Archive | June, 2009

Floating hangar – Kalimantan, Indonesia

By on June 24, 2009 in MAF

Boats float. Some specially-equipped cars float. Some planes float. But what about an airplane hangar? You wouldn’t think it could float, but Mission Aviation Fellowship now has one that does.

hangar kali 300x225 Floating hangar Kalimantan, Indonesia

Nearly complete - kalimantan floating hangar

MAF Program Manager in Kalimantan, Indonesia David Holsten says, “An engineer from Holland helped us design a floating hangar. It is comprised of Styrofoam encased in cement — about 350 tons of cement.” And it floats!

MAF had been using small docks to aid in their work. However, Holsten says it’s not easy to maintain an airplane on a dock. “If we drop a tool, it goes right to the bottom of the river. We’re out in the sun, and in a tropical area, that’s fatiguing. With this full-size hangar, we’ll be able to lift our planes out of the water and maneuver them inside the hangar, allowing us to do inspections on the plane and make needed repairs.”

Holsten says this isn’t any old project. “To my knowledge, this is the first time we’ve had a system like this. So it’s created a lot of interest from other programs, as well as local Indonesians. They really couldn’t believe a building made of cement could really float.”

This new facility will also help medical patients. Instead of having to carry them on a stretcher for 200 yards upon arrival, ambulances will be able to pull right up to the aircraft.

The new project also gives MAF a unique opportunity in the community. Holsten says, “This new hangar has created interest from the community. Residents ask, ‘What are you doing?’ And our guys are able to tell them. So it has opened doors for witness and ministry.”

Even before the hangar was operational, it was having an impact. “While working on this project, one of the workers became a believer,” Holsten says.

Once the nearly $300,000 project is completed by the first part of the summer, it will enable MAF to be even more effective in its ministry and better stewards of the resources God has given them.

Pray that God will provide even more opportunities to share the Gospel.

Mission Network News

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Oshkosh Air Show features MAF Kodiak

By on June 17, 2009 in MAF

MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) will be telling its story to the world at 2009 Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture Oshkosh, the largest show for general aviation enthusiasts in the world, which will take place here July 27-Aug. 2.

The Oshkosh air show, which was founded in 1953, has long been a “must attend” event in the world of aviation. It is where general aviation companies introduce new products, and where exciting and experimental innovations – such as exotic flying cars, jet packs and the newest satellite navigation screens – are often unveiled to the public. The event, attended by hundreds of thousands of people, includes acres of displays and a steady stream of flyovers by both the latest home-built aircraft and lovingly restored vintage planes. Each day includes aerobatic air shows featuring top aerobatic acts.
This year AirVenture will be spotlighting missionary aviation as part of the “public-benefit” aviation activities. A weeklong “Fly4Life” program (www.fly4life.org) features MAF and other members of the International Association of Missionary Aviation (IAMA) (www.iamanet.org), as well as non-faith-based groups that are part of the Air Care Alliance (www.aircareall.org).
Front and center, right on AeroShell square, the focal point of the air show, will be the new MAF KODIAK aircraft. The Piper PA-14, a replica of the plane flown by martyred MAF aviation pioneer Nate Saint and used in the filming of the movie “End of the Spear,” will be nestled under the wing of the KODIAK – one representing MAF’s past and the other an exciting future for the ministry.
The MAF tent display, located at spaces 151 and 152, will include a Cessna 185 that was used by MAF in Indonesia and is now being used as a training aircraft by Moody Aviation. The plane will be set in a village scene with murals and a “movie screen” consisting of a white sheet on which MAF will show “All Over the World,” a 30-minute film featuring the ministry’s work in Kalimantan, Indonesia.
In addition, the MAF staff manning the tent will conduct daily drawings, distribute literature and engage in other activities that will help tell the story of MAF and of mission aviation to this large and responsive audience.
“People attend AirVenture because they are passionate about aviation,” said John Boyd, president and chief executive officer of MAF. “But some of them are also passionate about Christ and the Gospel. When we tell the story of mission aviation to them, we often find that’s all it takes to turn them into passionate friends and supporters of MAF. So being at Oshkosh is a wonderful opportunity for us.”
Boyd said that while in Oshkosh, MAF staff will be conducting seminars, speaking in local churches and meeting with friends and supporters in the area.

The Oshkosh air show, which was founded in 1953, has long been a “must attend” event in the world Oshkosh Air Show features MAF Kodiak of aviation. It is where general aviation companies introduce new products, and where exciting and experimental innovations – such as exotic flying cars, jet packs and the newest satellite navigation screens – are often unveiled to the public. The event, attended by hundreds of thousands of people, includes acres of displays and a steady stream of flyovers by both the latest home-built aircraft and lovingly restored vintage planes. Each day includes aerobatic air shows featuring top aerobatic acts.

This year AirVenture will be spotlighting missionary aviation as part of the “public-benefit” aviation activities. A weeklong “Fly4Life” program (www.fly4life.org) features MAF and other members of the International Association of Missionary Aviation (IAMA) (www.iamanet.org), as well as non-faith-based groups that are part of the Air Care Alliance (www.aircareall.org).

Front and center, right on AeroShell square, the focal point of the air show, will be the new MAF KODIAK aircraft. The Piper PA-14, a replica of the plane flown by martyred MAF aviation pioneer Nate Saint and used in the filming of the movie “End of the Spear,” will be nestled under the wing of the KODIAK – one representing MAF’s past and the other an exciting future for the ministry.

The MAF tent display, located at spaces 151 and 152, will include a Cessna 185 that was used by MAF in Indonesia and is now being used as a training aircraft by Moody Aviation. The plane will be set in a village scene with murals and a “movie screen” consisting of a white sheet on which MAF will show “All Over the World,” a 30-minute film featuring the ministry’s work in Kalimantan, Indonesia.

In addition, the MAF staff manning the tent will conduct daily drawings, distribute literature and engage in other activities that will help tell the story of MAF and of mission aviation to this large and responsive audience.

“People attend AirVenture because they are passionate about aviation,” said John Boyd, president and chief executive officer of MAF. “But some of them are also passionate about Christ and the Gospel. When we tell the story of mission aviation to them, we often find that’s all it takes to turn them into passionate friends and supporters of MAF. So being at Oshkosh is a wonderful opportunity for us.”

Boyd said that while in Oshkosh, MAF staff will be conducting seminars, speaking in local churches and meeting with friends and supporters in the area.

via www.maf.org

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Biblical Discernment

By on June 13, 2009 in Faith

This morning I was sitting at my work desk and couldn’t get comfortable. Something just wasn’t right. Something was niggling away and had me shifting in my seat, I couldn’t sort it out. Finally, I stood up and realised I had my car keys in my back pocket………..

Pain is the body’s way of letting us know that something isn’t right. It’s an uncomfortable feeling that hopefully makes us stop and think and investigate before we continue whatever it is we are doing. We know when something isn’t right because we aren’t usually in pain so its easy to recognise something isn’t “normal”. Hopefully……huge 64 321486 JPG 300x200 Biblical Discernment

If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. But have nothing to do with irreverent and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness – 1 Timothy 4.6-7

Here Paul makes it absolutely clear to Timothy to be discerning and men his words need to be heard just as clearly by us. Discernment is the skill of separating truth from error. Paul urges Timothy to continue in the truths of the faith and the teaching which he has received. Why? So that he would know the difference between truth and error and have nothing to do with myths and godless ideas, or philosophies of the world. These things were creeping into the church and Paul wanted Timothy to be equipped to contend for the faith and teach others the same. He hammered Titus with the same message too (Titus 1.9).

Men if we don’t know the truth of God’s Word from scripture, if our “house” isn’t built on the rock – we will be “like a child tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching” (Ephesians 4.14). When scriptural mis-interpretations and flaky doctrines are presented to us we wont know any different – wont feel uncomfortable – unless the foundational teachings of our faith are in order.

Now just because you are uncomfortable about something doesn’t always mean it’s wrong – we can only

measure what’s right and true when we line it up with scripture. Scripture is a “light on our path” (Psalm 119.105) it “corrects us and trains us” (2 Tim 3.16). Luke commended the men of Berea not for being ‘noddys’ – simply nodding ‘yes’ in agreement, but because they “examined the scriptures” to confirm the truth of the teaching they were hearing from Paul and Silas (Acts 17.11).

Some of us can be incredibly discerning when making our footy tips each week, or when deciding where to best invest our money, or when analysing food labels or when selecting a bottle of wine. But if we neglect Biblical discernment we become susceptible to following error. Discernment and spiritual maturity go hand-in-hand. We need to be feeding on the solid food of His Word and strive to consistently grow in our spiritual maturity.

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed , correctly teaching the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2.15

Proverbs 4.25-27 – “fix your gaze, consider your path, keep your feet from evil”

Proverbs 14.6 – “Knowledge comes easily to the discerning.”

Proverbs 14.33 – “Wisdom resides in the heart of the discerning.”

Proverbs 16.21 – “The wise in heart are called discerning.”

Proverbs 17.24 – “wisdom is the focus of the perceptive.”

originally published as an article on www.thelakes.org.au

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Stolen Rain – Sudan

By on June 5, 2009 in MAF

Stolen Rain SudanAn Africa Inland Mission (AIM) team accused of ‘stealing the rain’ was rapidly evacuated by MAF from Napep, Sudan, following threat of death.

The Training In Ministry Outreach team (TIMO) returned from holiday to learn that it had not rained in the area near MurKuzhen, ‘Tall Mountain’, since they had left – a total of 19 days. The community east of the mountain decided that the white people had put the rain on a plane and flown it back to America.

The TIMO team were first alerted to the judgement at the end of one of their clinics. Singing and horns resounded in the air as fifty to a hundred people entered the compound singing and waving leaves. David, the team leader, was called out to talk to them.   The rest of the team prayed for grace and wisdom while David and two team members were forced to go to the elders for a trial.

At the trial, the elders of the villages accused:

“You took the rain on a plane . This is your fault. We will decide what to do with you.”

David received the verdict: bring two bulls the next day for sacrifice. If not he would die. The elder’s decision was final, despite David advising he did not own one bull, let alone two.

The team had no choice. In the middle of the night, leaving most of their possessions behind, they began a 6.5 hour trek to the airstrip (a walk that usually takes about 3.5 hours). They didn’t dare to use torches in case it alerted people to their sudden exit. MAF rearranged the flight schedule in order to collect the team and fly them to safety.

We don’t know what the spiritual battle will bring next, although we know that the community has threatened to curse us, amongst other things. We also know that it will take a miracle for us to be able to return, but we know that God is bigger than all of it.Deborah, one of the TIMO team

Late June, Phil Byler, AIM country director, flew back to Napep to speak to the elders about the incident. Ironically, it rained very heavily- so heavily it took three attempts for the pilot to land the plane. The meeting went fairly well, though its anticipated that more meetings will be required before the team returns.

Africa Inland Mission seek to spread the word of God in unreached areas. Their work includes: youth ministry, medical care, community development, community health, leadership development, aviation and support services.

AIM founded the two year TIMO programme in the mid 1980s. Its purpose is to train future missionaries in areas of cross cultural ministry. Their ultimate goal is to develop a working and ministering church. Twenty two-year teams have been trained so far. They operate in over thirteen areas in six African countries.

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