International (MNN) — Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) has been a lifeline to remote communities around the world for decades. Their planes fly into hard-to-reach areas, connecting isolated people with medical care, emergency services, and Gospel hope.
(Photo courtesy of MAF)
David Holsten, MAF’s President and CEO, says, “From the beginning, when MAF was founded, the founders of the organization had a vision that the airplane would be able to serve a multitude of different organizations that were involved in Kingdom work. Early on, a lot of our passengers were Western missionaries who were trying to reach hard-to-reach parts of the world.”
Today, the makeup of those who fly with MAF has changed dramatically. Many passengers are local nationals — villagers, medical patients, and refugees — who depend on MAF’s flights for vital transportation.
As the passenger log has shifted, the face of missions has also changed over the years.
“We used to see larger numbers of Western missionaries who were serving in remote parts of the world,” Holsten explains. “Unfortunately, the number of missionaries that are going to some of those pioneering parts of the world has decreased.
“Now there are national missionaries who are responding to a call that God has placed on their life to reach their own people.”
The Democratic Republic of Congo offers a clear example. Holsten says, “Twenty or thirty years ago, there were thousands of missionaries that were serving in that country. Today, there could be less than 100 who come from North America or Europe or places like that. But yet, there’s a generation of Congolese who are seeking to reach their own people.”
Zacharie Francois, MAF Haiti pilot/mechanic. (Photo courtesy of MAF)
MAF’s vision for the future includes recruiting pilots and mechanics from all over the world. These faithful believers may even minister to places far from home — serving as Gospel ambassadors in difficult environments.
“It could be that an Indonesian pilot joins us to serve in Ecuador, or a pilot or mechanic from Mexico joins us, and they’re able to serve in a place like Nigeria,” Holsten says. “That’s an exciting thing to contemplate, and we’re praying for God’s leading as we move into the future.”
At the heart of MAF’s ministry is a commitment to Jesus and the Great Commission. “Following Him is also a life of impact, of purpose… something that’s bigger than ourselves and is ultimately rooted in His way of living life and kingdom principles.”
Holsten encourages fellow Christians anywhere in the world to partner with MAF — through prayer, giving, advocacy, and even serving! “It takes every individual, all of these parts of the body of Christ, to allow the work of MAF to move forward.”
To learn more or get involved, visit www.maf.org.
Header photo courtesy of Becky Fagerlie/MAF.
