MAF SA CELEBRATES MILESTONE WITH FIRST-EVER INTERNATIONAL CANDIDATE ORIENTATION IN SOUTH AFRICA

February 2024 marked a milestone moment for MAF SA as we hosted our very first MAFI candidate orientation in South Africa. This event represents a significant landmark in our ongoing efforts to make the mission field more accessible to candidates from Africa who are called to serve.

MAF SA was honoured to host MAF International’s candidate orientation, which took place over ten days in February 2024, at the Mercy Air base in White River. Our team worked diligently to ensure that the event was not only informative but also inspirational, equipping attendees with the knowledge and skills necessary for their future missions. The decision to hold the orientation in South Africa underscores our commitment to empowering African candidates and underscores the importance of their role in the global mission field.

MAF SA CEO, Maxine Holman, expresses the significance of this progression, “We feel honoured to have the opportunity to conduct the 2024 MAF, new international staff, orientation in South Africa. This marks a significant milestone as it is the first time that MAF is hosting orientation outside the UK or Australia and within the African continent. Our orientation group comprises 14 new international staff, including engineers, pilots, and managers. It brings us great excitement to announce that 8 out of the 14 individuals hail from various African countries, making this orientation particularly noteworthy as the first time we have such a diverse group gathered for this purpose. We see the Lord’s hand in this endeavour as we turn our attention to Africa to send greater numbers of skilled individuals to serve in MAF programmes around the world.

WHY SOUTH AFRICA?

Choosing South Africa as the location for this orientation was a strategic decision. MAF SA’s vision to equip African missionaries and South Africa’s position as a gateway to the rest of the continent made it an ideal location for such an event. By hosting the orientation here, we made it more accessible for African candidates, reducing travel costs and logistical challenges that have previously been barriers to participation. Paul Henning, Board Chair of MAFSA, expressed, “In preparation for this year as a team, we realised that out of great adversity often comes enormous opportunity. When I think of Africa, the word ‘Community’ springs to mind, and I believe that our ability to host the annual orientation was born out of community. Africans (and visitors from afar residing amongst Africans) collectively pooled resources to make this orientation one that I have no doubt was one of the most memorable.”

A New Chapter For African Missionaries

This orientation is a testament to the growing number of African candidates who are answering the call to serve in missions. For many years, candidates from Africa faced significant hurdles, including long-distance travel and the high costs associated with attending orientations in other parts of the world. By bringing the orientation to South Africa, we are removing these barriers and opening doors for more candidates to join our mission.

Henning noted, “It was significant that the orientation was hosted in South Africa because we had a large contingency of African recruits joining MAFI this year, and we are extremely proud of the remarkable people we are sending into the world to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Many of these people have come out of extremely challenging circumstances themselves, but to quote Lou Holtz, ‘Show me someone who has done something worthwhile, and I’ll show you someone who has overcome adversity.’ Our African brothers and sisters are living proof of our Lord God’s faithfulness in raising servants for His Kingdom despite the background and adversity they have come from. Only God gets the Glory when we see the miracles at work attending orientation.”

Highlights Of The Orientation

Throughout the two weeks, candidates participated in a series of workshops, training sessions, and fellowship activities designed to prepare them for the unique challenges of mission aviation. Topics covered included crosscultural communication, technical training, spiritual development, and practical logistics. Seasoned missionaries and MAF staff shared their experiences and insights, providing invaluable guidance and support to the new candidates. One of the most impactful sessions was a panel discussion featuring African missionaries who have successfully integrated into MAF’s global network. Their testimonies of faith, resilience, and dedication served as powerful encouragement for the new candidates.

Looking Ahead

As we reflect on this historic orientation, we are filled with gratitude and anticipation for what lies ahead. This event has set a new precedent for how we support and equip African candidates. Our vision is to see more African missional pilots take to the skies, reaching remote and isolated communities with the love of Christ.

“We trust too that hosting orientation for those who have not yet experienced Africa, in Africa, would open eyes and engender awareness to our colourful cultural diversity and sometimes complexity and the warm hearts that they will no doubt be encountering on the mission field,” Henning remarked. “Transformation starts with inquiring minds, engagement, and conversation, and we look forward to being the catalyst and facilitating these valuable engagements during this time.”

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all our donors and supporters who made this event possible. Your contributions are not just investments into a programme, but into the lives of individuals who will go on to transform communities and spread hope across the continent.

Join Us In Prayer And Support

We invite you to join us in prayer for the candidates who attended this orientation. Pray for their continued growth, strength, and preparation as they embark on their journey. Additionally, we welcome ongoing support to ensure that future orientations and training programmes can continue to flourish in Africa.

Together, we are making history and paving the way for a new generation of African missionaries who will carry the message of hope and salvation to the ends of the earth. Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey.

A scripture that Henning would like to leave with the new recruits as they knowingly face challenges along the way is, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” - Romans 5:3

“MAF International is pleased to have held our first orientation class on the African continent when we met together in White River in February. Fourteen individuals from eight countries, more than half of which are from Africa, took their last step of entry into MAF as they learned how we think and work to accomplish our mission and reach our vison to see isolated people changed by the love of Christ. We celebrate the diversity of countries and cultures represented by this class which will further increase the rich diversity already found in our organisation. We believe that people from multiple cultures working together in harmony is a beautiful reflection of the body of Christ as it should be.”

DAVE FYOCK, CEO OF MISSION AVIATION FELLOWSHIP INTERNATIONAL

ABOVE: Dave and Hilda Fyock with MAF SA Ministry Partnership Officer, Queen Basupi, and co. BELOW: Candidate safari adventure.

ABOVE: Daniel Chilipamushi, Zambian Aircraft Engineer, says goodbye to his family before embarking to South Africa.

Sometimes, as a resourcing group in the recesses of global society geographically and economically, we (MAF South Africa) suffer a little “imposter syndrome”, questioning the impact we have and our ability to bring about change in this world.

Not only were we able to provide the most exquisite environment in our beautiful Mpumalanga province, but due to the international exchange rate, the one time having a weaker currency is beneficial is when foreign currency affords the costs within our country, making it extremely costeffective and beneficial to MAFI. Our donors globally will no doubt appreciate the wise stewardship of their first fruits so that we can stretch the resources that much further as a global community to the people who need it most.

On behalf of the Board of MAFSA, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to those invovled, especially to MAFI, all of the team who came from abroad, and, most significantly, our new missionaries who are writing the first chapter of their magnificent adventures for the Kingdom. We were honoured to have hosted this event and would like to thank Dave Fyock and his team at MAFI for placing this responsibility in our hands. With God’s help, we flew the flag of MAFI for the Kingdom of Heaven high!

PAUL HENNING, BOARD CHAIR OF MISSION AVIATION FELLOWSHIP SOUTH AFRICA

HEBREWS 13:8

MAF SERVES IN MULTIPLE COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD WITH THE VISION OF TAKING CHRIST’S LOVE INTO THE MOST REMOTE PLACES ON EARTH.