Mission Aviation Fellowship poised to return to eastern DRC
by Michael Ireland
July 31, 2007
NAMPA, IDAHO (ANS) -- After an absence of five years, Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), the world's largest Christian and humanitarian remote aviation service, may be headed back into the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the ministry announced today. Tribal conflict and civil war caused MAF to pull out of the eastern DRC in 2002 because violence hit its base and affected its operations, says a media release obtained by ASSIST News Service.
"We did have a large base, actually the largest base in Africa, in northeastern Congo there," said David Jacobson, MAF program manager for eastern DRC. That base was attacked, and had been a very large flight program a few years ago."
The media release says the region is now stable enough for MAF to consider moving back into the region. In fact, one family has returned, Jacobson said. "There is progress, slow, but progress."
"The family has moved into one of the larger cities in the northeastern part, very close to the Uganda border. We're hoping to base a second family there within a few months. And, through that, we hope to be able to start rebuilding our base that was destroyed," Jacobson said.
MAF has been flying into eastern Congo from Uganda daily since the base was destroyed, so its mission, humanitarian and medical work has continued, but from afar.
Missionary aviation is desperately needed in Congo, because roads are almost impassable, the release states.
"As an example, I talked to a missionary who drove a route that takes us one hour and five minutes to fly. He said it took him 10 days to drive with a big truck," Jacobson said. "With so many weapons in the hands of mobs and gangs, traveling on the roads can be dangerous, so air transportation is safer."
But Jacobson warned: "The base rebuilding effort will be a monumental task."
"At one point MAF had nine houses and two hangars. Every single house has been completely stripped to floors and bare walls. It's extremely daunting from a financial standpoint."
Jacobson said part of MAF's renewed mission is to help local believers reach out with the Gospel.
"It's really quite exciting to see how the Lord is raising up Christians that have a burden to reach their own people and other tribes. Air transportation can and will help those efforts," he said.
Those interested in supporting the ministry of MAF can do so by visiting its website, www.maf.org where they may also view exciting videos about MAF in action.
Founded in 1945, MAF stations some 200 missionary families in the remotest regions of 26 countries on five continents. MAF pilots fly approximately 40,000 flights annually, transporting missionaries, medical personnel, medicines and relief supplies, as well as conducting thousands of emergency medical evacuations. MAF also provides telecommunications services, including satellites, high-frequency radios, e-mail and other wireless systems, in isolated areas.
© 2007 ASSIST News Service, used with permission.
