Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) provides vital aviation and radio communications services to national churches, Christian missions, and non-government organizations (NGOs) ministering in Papua, Indonesia.
Note:
Papua, Indonesia, should not be confused with Papua New Guinea (PNG),
which covers the eastern half of the Island of New Guinea and surrounding
islands. MAF-Australia operates
in PNG.
THE NEED
In Papua, unreached people groups in the western half of New Guinea live hidden away in rain forests, mountains, and swamps. From six bases of operations, MAF reaches deep into Papua, penetrating some of the world’s most isolated and remote areas to bring the Gospel and improve the quality of life for isolated Papuans.
As recently as 1997, Stone Age tribes living in Papua were being discovered, still untouched and unreached. Today, there are other primitive tribes still living in the hidden crevices of the island. Yet to hear of Jesus Christ, they are bound by spiritual darkness and live in fear of spirits and the outside world.
Basic services such as schools and health clinics are unavailable in these remote areas. As a result, countless Papuans unsuccessfully battle chronic malaria, rampant skin fungi, malnutrition, and intestinal worms.
The need in Papua is so great that MAF pilots report being able to accommodate less than half of the flight requests they receive. Throughout Papua, there are few viable alternatives to Mission Aviation Fellowship air service in the regions served by its planes.
THE SOLUTION
Since 1952, MAF has brought hope and support to this rugged and forbidding place. Today, 38 MAF missionary families, two short term staff, and more than 80 national staff members serve from six bases in Papua. Thirteen MAF aircraft, as well as three email hubs and communications networks,multiply the effectiveness of some 65 agencies and hundreds of churches ministering in Papua. MAF services impact more than 250 ethnic groups by maximizing and sustaining evangelism, church nurture, medical assistance, community development, education, crisis relief, and the training and leadership development of Papuans.
IMPACT 2007 HIGHLIGHTS
In the past 12 months, the MAF program in Papua ...
- Saved Christian and humanitarian workers 21,658 days of travel time—or 89.5 work years redeemed for productive Kingdom work!
- Executed 12,510 flights in Papua, transported 42,794 passengers, and delivered 5,880,169 pounds of cargo in order to provide access to the Gospel and to basic services such as health clinics, medical emergency evacuations, and education—services otherwise unavailable in jungle locations.
- Delivered thousands of Bibles to remote villages following the completion of a translation project.
- Purchased a Caterpillar generator to replace the old and inadequate generator at the Sentani base.
- Reopened the Manokwari base, positioning MAF to meet community support and
transportation needs of the Bird’s Head region.
- Assisted villagers with clean-up and repairs following flooding in Sentani.
- Transported building materials for churches, homes and schools. Delivered furniture, generators, and motorcycles to developing outposts.
- Transported some 150 people a day, including missionaries, church leaders, aid workers, missionary children traveling between home and school, government
workers, searchers looking for a downed aircraft, national school teachers moving to interior villages, and the sick and injured.
- Participated in a variety of nonflight ministries: rescued and “parented” street children, taught a marriage relationship course, served on a mission school board, taught child-rearing techniques, led worship at church, provided medical care, led Bible studies, participated in an Indonesian church cell group, and counseled national workers.
- With the assistance of a ministry team from New Heights Church, replaced electrical wiring and service panels in the Sentani hangar and offices.
- Renovated one staff home in Timika and one in Merauke as well as a duplex in
Wamena. Began construction of a staff home in Sentani.
- Purchased two much-needed vehicles for the Sentani and Nabire bases.
KEY GOALS 2008
- Partner with, and provide local support for, a team from the New Heights Church as they return to Sentani to assist with phase two of electrical improvements at the Sentani base.
- Purchase two additional vehicles to support ministry activities.
- Begin construction of a new hangar/office facility in Nabire.
- Begin phase one of the Sentani hangar/office renovation, according to the master plan.
- Renovate a leased house in Sentani to make it suitable for occupation by MAF
staff.
- Purchase and prepare a staff house in Merauke.
- Develop and implement a plan for successful integration of the KODIAK aircraft into our program flight operations. Develop and implement maintenance systems, including purchase of tools and inventory.
MAF STAFF SERVING IN PAPUA
ADOPT "PAPA OSCAR"
Learn more about "Papa Oscar," the Cessna 206 Turbo serving in Papua, Indonesia.
an MAF airplane bring desperately needed aid and assistance to needy people in remote places. Learn more...