LT Makes Sense in MAF

In 1945 God challenged a handful of ex-military airmen to overcome geographic barriers to the Gospel.  They answered the call with airplanes, forming a flight service known today as Mission Aviation Fellowship.  Suddenly, days on the trail changed to minutes in the air.  Missionary dreams of reaching people living in remote mountain valleys or impenetrable jungles gave way to the reality of doing it.  They rejoiced that the Lord finally enabled them to surmount such formidable obstacles.

But then He presented a new challenge.  By the end of WW II both military and airline operations routinely included 2-way radio communications.  So, our early pilots, fresh from those environments, automatically integrated radios into their flight service. When missionaries saw our base staff routinely speak with pilots a hundred miles into the bush, they quickly realized the potential for their own work.  “That’s amazing.  Is there any way we could do that too?” they asked.

“Sure.  Here’s how it works,” we answered and quickly found ourselves in communications ministry, installing radios in central offices and remote camps.  Runners bearing notes stained with many days sweat gave way to instant conversations with near telephone ease.  Today, setting up and maintaining a radio network comprises MAF’s entire ministry in some countries and an important part in others.

But, professional aviation’s demand for mastery of the growing body of information compelled us to adopt computers at the dawn of the digital era.  MAF began automating shop, reporting and flight planning tasks.  When missionaries saw the boon these strange machines provided to our record keeping, they asked, “That’s amazing.  Is there anyway we could do that too?”

“Sure.  Here’s how it works,” we answered.  Overnight, we became data processing experts.  We helped missionaries select and install the right equipment and trained their operators as well.  That meant fewer people could offer better mission logistical support, freeing time and staff for more direct ministry work.

A new surprise came when computer joined computer creating the Internet.  Because most remote bases had no access to plane maintenance specialists, we quickly jumped into email.  Rather than waiting weeks for postal turn-arounds or days for problematic telephone connections, we obtained technical help right away. Airplanes returned to service in hours rather than weeks.

When missionaries saw how we transferred large amounts of information halfway around the world they observed, “That’s amazing.”  Then, after a little thought asked, “Is there anyway we could do that too?”

We answered, “Sure.  Here’s how it works.”  And, in short order, we served as the Information Technology source for missions.  We established, installed and maintained entire email networks connecting the most isolated stations to the rest of the world.

Then, something ‘long hoped for’ happened.  Over 60 plus years of MAF supporting mission ministry, people actually met Jesus.  Individuals here, families there, entire villages and regions put their trust in the Lord.  And, as if that weren’t enough, some of those new believers heard the call to ministry.  God asked them to serve as evangelists, pastors, teachers and other church workers.  Delighted missionaries and proud national church leaders followed tradition and sent them to Bible School.

Along with other missionaries, we prayed with the excited student’s families.  Then, we flew wide-eyed freshman off to a bus stop for the trip to the capital city or, in many cases, to the international airport.  There they boarded big jets bound for entirely different countries.

However, after years of congratulating ourselves with ministry success stories, we realized an unpleasant truth.  Ninety percent of students sent away to Bible school never returned to their home village.  Our MAF experience confirmed this as did the majority of missions and national churches we serve.

It is, of course, easy to understand what happened.  Students who grew up with lice infested dirt floors, mud and dung walls, a mile walk to the creek and daily competition with rats for food, found modern city life attractive.  Those village people, suddenly thrown into urban settings, had to make such major cultural, language and learning style adjustments that they could no longer relate to their own families.  They might return to visit mom and dad, but they never moved back.  Instead, they became strangers in their own home and pursued other ministry opportunities among their adopted people.

Clearly, no one anticipated this ministry talent drain away from the people who needed it the most. As with airplanes, radios, computers and email, the Lord called us to address this obstacle with our niche ministry - technology.

MAF’s Learning Technologies Division uses appropriate technology to bring Christian Education as close to the village as possible.  A typical example establishes a computer equipped learning center in the trade town serving a cluster of villages.  Bible students who already travel to this town every month, now attend classes there.  National Church leaders offer training they deem best meets the need of their upcoming pastors and evangelists.  After a course session, the students return home, continue to support their families and minister to their people.

MAF was party to the unintended consequences of successful evangelism.  Now the Lord uses us as part of His solution to serve the very people He sent us to reach in the first place.