How Your DONATION TO THE CESSNA Will Make a Difference!
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At 3pm on the afternoon of 11 March, 2015 a fully overhauled and refurbished Cessna 206 appeared as a dot in the skies above Ardmore, South Auckland. The long-awaited and prayed-for MAF plane was finally here! At the time, the Rev Dr Richard Waugh, Aviation Historian, stated:
The arrival of Cessna ZK-MAF in New Zealand is cause for celebration–a very valuable tool for Kingdom purposes here at ”the ends of the earth”. I encourage people to be well informed and fully supportive of this important mission development.
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Within minutes of its arrival we held a Dedication service at the airfield, committing it to service in New Zealand. In the almost year and a half since then the aircraft has become the centre-piece of all our fundraising, recruitment and promotional work. It has attracted a lot of attention, significantly raised the profile of MAF in New Zealand and attracted new Candidates. Because this particular aircraft has flown overseas for MAF for more than 30 years, sitting in the seat and experiencing a “real” operational MAF plane has really helped people understand our ministry in developing nations around the world. All of this has made a tremendous impact on our work. But we need your help in keeping the MAF plane flying! Your gift will mean that more MAF missionaries can go overseas.
MAF’s six seat Cessna 206
MISSION AVIATION FELLOWSHIP
1: HELP RAISE MAF’S PROFILE AROUND NEW ZEALAND From the time the plane landed in New Zealand, God has used it to raise the profile of MAF and build strategic relationships. Here Mark Fox (MAFNZ CEO) and pilots John Neal and Rick Velvin, who flew the plane from Australia, speak at the Dedication. Present were Rev. Dr. Richard Waugh (standing on right of photo) and Aviation News.
2: ENABLE PILOT FLIGHT ASSESSMENTS AND TRAINING
The plane is vital for missionary pilot training and testing, so we can ensure we are sending well qualified and mission field-ready pilots overseas. It allows candidate pilots to build hours and practice in a plane very similar to those they will fly overseas. In this photo Chief Pilot John Neal carries out a flight assessment.
3: HELP US BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOCAL CHURCHES Dozens of pastors, church and mission leaders have been introduced to MAF by going on a short scenic flight and then hearing a 20 minute presentation about MAF. Your donation will allow us to make more connections with pastors and develop more partnerships, which will lead to more opportunities to speak in churches around New Zealand.
4: HELP SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT MAF’S AMAZING WORK The plane gives MAF more of a presence at airshows and large scale Christian events, such as Festival One. On 11 July national radio stations Life FM and Radio Rhema recorded their shows during flights on ZK-MAF. In this photo Andrew and George from Radio Rhema chat live in the Cessna. (One more example of how the aircraft is such an effective promotional tool!)
5: CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS MAF’S RECRUITMENT EFFORTS The Cessna will help us attract and recruit new workers into this vital missionary aviation work. In this photo, taken at our first-ever Recruitment Retreat, a number of potential field staff, who wanted to find out more about serving overseas with MAF, stand next to the aircraft.
6: FACILITATE MORE “TOUCH AND GO” EVENTS
We have had five weekend “Touch and Go” promotional events since the plane arrived in New Zealand (Hamilton, Tauranga, Invercargill, Dunedin and Auckland)—all based around the Cessna 206! More Touch and Go events are already planned...but we need your help in making them possible. The cost is considerable but the results well worth it.
7: HELP US CONNECT WITH YOUTH
MAF New Zealand knows that many of our pilots and other staff first heard about MAF when they were young children. Young people are MAF’s future, and we are starting MAF Youth to connect with them. This will allow us to track with those who have an interest in aviation and missions as they journey to find God’s will in their lives.
MISSION AVIATION FELLOWSHIP
Will you make a donation to help keep MAF’s Cessna 206 flying? You probably remember that this aircraft was purchased from MAF overseas, so the proceeds allowed MAF International to buy a valuable replacement aircraft. Your gift resulted in double the benefit! You helped bring back into active service a special plane which served MAF in missions in Cambodia and Australia’s outback for 30 years…and which, with your help, continues to serve MAF New Zealand today! I personally ask you to continue to support this vision by sponsoring this Cessna aircraft. By donating, you can be a part of helping MAF reach more people in New Zealand, recruit new staff and raise the profile of MAF NZ. This in turn will help MAF reach remote communities and allow hundreds of mission agencies and NGO’s to do their work! I hope you feel inspired to help keep the Mission Aviation Fellowship Cessna 206 flying! Gifts of any amount are deeply appreciated. Please note; this is a tax deductible donation!
Mark Fox, MAFNZ CEO