‘...The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. ’
Fuelled by Prayer March - May 2017
Unity in Christ Throughout the Bible, we are reminded of the wonderful fruit God produces when we unite. However, sometimes unity can be a challenge! Unity doesn’t imply uniformity. Unity means that people are united in thought and purpose, with a common focus on God and His Kingdom. Unity doesn’t mean losing our individuality or uniqueness. Our diversity is what gives the body of Christ its strength. When we look at the perfect example of unity within the Trinity, we see an eternal, loving community that – while comprising three distinct persons – is completely united in essence. Christian apologist Dr Ravi Zacharias says: “The Trinity provides us with a model for a community of love and essential dignity without mitigating personality, individuality and diversity.” Jesus’ teaching reveals the essential beauty of the Father’s and the Son’s union. Indeeed, it is through the love we have for one another that the world will know we are His disciples (John 13:35). When Jesus prays, “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us”(John 17:21), He reveals that the purpose of unity is ‘that the world may believe that You sent Me.’ In Colossians 3:14, we see that it is love that binds everything together in perfect unity. At MAF, we regard it as an honour and a privilege to partner with God to see His light shine into the darkest and most isolated places. Jesus gave the job of evangelisation and discipleship to the whole body of Christ, so
our mission’s ability to unite with over 1, 500 partners increases our partner’s effectiveness and brings glory to God. The MAF family is made up of different nationalities, generations, life experiences and genders; all with one purpose – to serve in love. They do so in places where the culture is often very different to what our teams may be used to – realising that it is only love that brings unity. One of the countries in which we’re based – Papua New Guinea (PNG) – is made up of more than 830 people groups, and is one of the most diverse nations in the world. When we join together in praying for MAF and the people we serve, the power of prayer is unleashed! The oil of blessing overflows – touching hearts and overcoming hurts. New hope is born as our Father delights in how good and pleasant it is when His children live in unity. Psalm 133:1 How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! Father God, we thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thank you that, through Him, we are able to live the life You desire - one of unity and love. Not by power, nor by might but by Your Spirit, may MAF continue to shine Your love and mercy to the very ends of the earth. Amen
Maxine Holman (Managing Director) Praise.
The years seem to fly by as I get older and some years seem more difficult than others but I’m truly grateful that I know the Lord because knowing him gives me hope and strength for each new year that I face. I’m grateful to be part of an amazing organisation that is doing amazing things across the world. I often talk to friends of mine who aren’t happy with the work they are doing and I realised how truly blessed I am.
Prayer. Please pray that the Lord would continue to strengthen me as I lead the MAF SA team. It is sometimes difficult to be the one having to make tough decisions, so I need the Lord’s wisdom every day.
Olivia Fraser (HR Administrator) Praise.
My new home My family
Prayer.
Healing Inflow of people wanting to serve as missionaries in our programmes.
Precia Ngoepe (Database and Donor Relations)
Praise. For all God’s promises in the new year, all His promises are yes and amen, thank God for His provisions and breakthrough, for my son’s funding, God is faithful, for his goodness and His grace in our lives and we thank Him for the gift of life. for all matriculants and all students, we praise God for their progress. thank God for sending much rain when our country needed it the most.
Prayer. For all the services of MAF and FFL , pray for God’s guidance , for the salvation of the lost, that the glory of God will be revealed in our country, pray for our leaders.
Gabriella (Marketing & Events Coordinator) and Sean Szabo Praise.
Praise God for He is a Good Good Father. Praise Him for providing for us as a family and at MAF in such amazing ways.
Prayer
Please pray for all MAF and FFL events.
Steve (Pilot) and Camilla Eatwell Children: Nate and Cade Praise. Praise God for enabling us to work in PNG. We feel privileged to be a part of helping the Papua New Guinean’s live a better life.
Prayer Please pray for the locals we serve in Rumginae. Pray that they experience the love of God in a real way. Please also pray for our family to be a great testimony of God’s goodness. Please always pray for safety while Steve flies. The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving Psalm 28:7 (NLT)
Brad (Pilot) and Michelle Venter Children: Nathan, Hailey and Megan Praise. We had a great Christmas break which was just fun and relaxing. We just stayed at home. The kids had a good start to the new term and have settled back into routine
Prayer For 2017 which is already turning out to be very busy. We need energy as well as wisdom to maintain a balance in everything. Pray for MAF PNG as we are short of trainers and have some challenges we are trying to work through. Pray for us as we work through issues and keep our program operational. Pray for us that 2017 is a year where we as a family grow in our relationships with the Lord. That we are able to resist being busy and take time to spend time with God and with each other. That we would have margin in our lives so that we have time to input into other people’s lives.
Urgent Prayer Request – Kompiam, PNG • Please pray for the safety of the remaining staff at Kompiam hospital, and for God’s protection of the medical centre itself, presently a focus and potential target between warring tribes in the immediate area. • Pray that God by his grace will put borders around Satan’s sphere of influence and that the destruction and death will be limited. • Pray that the hospital will act wisely in the situation. Culturally it is very difficult. Many are giving up hope for the hospital. God’s help is needed for all to see that ‘Kompiam and the hospital are worth saving’. • Pray for strength to push on and encouragement for those who remain when so many staff have left. • Pray for those Christians who are trying to stand up and say the right/hard things within their clans. • Pray for peace and reconciliation between the tribes involved in the violence and unrest in the Kompiam area.
Context
The moral dilemma of treating the wounded from waring tribal fighting is one Dr David Mills, and his staff at remote Kompiam Hospital, face regularly. But maybe it’s not that which is of greatest concern. When the hospital and all that it means to many remote
communities in the province, comes under “fire” for their ‘non-partisan’ approach, then half a century of influence by mission and church organisations is at risk!
Lord, thank You for Your peace, protection and provision. We pray that MAF will always have: one purpose – the glory of God, one pathway – the will of God, one passion – the love of God. In Jesus’ name Amen
Mark (pilot) and Lorraine Liprini Children: David and Ruth Praise. We are in good health, have had a great short break between Christmas and New Year, and were able to sell Lorraine’s older car and get a newish one for her. We have a new supporter, and we remain constantly amazed and grateful to the Lord for supplying ALL our needs.
Prayer. Our biggest one is to find accommodation in George. We have been hunting for a while, but decent houses in our budget to buy are very few and far between, and rentals are all but non-existent at a sensible rate. It is an acknowledged fact that the rental market in George is extremely limited. Pray for Lorraine’s job opportunities in George as we move down there. There are two possible options, and as we speak. Both are being investigated. Pray too that as we move down to George that we may find a good church to join. A church where we can serve in and where the word is preached and the worship is honouring to the Lord. Pray too for Lorraine as her Aunt has just died. Pray for comfort, wisdom and peace.
Kirstein (Pilot) and Amelia Combrink Child: Johann Peter Praise. We had a great Christmas season in Arusha - relaxing and good food and fellowship. We also had support at home with two staff who provide great childcare and security.
Prayer. Please pray for Amelia’s work at the school (Christchurch International), continued good health for Johann and Airfield development work starting in the new year in a new area of Northern Tanzania. Lord Jesus, help us to live in Your joy each day. May we be vessels overflowing with heaven’s grace and the Father’s love – shining brightly an invitation to all to share in the beautiful inheritance You promise to those who love You. Amen
March SOUTH AFRICA We are hosting a number of events this March and April including Flying for Life’s “Fight or Flight, the art of moving forward” a Fundraiser event raising awareness of what we are doing in SA, an MAF Hike in the Drakensburg, raising funds for the people we serve in PNG and air shows. Please pray for excellence in the events, for people to walk away with passion for FFL and MAF and for strength for everyone working on the events. Please also pray that these events will raise funds exceedingly more than we have planned for. Please pray for wisdom for our Flying for Life team, as there are changes in the structure of the team. Pray for protection for every flight. Please also pray for all our projects in Limpopo and Northern KZN to represent Christ, to bring help, hope and healing to the people that we serve, and for commitment and strength for all our volunteers.
April PAPUA NEW GUINEA Reflecting on Palm Sunday, William Penn once said, ‘No pain, no palm; no thorns, no throne; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown.’ As we remember Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and pray for PNG, let’s
ponder this thought – remembering that before He was crucified like a criminal, Jesus rode into the city as a king. A flight transporting missionaries to Suki helped Bible translators use computers for their work. Pray for Bible translation into local languages, and ask the Holy Spirit to breathe life into God’s Word so spiritually hungry people encounter Him. Isolated people rely on us to deliver passengers, medicines and vital supplies to places such as Goroka or Andakombe. By air, it takes 30 minutes – by land, 2 days! Pray that farmers whose coffee beans we fly for sale at Goroka or Mount Hagen will make a sustainable living. We need mission pilots, an experienced aircraft maintenance engineer and an HR Manager. Pray Christians with a heart for PNG will respond.
May HAITI Praise God for the incredible generosity of our supporters which allowed us to step up our response in the aftermath of hurricane Matthew! Funding from DFID allowed us to reach the hardest hit communities and serve more than 78 organisations. Pray for the 21 MAF staff, including 15 Haitian personnel based in Port-auPrince. Our 3 aircraft cover over 155,000 miles annually.
Blessing
Thabitha (Housekeeper) & Freddy Mashabela Children: Tumelo, Khomotso, Mahlogonolo,
Praise. We thank God for life and strength, for everything He has done for us.
Prayer. For my husband to get a job For God’s wisdom and protection.
Praise.
Maggie (Finance Manager) & Prosper Mumba Children: Blessing, Tabonga, Mary, Chitsomo
Thanks be to God for his grace and mercies that are new every morning upon our lives. Thank God for protection, provision and health.
Prayer. Please pray for God to lead, guide and give us insights as we implement our planning for 2017.
I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. 1 Corinthians 1:10
Would you like MAF to do a talk about the work it’s doing around the world at your: Ladies or men’s group Bible Study Group Old age home School Church Mission’s week For 71 years, MAF has been on a journey full of adventure and God’s great provision and we would love to share it with you. With humble beginnings dating back to just after World War II, our story is one of God’s great provision and growth. We have a fantastic network of speakers who will inform and inspire as they talk about the work of MAF.
Email admin@mafsa.co.za or call 011 6592880 to book your speaker today. Are you passionate about the work of MAF? Why not become an MAF ambassador and speak at the churches in your area?
If you are interested in becoming an MAF Speaker, please contact fundraising@mafsa.co.za