International (MNN) — Even in the most desolate places and hardest circumstances, God knows each person and cares deeply. That’s the message Mission Aviation Fellowship has carried through its planes for 80 years — and counting.
MAF President David Holsten says their mission is about far more than transportation: “We like to say in our mission statement that we use airplanes to bring help, hope and healing, and we see that happening both spiritually and physically.”
This year marked MAF’s 80th anniversary. The ministry began with men and women who served during World War II, who had seen airplanes used as tools of destruction — and dreamed of something different.
“They had seen airplanes that were used as instruments of war — that brought death and chaos, and all the things that can happen during war time. And as they came out of the war as followers of Jesus, they thought, ‘Wow, what could it look like if we used airplanes as instruments of peace that could bring life and peace to places?’”
(Photo courtesy of Mission Aviation Fellowship)
Now, 80 years later, Holsten says the airplane continues to be a tool God uses to protect people, reach isolated communities, and serve refugees.
“[It’s a tool] that can help bring protection for people, to fly them over places that where there’s conflict on the ground, or to bring supplies to people or to serve the needs of refugees,” he says.
2025 was a fruitful year. “Just from a statistical standpoint, our airplanes were able to serve people in about 12 different countries,” he adds. MAF also flew up to 50 thousand passengers.
But those flights often go into unstable places. “Places that we fly to, there could be war and unrest. And so it’s a miracle in and of itself, that after 80 years of doing this, we’re still able to do it,” he explains.
MAF delivered medical aid and Bibles and supported evacuations. But tragedy struck in Indonesia when a remote-area teacher was attacked and died during an air evacuation, leaving the team grieving. It also underscored why their Gospel work must continue. “Without the work of Jesus in His Spirit, in people’s lives, this is the sort of violence that can take place,” explains Holsten.
There were many hopeful moments too — like in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where pastors finally received paper Bibles. “Our airplane was able to bring in more Bibles that they could share between their different congregations and some clothing,” explains Holsten.
And that’s just one of examples of how God is using MAF flights to strengthen the Church.
Pray God will continue to provide people for the ministry, along with resources and permissions. To learn more and be inspired by their work, visit the Mission Aviation Fellowship website.
Header photo courtesy of Mission Aviation Fellowship.
