THE HUB IS HUMMING

From the beginning, the vision of Mark Fox, MAF NZ’s CEO, was for the Kendon-Strong MAF Centre to become a “hub.” A hub humming with all kinds of missions-focused, aviation-centred activities.

It would be a place where prayer, training and hospitality came together. It would be light to the surrounding aviation companies. A place where school groups could come in, sit in MAF NZ’s Cessna 206, hear the stories and catch the vision for MAF. Where staff returning to New Zealand after serving overseas could debrief and find rest and encouragement. And a place where funds were raised to support the overseas work of MAF. The centre is already beginning to “hum”! Accommodation at the centre has often been filled. Leo Hume and his wife Glenys stayed for two weeks so he could carry out maintenance work on the Cessna. The MAF NZ board and the Tauranga prayer group both held their most recent meetings there. Several international staff based in Tauranga now work out of the centre, as does Andrew Pound, the new Relations Manager for MAF. Connections have already been made with several aviation companies at the airport and two groups of young people have come and heard about the work of MAF. There is still a lot of work to do, especially in developing both the facilities and programmes to train pilots and aviation engineers. More construction work will need to take place in order for the centre to reach its full potential. However, it is encouraging to see the vision becoming a reality as things begin to “hum”!

An “airside” view of the hangar, top. Leo Hume working on the Cessna. The Tauranga Prayer Group meeting at the centre.