serving in Indonesia with 22 planes. In 2011, MAF flew 14,735 Indonesian flights, delivering 51,918 passengers and 4,870,818 pounds of cargo.

"The needs in Indonesia are so great that MAF's capacity has never been able to meet all the demands," said Rask. "The Kodiak  is a larger, faster plane that is able to land on most of the small airstrips we use. One pilot can double his output and goods can be delivered for much less. Will these planes change lives?  Absolutely!"

Over the next two years, MAF hopes to acquire seven more aircraft to replace aging planes and meet growing demands for service. All seven are earmarked for Africa.

Beyond natural disasters, MAF is committed to the people of Haiti who live in remote and isolated areas

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti––With more than 100 missionaries, aviation officials, and other guests on hand, Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) celebrated 25 years of service in Haiti with a special ceremony Tuesday afternoon at the MAF aircraft hangar at the Port-au-Prince Airport.

Mission Aviation Fellowship personnel prepare to load an injured Haitian man aboard one of the ministry organization's planes. MAF is celebrating 25 years of service in Haiti. Photo by Anthony Cece.

MAF is a Christian ministry organization that uses airplanes and other technologies to serve church and relief organizations in remote areas of the world.

MAF officials shared about the work in Haiti, as did guest speaker Joe Hurston, an independent missionary pilot who lobbied MAF to come to Haiti in the mid-1980s.

"This morning I had the opportunity to visit Pignon and see some of the impact MAF is making in Haiti through the ministry partners we serve," MAF President and CEO John Boyd said at the event. "I am as excited as I've ever been about what is happening here in Haiti and look forward to what God is going to do through MAF in the next 25 years."

MAF began operating in Haiti in 1986, serving missions and relief agencies in remote areas of the country. Poor infrastructure has plagued Haiti's development and causes non-profit organizations serving there to seek alternative transportation. A trip that might take eight hours or longer over rough, unsafe roads can be reduced to 25 minutes aboard an MAF plane.

Greg and Barb Van Schoyck, missionaries serving in Pignon with the Haitian American Friendship Foundation, noted how MAF has enabled them to minister more effectively.

"Flying MAF gives us the opportunity to be good stewards of the resources God has provided us. Trucks are expensive and the roads take their toll," Greg said. "Long drives over terrible roads batter not only our trucks but our bodies as well. It didn't take long to determine that flying is more cost effective for us in the long run."

Following the massive earthquake that hit Haiti in January 2010, MAF's knowledge of the country and expertise in transportation, communication, and disaster response positioned the organization to effectively serve the scores of humanitarian and medical aid groups that descended upon Port-au-Prince. It is that longevity within Haiti that has endeared MAF to local church leaders, medical groups and government officials.

Over the past two years, MAF has played a critical role in efforts to halt the spread of cholera in Haiti. MAF has assisted Samaritan's Purse, Operation Blessing, Medical Teams International, and other groups by transporting medical teams, equipment, and supplies.

Anniversary celebrations will continue Wednesday, Feb. 29, with a reception and worship service at Quisqueya Chapel in Petionville, Haiti.

Due to refugee movement, tribal conflicts, and the activities of development organizations in South Sudan, there has been an increased demand for MAF services. MAF-Kenya, based in Nairobi, is ramping up its operations in Juba, South Sudan to meet the need. Recent flights in the area have resulted in 400 blind people receiving sight—thanks to doctors from Christian Blind Mission—and a 10-day mobile clinic bringing dental care to nearby Chad.

Two Years after Quake, Ministry Organization Enables the Work of some 30 Relief Agencies

MAF Haiti personnel load a plane with food, including “Manna Packs,” specially formulated food packets for people on starvation diets. Photo by John Woodberry.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Two years after a devastating earthquake crippled Haiti and killed thousands, Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) remains actively involved in the rebuilding process, supporting more than 30 relief organizations with critical flights to 15 airstrips.

“We have been encouraged by the progress made in Haiti over the past year, but we know there is still a long road ahead,” said John Boyd, MAF president and CEO. “It is a privilege to serve the people of Haiti daily and we look forward to continuing our role in assisting with rebuilding efforts.”

MAF, which currently operates three planes in Haiti and has been serving the country since 1986, provides daily flights for relief workers, medical personnel, churches, and work teams involved in community development efforts. In a country where roads are nearly impassable and bandits threaten travelers, MAF services are invaluable.

The ministry organization has also distributed micro grants to help families and small businesses get back on their feet after the earthquake. MAF funding has allowed families to rebuild their homes and send their children to school. MAF also assisted in repairing a school, provided meals for school children, and constructed 26 small homes for those in need.

Since cholera broke out in late 2010, nearly 500,000 cases have been reported, resulting in more than 265,000 hospitalizations and some 6,800 deaths. The Haitian Ministry of Health recently reported that it expects the cholera epidemic to continue for the next two to three years as it spreads from urban centers to rural areas. MAF has aided in the ongoing battle against cholera by flying medical teams and supplies to clinics and hospitals.

While the country has suffered through some dark times, many people seem encouraged about Haiti’s future.

“The country is optimistic right now about what is going on,” MAF Haiti program manager David Carwell said. “We’ve also seen many churches and mission organizations that have been strengthened and are moving forward. We pray that MAF can be a catalyst in the process.”

Donor Gifts Enable Purchase of Flight Simulator for Relief Organization

NAMPA, Idaho—October 26, 2011—Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) has acquired a new high-tech flight simulator, providing another tool to help prepare its pilots for the challenging conditions they face when flying in remote parts of the world.

MAF employees Jason Chatraw (left) and Scott Channon try out the new RedBird flight simulator. Purchased with donations, the Redbird will allow MAF to provide a more realistic training experience for its missionary pilots. Photo by Colby Dees.

With funds raised by the MAF Ministry Advocates—a volunteer group—supplemented by a matching grant, MAF purchased the RedBird SD flight training device for approximately $60,000.

This new piece of equipment is a fully-enclosed Advanced Aviation Training Device that is certified by the FAA. With visuals that wrap around the device and realistic flight controls, pilots have an opportunity to experience a simulated flight with conditions similar to the environments in which they will fly.

"This new RedBird enables us to do a lot of training that we couldn't do before," said Paul Bergen, MAF's aviation training manager. "We can experience the overseas environment—we can see the exact terrain. We can fly in the mountains and over rivers and give pilots an experience similar to what they're going to see when they arrive on the field."

By training at Idaho's backcountry airstrips, MAF is able to duplicate the mountainous terrain of various countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Matching the atmospheric conditions of those places isn't so easy. With the new flight simulator, an instructor can introduce weather and other variables such as causing a plane to malfunction with low oil or instrument failures, or simulate engine failure. Bergen says it will be especially useful for training pilots to fly in instrument-only situations, where visibility is limited.

"It gives us a much more realistic experience than we had before," Bergen said.

NAMPA, ID — Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) is one of five aviation charities to receive a $10,000 grant from the Lightspeed Aviation Foundation. Lightspeed announced the winners today at the AOPA Aviation Summit in Hartford, Connecticut.

Jeff Turcotte and Scott Channon received the gift on behalf of MAF

This is the second year that MAF has received a Lightspeed grant. The recipients were selected by pilots from around the world who cast their votes on the foundation’s website.

"We are so grateful for the flight community’s vote of confidence in MAF," said John Boyd, president and CEO. "We appreciate the Lightspeed Aviation Foundation and its commitment to doing good through aviation."

Lightspeed cited MAF’s work to meet the physical and spiritual needs of those in isolated areas of the world, as well as the ministry’s partnership and service to Christian organizations and other agencies.

The foundation was established in 2010 by Lightspeed Aviation Corporation to promote the pilot community and serve others for the betterment of the world. The company manufactures aviation headsets. More information is available at www.lightspeedaviationfoundation.org.

Aviation Ministry Flying in Doctors, Critical Vaccines, Medical Supplies

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of the Congo – As cholera and measles sicken thousands in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) is providing desperately needed flight services to assist medical agencies in their efforts to combat these deadly diseases.

Mission Aviation Fellowship delivers a load of medical supplies and beds to a measles clinic in Democratic Republic of the Congo. Photo by Tim Chase.

A measles epidemic has threatened the DRC for the past nine months. MAF, a faith-based relief organization that brings aid to needy people in remote areas of the world, has been flying medical workers and supplies into the areas most affected.

In the past month MAF has carried some 100 medical staff and 14,000 pounds of vaccines and medical supplies to support 24 mobile clinics that Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières, MSF) has launched to fight measles.

“We have recently flown 13 flights to Malemba from Lubumbashi for MSF France, transporting doctors, nurses, logistics people, vaccines, medical supplies, generators, beds, food, water – you name it,” said MAF Pilot Tim Chase. “We have also been flying for MSF Holland, as they assess the situation and prepare to respond. Our support of this crisis is ongoing.”

Says Chase, “In one village, the residents wanted help so desperately that 300 people worked four days to clear and reopen an overgrown airstrip so MAF could land with the medical team and supplies.”

According to UN reports, some 115,600 Congolese children suffered from measles between January and June, and 1,145 died of the disease. MAF has provided continuing support for treatment and vaccination campaigns.

While measles plagues south central DRC, cholera threatens the western part of the country. Ron Wismer, MAF program manager in western DRC, reports the aviation ministry has been transporting medicines and personnel from Kinshasa into Bolobo and Mbandaka, towns located north of Kinshasa on the Congo River.

“We are now flying into Mbandaka two or three times per week to support the cholera work, and also flying regularly into Bolobo,” said Wismer. “The epidemic seems to be following the river.”

Cholera was first reported in western DRC in March. According to the World Health Organization, 3,896 cases have been reported, including 265 deaths.

NAMPA, Idaho – Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), a global ministry organization based in Nampa, is offering a workshop on presenting the Gospel using story telling. The training will be held August 16 - 20 at MAF’s facility in Nampa.  Three-day and five-day sessions are available.

“Jesus told stories. Seventy-five percent of the Bible is in story form,” said Regina Manley, MAF Oral Communications Specialist and certified Simply the Story (STS) senior instructor.  “Stories reach the heart! Workshop participants will learn how to use Bible stories to engage their listeners and present the Gospel more effectively.”

According to Manley, some 80 percent of the world’s population either do not read, or prefer not to learn using written methods of communication. The workshop presents ways to effectively connect with these oral learners.

Those who attend the three-day session, held evenings & Saturday, will become certified STS Practitioners. Participants in the five-day “Leadership Workshop” will have additional opportunities to practice and develop their skills, and will obtain STS Provisional Instructor certification.

“The workshop is very useful for anyone who wants to find new ways to share God’s Word, be that on the mission field or with media-savvy teenagers in the U.S.” said Manley. “Some have found this brings family devotions alive. Others use STS to plant churches and train leaders, while others have become STS trainers themselves, multiplying their effectiveness.”

Workshop participants will learn to …

• Lead interactive, inductive Bible studies
• Tell fascinating, accurate Bible stories without using written materials
• Teach using interactive discussion
• Design questions that help listeners discover spiritual truths and personal applications.

Manley has extensive knowledge and experience in the field of oral learning. She has presented oral strategies workshops in Brazil, India, Colombia, Lesotho, Thailand, Guatemala, and northern Africa. Manley also served 17 years as an MAF missionary in Ecuador.

The three-day session costs $30, and the five-day session costs $80.  The fees cover materials as well as meals and snacks during the all-day sessions. For more information or to register, visit www.maflt.org.  If you have questions, please contact Regina Manley at 208-498-0781 or rmanley@maf.org.

Nairobi, Kenya—06-21-11—An airplane from the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) program in South Africa is flying to Kenya to reinforce the mission organization’s response to the famine in the Horn of Africa.

Over the past week, MAF has flown leaders from relief and mission organizations, as well as ambassadors from several countries, into the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya to assess the situation.

The organization is also experiencing increasing demand for flights into South Sudan following the country’s independence earlier this month.

“MAF is in contact with a number of relief organizations working in the area,” said John Woodberry, MAF manager of disaster response and security.  “We are ramping-up our capacity to respond should the need for relief flights continue to grow.”

With this additional plane, MAF will have seven aircraft in Kenya.  To maximize flight capacity, MAF crews have been working into the night so that planes are ready to depart early each morning.

On Wednesday, the UN declared a famine in parts of southern Somalia.  Across the region, 11 million people are facing a hunger crisis caused by several years of severe drought.