Fuelled by Prayer - Winter 2020

VOL.3 NO.2 2020

MISSION AVIATION FELLOWSHIP

FUELLED BY PRAYER

FUELLED BY PRAYER MAF SOUTH AFRICA Winter 2020

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FUELLED BY PRAYER

MISSION AVIATION FELLOWSHIP

PRAY FOR OUR MISSIONARIES Families from South Africa are working in third-world countries across the globe, to bring the love of Christ to the isolated.

VOL.3 NO.2 2020

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7

GOD NEVER CHANGES

BRAD & MICHELLE VENTER | PNG | Thank God for the Venters in Papua New Guinea. Praise God that they can fly and help with emergency situations. Pray for their protection as they do this. Also pray for homeschooling of the kids.

TOBIAS MEYER | SOUTH SUDAN Pray for Tobias in South Sudan. Praise God that they can still fly but pray for protection for him and the team as they are at risk on the “front-lines”. Pray also that he will feel uplifted and guided by the Holy Spirit.

GRANT & EMILY STRUGNELL | LESOTHO Praise God for the Strugnells who have recently been able to fly again. Pray for the busyness of the situation and the desperate need within the country. Pray also for their safety and protection.

MARK & LORRAINE LIPRINI | DISASTER RESPONSE Praise God that the Liprinis have still been approved to make the move to Uganda, despite lockdown restrictions. Pray for their safety at this time and for courage as they take this bold step. Pray for their family members who stay behind, that they will be able to continually support each other in this time.

KIRSTEIN & AMELIA COMBRINK | TANZANIA Praise God for the safety and protection of the Combrinks in Tanzania.

Pray for their missions as they find new ways of reaching the isolated despite restrictions.

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. ” Ephesians 1:18-21 NIV

The Gospel story of “Blind Bartimaeus” holds several lessons for social justice agencies (NGOs, churches, faith-based organisations) in the way we approach and do our work. The story joins Jesus coming from Jordan and passing through the city of Jericho with his disciples on their way to Jerusalem. On the way, they meet a man blind from birth called Bartimaeus.

Mark 10:49-52 “Jesus stood still and said, ‘Call him here.’ And they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take heart; get up, he is calling you.’ So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man said to him, ‘My teacher, let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has made you well.’ Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.”

From this passage, we can draw six applicable points for what we do in everyday life.

1. Listening to the cries for help As society, we are called to respond to cries for help that come in a myriad of voices: from the poor, marginalised, victims of abuse, people crying for a better life. We also respond to the cries of human rights defenders and justice activists.

2. Oppressed by systematic fears The very people that tried to silence Bartimaeus are the ones who have a change of heart and encourage him to approach the Rabbi. What happened? The more the people silenced him, the more Bartimaeus shouted out. All around the world we see poor, marginalised and oppressed people working hard for change. When they see possibilities for hope and transformation in the symbols of social justice organisations, they speak up and “shout” for the help they need seeing new possibility. Jesus action of reaching out to blind Bartimaeus was also an act of reaching out to the people on the margins of inaction, fear, and cynicism.

3. Partnership and advocacy for change When Bartimaeus comes into Jesus’ presence, Jesus sees him for who he really is. Although the travelling party is passing through, Jesus stops, makes time, and brings Bartimaeus into his compassionate gaze. He is not just a number, a social action project, a deliverable or a picture in the annual report.

He is witnessed by Jesus in his fullness as a human being. This is the gift of social justice work that sees people more than project statistics accounted for in donor reports. Jesus sees Bartimaeus.

Advocacy goes beyond compassionate acts of service delivery that meet immediate need, giving much needed aid, building infrastructure, and providing essential services. Advocacy addresses systemic issues getting to the root causes of injustice and oppression. When the root is cut off – evil can bear no fruit.

Jesus taught us that both the acts of compassion and mercy as well as social activist capacity building and empowerment are necessary for sustainable justice impact. May His Kingdom come.

Devotion provided by Dr Stanley Arumugam

VOL.3 NO.2 2020

MISSION AVIATION FELLOWSHIP

PRAY FOR OUR PROGRAMMES MAF serves in several countries around the world with the vision of taking Christ’s love into the most remote places on earth.

CHAD

SOUTH SUDAN

UGANDA

Pray for the increased confirmed cases in this area, for the safety of those most vulnerable and that MAF can help as much as possible.

Pray for increased safety measures to be put in place.

Praise God for the limited number of deaths reported from COVID-19.

Praise God for the small number of cases confirmed in relation to other countries.

Pray for God’s hand of blessing over the flights that continue.

Pray for all the obstacles facing the communities we help in Uganda. Praise God He made a way for us to continue working, despite flooding.

LESOTHO

KENYA

ARNHEM LAND

MADAGASCAR

Pray for our Kenya staff who are still working. Praise God for the approval of clearance for medevac flights.

MOZAMBIQUE

Pray for the government as they consider reducing the level of emergency Pray for aircraft maintenance.

INDONESIA

Pray for their flights.

Pray for comfort and peace for the family of a beloved MAF pilot who sadly passed away – Joyce Lin.

RO’S

Pray that God will continue to provide financially for MAF even in this economically troublesome time.

MYANMAR

Pray for God’s grace as construction on an airstrip continues.

Pray for the safety of all those at work.

RO’s: Resourcing Offices across the globe.

Pray for the development of separation screens as a precautionary measure. Pray for the continued flights taking place.

Praise God for a new aircraft for Madacascar. Pray for their engineers and staff as they continue to work and do medevac flights.

PNG

MISSIONARIES

Pray for God’s provision as flying is permitted. Give thanks for airstrip surveys and drop-offs that were able to take place.

Praise God that all our missionary families are safe in this time.

Pray for continued protection and courage over them.

DRC

SOUTH AFRICA

Praise God for the limited number of COVID-19 cases and pray for continued protection over their continued flights.

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“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’”

Psalms 91:1-2

LIBERIA

Pray for the missionary families who have all made the tough decision of staying. Pray that they will soon be able to operate again.

FUELLED BY PRAYER

Pray for our local initiative to help the communities in need.

Praise God that we have all been able to work from home.

PRAYER NOTES

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VOL.3 NO.2 2020