2020 Ministry Highlights

MAF 2020 | MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS REPORT Celebrating the Goodness of God

Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day.

Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

—1 Chronicles 16:23-24 (NIV)

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HIS GOODNESS IN AN UNFORGETTABLE YEAR The year 2020 was one none of us could have anticipated, nor will we ever forget.

As MAF prepared to celebrate our 75th year of ministry with you, God already knew the events that would have an impact on those celebrations and make them all the more poignant. He knew the hardships and sorrows that would accompany our joy. He knew the goodness and grace that would meet us there.

He already was planning ways for MAF to keep serving isolated people who face daunting hardships every day of their lives. He already was preparing the hearts of faithful supporters like you to help us reach them.

When COVID-19 kept our staff from traveling to their assignments or returning from furlough and MAF’s host countries implemented travel restrictions that grounded our airplanes—which reduced our fees for service—you gave above and beyond. Through it all, God continued to strengthen and encourage MAF’s ministry.

Together, let’s give glory to God for: • The addition to the MAF fleet of a new Cessna Grand Caravan airplane that will serve in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

• A new hangar in the MAF program in a restricted access nation, which will position MAF to expand its maintenance instruction to national trainees, as well as provide shelter for MAF airplanes.

• The new Family Center at MAF headquarters in Nampa, Idaho, which will be used to build community and bolster the spiritual health and effectiveness of MAF staff.

The MAF 2020 Ministry Highlights Report is an affirmation of the Lord’s persistent faithfulness to every generation, as seen through the lens of this past year.

Please join us in proclaiming the goodness of our God!

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A Conversation with Dan Whitehead MAF Vice President and Chief Operations Officer

Some MAF supporters asked Dan Whitehead to discuss MAF flights related to COVID-19.

Here are Dan’s answers.

How did COVID-19 have an impact on MAF flights?

We did see our flight hours drop considerably. The main reason for this drop in flight hours was government travel restrictions. In many places, aviation activities were just not allowed. And some staff needed to leave the field due to the COVID-19 health threat.

Early in the pandemic, MAF recognized we needed to do some rethinking and reforecasting—we were falling far short of our original 2020 flight hours forecast and flight revenue budget. As the year progressed, we were grateful to see the gap between our new forecast and actual numbers begin to close. Though we did not meet our new figures by year-end, the Lord provided in other wonderful ways (see Joe Barraclough’s explanation on page 19).

Did MAF see an increase in COVID-19-related flights?

We did some COVID-19 relief flights, but not as many as you might expect. In many places, all flying—related to COVID-19 or not—was restricted. And many authorities did not allow movement of COVID-19 patients. Besides these external factors, MAF was very cautious about possibly introducing the virus into remote areas where we work. Many of those areas were not as affected as urban parts of the world, and we certainly did not want to be the infecting agent in isolated places.

A couple of examples: In Indonesia, we transported COVID-19 test kits, and our pilots were involved with informing interior villages about the pandemic and how to take preventive measures. In the Mimia health zone of the western DRC, former missionaries of the Swedish Baptist Church who used to work there, provided megaphones, boxes of liquid soap, wash stations, digital thermometers, and masks for medical personnel that MAF delivered. In this way we helped prepare and equip the communities and health centers in case COVID-19 reached them.

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HIS GOODNESS TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH Where We Serve and 2020 Activities MAF Program Locations • • • • •

East Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa West Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa Lesotho, Africa Mozambique, Africa Haiti

• • • •

Papua, Indonesia Kalimantan, Indonesia Mali, western Africa Six restricted-access regions

4,964,061 pounds of cargo delivered

35,366 people transported

13,992

flights completed

461

airstrips/water landing sites used to reach isolated people

39,314

days of wasted travel time redeemed for productive ministry

386

organizations served

68

Bible translation projects supported

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NEW AND IMPROVED AIRSTRIPS MAF is always excited when communities and partner organizations desire our services enough to expend time, energy, and resources to build or repair airstrips for our aircraft to use. We are thankful for the following airstrips that will extend the reach of MAF’s ministry: • Bombardopolis, Haiti. This new airstrip allows MAF to partner with a hospital that serves a remote region of 50,000 people and specializes in tuberculosis, HIV, and maternity care.

• Mimia, western DRC. Fifty local residents worked hard to turn this overgrown airstrip into a safe and reliable option for MAF to deliver vital supplies for the area hospital.

• Restricted Access Nation. Humanitarian and like-minded organizations now save hours of hazardous mountain travel as they care for pregnant women, provide clean water, teach literacy skills, and help improve agricultural practices via MAF aircraft that access this new airstrip.

HIS GOODNESS IN THE SKIES AND IN THE TRENCHES Key Ministry Areas In a year of unexpected flight reductions due to COVID-19, the Lord graciously allowed MAF airplanes to continue serving isolated people, and MAF staff to continue being a presence of compassion and hope—along with many local and international partners. Five key ministry areas represent a significant portion of the work God enables MAF to do, though they do not encompass the entire range of activities we engage in:

Church and Mission Support

Medical Assistance and Health Care

Community Development

Disaster Response

National Staff Training

The reasons MAF engages in these key ministries are best expressed in our mission statement: Sharing the love of Jesus Christ through aviation and technology so that isolated people may be physically and spiritually transformed.

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CHURCH AND MISSION SUPPORT MAF is honored to join with local church leaders as well as missionaries from abroad to help fulfill the Great Commission through the important work of evangelism, discipleship, and Bible translation.

To help transform lives spiritually, MAF: • Delivered to Papua, Indonesia, 2,500 Bibles translated into the Yali language.

• Enabled six showings in the DRC of the “JESUS” film.

• Introduced Jesus to one young man who accepted the Lord through MAF staff interactions in a restricted access nation that is closed to the gospel.

MAF supported other ministries through whom: • 593 new disciples were added to the kingdom through a national church in the DRC. • 109 children’s leaders were trained through Kids Action Network in the eastern DRC, having an impact on the lives of 4,678 children.

• Five weekly Bible studies were started by the Lesotho Flying Pastors in mountain villages of Lesotho.

“I felt like we were standing on holy ground. It was a holy moment, one to be remembered.”–MAF pilot Dave Ringenberg upon delivery of the Yali Bible translation reprints, 47 years after the first Yali believers were baptized

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Long-Term Partnerships in Papua, Indonesia New Testament for the Auye In 1985, an MAF helicopter landed in the Auye village of Siriwo carrying evangelists from the Dani tribe along with western missionaries. Through the years that followed, MAF supported the work of those who poured their life into building relationships with the Auye, introducing them to the gospel, discipling them in the faith, teaching literacy skills, and translating Scriptures.

On September 30, 2020, an MAF airplane landed in Siriwo, carrying missionaries who had worked with the people over the decades. The missionaries were returning for a celebration: the dedication of the New Testament in the Auye language. COVID-19 restrictions curbed the numbers who would have attended the celebration, but not the joy that accompanied it. Dancing began at the airstrip and progressed to the village. As men and women of the community were called up one by one to receive their own Bibles, no mask could hide the joy that sparkled in their eyes.

Auye villagers in Papua, Indonesia, celebrate the recent completion of the New Testament in their language completed by Mike and Gay Moxness.

The Auye people built an airstrip and MAF served the Moxnesses in the early years as they built relationships, learned the culture, and acquired the Auye language.

Gospel Fruit in Nipsan The gospel came to Nipsan in the early 1970s, but the growth of believers there wasn’t without challenges. In 1974, the mission station in Nipsan was destroyed, and all the Christian missionaries (local believers as well as expatriates) were pushed out or killed. Two years later MAF helped to rebuild the station, so the work that began earlier could continue.

In March 2020, MAF pilot Kees Janse flew two groups of Indonesian pastors to Nipsan for a leadership conference, where church leaders discussed and strategized ways to support the evangelistic work in the Nipsan area. The conference addressed topics such as encouraging flocks struggling with fear of evil spirits, dealing with tensions between villages and neighboring tribes, and aligning traditional ways with the gospel.

We pray the conference will continue to bear fruit for years to come.

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MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AND HEALTH CARE MAF serves in remote places so that isolated people may be transformed by Christ’s love, both spiritually and physically. Medical assistance and health care are tangible ways to show people Jesus cares. MAF pilots pray the airplane’s arrival will show the love of a compassionate Savior who seeks to be present and to heal.

Who’s on MAF airplanes?

Healthcare workers • • • • • •

Nurses Doctors Surgeons Technicians Counselors Administrators

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Patients • • • • •

Wounded Diseased Disabled Expectant mothers Families, friends, and caretakers

What’s on MAF airplanes?

• • • • • •

COVID-19 test kits Personal protective equipment (PPE) Vaccines Medicines Medical supplies Hospital equipment

In the DRC alone, MAF transported: • Almost 2,000 pounds of vaccines in one day for three remote villages • 20 tons of medical supplies to communities that had been cut off by heavy rains • A team of six university medical workers, along with six cooler boxes of Ebola vaccines to vaccinate 700 health care workers

In 2020, MAF medical assistance and health care flights included the following: • In just one month in Lesotho, MAF aircraft carried 380 workers and responded to 33 calls for emergency medical help. One of those flights was for a young man who attempted suicide. A few weeks later, one of the Lesotho Flying Pastors talked with the young man, who had recovered, and he prayed to accept Jesus as his Savior.

• MAF pilot Dave Jacobsson and his wife, Donna, along with delegates from Sweden and Norway flew to Bukavu, eastern DRC, to discuss with Dr. Mukwege and the Panzi Foundation a deeper partnership to serve the needs of women who have been victimized by sexual violence and trauma.

• In Kalimantan, Indonesia, MAF flew approximately 270 patients and their caretakers to hospitals in 2020. Half of these passengers were transported to Tarakan, where MAF staff gave physical and spiritual support to them through the ministry of MAF’s Hospital House, located across the street from the hospital. MAF aircraft in Kalimantan also delivered 21,000 pounds of medical cargo last year.

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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT In addition to providing aviation and logistic services, MAF staff seek other opportunities to serve, as a way to show Christ’s love. MAF helps to raise the standard of living in isolated regions and enables thousands of families to develop safe, healthy, and productive communities.

• Long Sule, Kalimantan, Indonesia. MAF delivered 200,000 pounds of construction supplies—cement, rebar, gasoline, tiles, plywood, roofing, pipes, hardware, tools, doors, and windows—to build a health clinic in this mountain village that has no road going in or out.

• Daboto, Papua, Indonesia. School tables and chairs, totaling 1,764 pounds, were transported to this interior village just in time for the start of the school year.

• Bunia, eastern DRC. As an act of demonstrating Christ’s love, MAF staff taught sewing skills to more than 200 displaced women who fled horrific violence, with the hope that if and when they are able to return to their villages, they will support their families with this skill and contribute to their communities.

• Okapi Wildlife Reserve, eastern DRC. A survey flight was conducted by MAF for members of the Wildlife Conservation Society. This organization has goals that include creating jobs and providing security for the Pygmy community living in the park.

• Northern border, eastern DRC. MAF flew a Christian humanitarian team to where more than 60,000 refugees have fled. The team’s purpose was to oversee several projects, including a priority project that would bring clean water sources for the refugees and their host communities.

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DISASTER RESPONSE MAF’s placement of aircraft worldwide, partnership with hundreds of organizations, and experience with aviation logistics allow us to be in a strategic position to meet urgent needs. By responding quickly and efficiently, MAF is able to demonstrate the love of Christ in tangible ways with those who live in isolated regions that lack infrastructure and resources to adequately come to the aid of vulnerable and hurting people.

Hurricanes in Central America In November 2020, two massive hurricanes—Eta and Iota—struck Central America just two weeks apart, leaving devastation across Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala. Rains and winds wiped out crops ready for harvest. Floods drove residents to take refuge in towns on higher ground. Communities were completely cut off from help.

MAF’s Disaster Response Team joined forces with MAF affiliates AGAPE (based in Guatemala) and Alas de Socorro (based in Mexico) and other partners, to come to the aid of those who lost so much (see page 18 for an explanation of MAF’s relationship with these affiliates).

John Woodberry, MAF’s director of global disaster response, shares that, in spite of travel complications due to COVID-19, “God opened doors and allowed us to serve suffering people in Jesus’ name.”

In these disasters, MAF teams: • Conducted aerial surveys to assess damage.

• Worked with the Moravian Church to fly packs of food to communities where the refugees had fled.

• Assisted Samaritan’s Purse helicopter operations with logistic services to deliver medical teams, clean water systems, and food to remote areas.

• Flew medical staff and equipment for a hospital, food and supplies for an orphanage, supplies and equipment for a local fire station, and a team of Nicaraguan pastors to train 63 leaders from nine churches in trauma counseling.

From Nov. 6 through Dec. 14, MAF… Completed 152 flight legs

Landed at 18 destinations

Flew for 21 different agencies and organizations

Carried 280 passengers

Delivered 45,906 pounds of relief cargo

Flew 244 flight hours

NATIONAL STAFF TRAINING Early in MAF’s ministry, leaders realized that one of its best frontline opportunities for evangelism and discipleship would happen when hiring people from local communities where MAF serves. In any given workweek, MAF missionaries have multiple interactions with our national staff members and the opportunity to proclaim the good news of Christ, build up a brother or sister in Christ, and help our local staff members increase their job skills and knowledge.

This strategy for sharing the gospel and making disciples has served MAF well. Today, MAF national staff make up nearly one-half of all MAF staff worldwide and bring a desire to serve, grow, and learn. Many of these precious people have caught the vision to serve their own countries and communities, to be a light and witness to their own people. MAF’s ability to serve isolated people is strengthened and made more effective as we invest in training those who work with us.

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MEET ELLYA ASSA Ellya has dreamed for more than a decade of becoming an MAF missionary pilot. Growing up in the isolated highlands of Papua, Indonesia, he knew there would be many hurdles to overcome on the way to achieve his dream.

A few years ago, Ellya traveled to Canada to attend Bible school on a scholarship, where he met his wife, Breanna. He went on to obtain his pilot license in Canada and validated his license in Indonesia, followed by an internship at MAF. Along the way, everyone who met Ellya and Breanna were struck by their deep commitment to do whatever it takes to serve with MAF. Once Ellya’s internship was completed, an interesting thing happened: Indonesian aviation companies approached him with lucrative job offers—far higher salaries than he would ever receive with MAF. He turned each one down.

But Ellya had far to go. Needing specialized math skills to be an MAF pilot, he undertook an intensive course of study with an MAF staff member who was impressed by how quickly Ellya mastered the curriculum. Needing more experience in order to pass MAF’s rigorous technical evaluation (TE), Ellya and Breanna came to Nampa, Idaho, in December 2020 so Ellya could begin six months of training.

Both remain as committed to the dream as ever. With an affinity for fundraising, they pray that once Ellya passes the TE (Lord willing!), they will be able to encourage the Indonesian church to support them as MAF missionaries—and to support future Indonesian MAF missionaries as well.

We enthusiastically join this couple in prayer. Will you join them? _______________ We invite you to view an inspirational video from another national staff member—Mantlibi in Lesotho, Africa—at maf.org/report.

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HIS GOODNESS THROUGH THE EYES OF OUR LEADERSHIP MAF regional directors (RDs) were asked to share their perspectives on collaborations, challenges, successes, and lessons learned in 2020.

As they talked about the goodness of God to sustain the work of MAF in an extremely difficult year, each one expressed their deep gratitude for the way the Lord used the generosity and prayers of MAF partners to accomplish His purposes. Dave McCleery summed it up succinctly: “We simply could not do the work without our faithful supporters.”

We think you’ll be encouraged as you read what the regional directors had to say.

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Brock Larson, Indonesia As 2019 drew to a close, Brock became increasingly aware of an emphasis God was putting on his heart from Jesus’ words in John 15: “Abide in Me.” As 2020 began, the Lord led Brock to invite his teammates into a yearlong focus on abiding in Christ.

Little did Brock or the team know how important this focus would prove to be in the year ahead. The year 2020 turned out to be challenging for every MAF program, but MAF staff in Papua experienced the unthinkable; the loss of a beloved teammate in a fatal accident the morning of May 12, Papua time.

“It was so tragic, and we’re still recovering. But it made our team even more resolute about why we’re here and what we’re doing.” In spite of a global pandemic and grieving hearts, the team in Indonesia stayed. “Our team has been amazing. We’re still here, and we’re strong,” states Brock.

Brock credits this resilience completely to Jesus Christ. He believes that their focus on abiding in Christ enabled the team to continue offering services to the many organizations who count on MAF in Indonesia, as well as training national staff (see the story of Ellya Assa on page 15). They also began a discernment process that prioritizes partners whose purpose aligns well with MAF’s mission in Indonesia.

“I believe the most essential thing we do is focus on Christ. Jesus told us that if we do that well, we will bear much fruit. We want to see people come to know Jesus.”

Director, Restricted Access Nation In the director’s view, the biggest challenges for MAF’s Restricted Access Nation programs in 2020 were related to COVID-19.

One of the challenges revolved around the complexities of travel. In every country in the region, the pandemic complicated the visa process, and MAF staff found it difficult, if not impossible, to travel in and out of their countries.

Another challenge came in the form of decreased funds. All MAF flights worldwide are subsidized to one degree or another, thanks to the generous support of our financial partners. But many of those who use our services pay a fee, proportional to their ability to pay.

So when demand for passenger flights was cut significantly during COVID-19, MAF lost much of its flight revenue.

To compound matters, COVID-19 brought economic hardship to countries already struggling to sustain their citizens. Private and government entities found themselves in a desperate scramble to make up critical financial resources, and one solution was to impose more taxes, fees, and charges on MAF’s aviation services.

Though COVID-19 appeared to impede the efforts of MAF staff and their partners in Restricted Access Nations, the director points to 1 Corinthians 3:7 to put it all in perspective: “So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.”

He concluded, “As things changed and the realities we thought to be unchanging became false, the one thing we could cling to was God’s constant love and care for His children. His desire to draw nations to Himself is sure, and His gift in allowing each of us to play a part in His grand plan is such a privilege!”

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Souleymane “Solo” Kouyate, Africa MAF pilots in Africa are no strangers to infectious disease protocols. They’re used to dealing with dangerous diseases like the Ebola virus in the DRC, and they specialize in flying people safely to places that are difficult to reach.

Solo shared that this is why it was disheartening when the DRC government applied the same COVID-19 flight restrictions to MAF as to commercial airlines in the first few months of the pandemic.

Yet, he is thankful for the ways God allowed MAF to keep ministering in places where violent conflicts, displacement, and lack of access to health care are the norm. Despite COVID-19, MAF staff (whom Solo calls his “heroes”) were able to partner effectively with local church leaders, and also with Dr. Mukwege and the Panzi Hospital, Kids Action Network, and the Lesotho Ministry of Health, as some examples.

“I believe our greatest successes were the engagement and joy of our staff doing what they are called to do—seeing MAF strategically find ways to give local churches and organizations access to our airplanes so they can accomplish wonderful ministry in places they could not reach without MAF,” states Solo.

Dave McCleery, Latin America For Dave, one of the great privileges of his role as RD in Latin America is the opportunity to represent MAF with our national affiliates and keep our international partnerships with them thriving. These ministries began as MAF programs back in the 1940s and, over time, grew into their own separate, autonomous entities.

“There are things our affiliates bring to the table, and there are things we bring,” Dave explained. “They have a heart for their country. We do too.”

For example, Dave attributed the success of the disaster response to twin hurricanes Eta and Iota in November 2020 on MAF’s already-robust relationship with these affiliates (see page 13). He also gave the example of how MAF’s assistance in strengthening our Mexico affiliate’s program helped it earn favor with previously resistant health officials who suddenly needed the affiliate’s services for COVID-19 response.

Besides international collaboration, Dave also has the privilege of working with in-country individuals and organizations as he oversees MAF’s program in Haiti. He mentioned the example of two airstrips in Haiti that opened in 2020 with the help and urging of fellow believers who understand the interconnectedness between MAF and the vital work they do.

Whether it’s partnership with our affiliates or with in-country ministries, Dave believes it’s all about collaboration.

“Scripture says a whole lot more about interdependence than independence. Interdependence is the key for moving together as a global Church,” McCleery said.

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HIS GOODNESS TO PROVIDE Joe Barraclough Vice President and Chief Financial Officer The economic downturns and government restrictions surrounding COVID-19 brought unprecedented ministry interruptions to MAF in 2020. Because clients help cover some of the cost for air service, and MAF was limited in our ability to provide services, the ministry experienced a significant reduction in flight income. Yet, these events were a great reminder that our ultimate dependence and hope are in Jesus Christ.

As we fixed our eyes on Him, we marveled at His presence and provision. Praise God, through good spending stewardship and the generosity of many faithful partners, we ended 2020 with a slight budget surplus despite the reduction in flight income!

I’m sincerely grateful for our Savior who shepherds the vital ministry of MAF. I’m especially thankful for the supporters He has raised up to help bring hope to the far corners of the earth.

What a chapter of hope He is writing!

ONE OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE MAF saw God’s powerful hand in the area of airplane maintenance in 2020.

Because of decreased flight hours, MAF mechanics were grateful for the opportunity to complete many more maintenance projects than anticipated.

Though this increased the amount from what was originally budgeted for airplane maintenance, the contributions of dedicated MAF supporters— including a considerable matching gift—allowed MAF to more than meet maintenance expenses in 2020.

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HIS GOODNESS THROUGH YOU For our faithful partners who stood with us in 2020 through prayer, generosity, and faith …

We are grateful.

PO Box 47 Nampa, ID 83653-0047 1-800-FLYS-MAF (359-7623) maf.org MAF-US@maf.org