USA (MNN) — Mission Aviation Fellowship is just two months away from making an incredible move that will help the mission. “After 60 years of having our headquarters in Southern California, doing our training here and sending missionaries around the world from this headquarters, we’re making a move up to the Boise, Idaho area and we’re within two months of making that move,” says MAF’s President Kevin Swanson.
According to Swanson, economics forced them to make this decision. “Unfortunately, the cost of living, the cost of doing business here in California has just increased to the place where we’re saying, ‘You know, it’s just not good stewardship for us to continue to stay in such an expensive environment.’ And, God has opened doors for us up there in Idaho. We are anticipating a significant savings in organizational overhead.”
MAF projects a savings of between $800,000 to $1-million a year, which translates into more ministry, Swanson says. “One of our typical flight programs overseas, every expense related to that program for a year, would run between $400,000 and $500,000 a year. So, we could conceivably start one or two new MAF flight programs overseas with the first year savings.”
Well over half of the staff will be moving to Nampa, Idaho. Swanson says the remainder of the staff will have to be hired from the Boise area.
Swanson says MAF staffers are already moving to the area and they plan to have a huge celebration. “September 23 is going to be our celebration there as we dedicate our new facilities to the Lord’s service. And, we’re just inviting all the friends of MAF to join with us on that day.”
That will mark the first phase of the $13-million project, which includes a hanger and office building. It will be followed by apartments, maintenance building and an R-V park to allow short-term volunteers to help MAF in various ways.
