Mission Aviation serves as a key help to global missions.

International (MNN)–Mission Aviation Fellowship says this year has been a good one for helping.

In fiscal year 2003, the MAF fleet of 62 aircraft logged 39,372 flights and 3,212,620 miles, transported 106,074 passengers, and delivered 4.4 million pounds of cargo – all on 1,700 rough, unimproved dirt and grass airstrips.

More importantly, Mission Aviation Fellowship users report that in 2003, MAF saved church and mission workers 50 years of travel time. That enabled 90 Scripture translation projects to move forward that could not otherwise be accomplished.

MAF pilots also supported 11,097 national and expatriate mission workers, including doctors, teachers and translators who provide critical services to isolated villages and remote regions. In so doing, they enabled 555 evangelistic events, such as crusades and showings of the JESUS film, in remote villages, a 46 percent increase over those held in 2002-most of which would not have occurred without MAF support.

Through this work, MAF facilitated the planting of 535 churches in remote areas, while supporting a total of 8,697 churches.

For next year, MAF says their work will require $29.4 million to operate ongoing ministries. They’re hoping to enable a additional 111 Scripture translation projects – a 23 percent increase over 2003.

Their support of nearly 13-thousand missionary and national church workers in remote regions represents a 16 percent increase in requests for MAF services.

And with their services, MAF pilots will be enabling 570 evangelistic events – most of which would not be possible without MAF support.