MAF Scottish Special - Summer 2020

SCOTTISH Scottish Special SPECIAL Summer 2019 – MAF Scotland news and events

JUL-SEP 2020

Be bold and courageous!

More than...

Story Andy Martin

‘Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land’ Proverbs 25:25 Stories of physical and spiritual transformation never cease to stir my soul, causing me to rejoice and endeavour to do more.

MAF has, for 75 years, brought help, hope and healing to the world’s most isolated people.

Being Christ’s hands and feet on earth can be both challenging and overwhelming and this has been put to the test as coronavirus has swept our world. I’ve always found it reassuring though that, whatever the path we’re given, we don’t need to undergo it alone.

How wonderful to know that we are so loved that we never need to be afraid — are never abandoned, forgotten about or ignored. How comforting that we don’t need to have all the answers, that His faithfulness and grace carries us and never fails us.

As Christians, we are called to live a life of faith and obedience, surrendering our rebel hearts.

Here at MAF, we are thankful for how God has used this ministry to bring relief, hope and comfort at a time where grief and despair could overwhelm us.

Let’s give thanks and praise to those who’ve gone before us on the MAF journey, and for those who currently serve — for their willingness to listen, obey and act.

Heather Malloch Head of MAF in Scotland

Aerial view over the Ssese Islands, Uganda

‘Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. Please follow the safety instructions from the cabin crew.’

A variation of this well-known statement is heard whenever we travel this ever-shrinking world. Travel times have reduced enormously since the invention of flight and more destinations are within reach of the average airline passenger.

This year MAF, celebrates 75 years of unbroken service to a broken world — using planes, not for pleasure, but to enhance life both physically and spiritually.

www.maf-uk.org/scotland

If I could write all four pages of this magazine, I would barely be able to scratch the surface of MAF’s global ministry. I couldn’t even choose a few highlights to illustrate the point that MAF’s use of aviation has completely transformed the lives of so many people.

The early pioneers of MAF could never have envisaged how, after three-quarters of a century, they’d grow from one country and one aircraft to become the world’s largest humanitarian airline. By the end of MAF’s first 75 years, there was a plane taking off and landing every five minutes!

In Ephesians 3:20, it says: ‘Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us… ’

This is the God who’s brought such increase, such blessing and such salvation. His peace, protection and provision has seen countless men, women and children come to faith in a God who always does more than we can ever plan for, or even envisage.

In recent weeks, as coronavirus has seized the globe, MAF has continued to serve the people around the world in whatever ways it can.

With restrictions on flying this has been more challenging, but we’re committed to supporting governments and organisations who call on MAF to continue reaching the isolated people whose need is greatest.

Back in Scotland, we were very much looking forward to inviting you to join us at one of

our 75th Anniversary celebration events this year. Due to the official guidelines issued by the UK Government at this time, we’ve had to postpone them.

In the meantime, as we make plans to reschedule these celebrations for a time when it is safe to do so, why not think about inviting us to your church, group or community?

As soon as we can, we’ll bring the celebrations to you!

Email Andy Martin at andy.martin@maf-uk.org, or you can phone him on 0141 322 5222, and we can begin to make plans for a future filled with more than we can imagine

New churches, new audiences Shortly before the coronavirus lockdown, new Assistant Head of MAF Scotland Chris Macrae was interviewed for Scottish Special

Saviour! Youthwork has been such an important part of my service. During the past decade, Claire and I’ve been leading a Scripture Union summer holiday for 12-18-year olds for the last 10 years in Aviemore.

Welcome to MAF Chris! Tell us a little about your home and family.

I’m a Lanarkshire boy, brought up in Hamilton, but home now is in Stonehouse, South Lanarkshire. I’m married to Claire and we have two girls, Rachel (9) and Anna (7) who keep us busy and on our toes!

Outside of work, we enjoy spending time together as a family and particularly love going on holidays!

What does church life look like for you?

I’ve been a Christian for 24 years and, since Claire and I been married, we’ve been members of Avendale Old Parish Church, Strathaven.

We helped lead the youth ministry at Avendale for 10 years, during which time there was much to be thankful for — many young people came to know Jesus as their Lord and

What did you do before joining the MAF Scotland team?

I have a Law degree from Strathclyde University. I’ve worked in banking, car rental management, retail management and spent five years employed by the Church of Scotland. For the last fiveand-a-half years I headed up Scripture Union Scotland’s holidays and camps ministry.

It’s been a fascinating journey which has brought me to MAF and I’m excited about how God will use my skills in this new role.

Tell us about your role with MAF and what you hope to achieve.

My role as Assistant Head of MAF Scotland is a brand-new one. I’ll be providing support to Heather in delivering the national strategy. I’ll also be seeking opportunities for MAF to partner with new and

emerging churches in Scotland, raising awareness among new audiences and managing the MAF in Community Team.

It’s a really exciting time for MAF in Scotland — I’m delighted to be part of the team and looking forward to meeting our volunteers and supporters!

A pause for prayer Father God, thank you for Chris. We pray that he settles into his role and for his family’s health and wellbeing at this time.

We pray, too, for Christians everywhere, that they know your peace and comfort in these challenging and difficult times.

Through us, Lord, we pray for opportunities to share the love of Jesus with those who do not yet know You — and point them back to you.

In Jesus name, Amen.

One year in Arnhem Land In 2019, former Head of MAF Scotland Ruth Jack and her husband Duncan made the journey from Scotland to the remote outback of Australia Story Cortney Lee

Photos Divyan Ahimaz and Ruth Jack

Following the vision God had placed on their hearts, they became Country Directors for MAF Arnhem Land.

MAF’s ten aircraft also fly for local churches, enabling them to access resources which bless communities that suffer from alcohol and substance abuse.

Ruth and Duncan lead a team of more than 40 people in this hot, humid, physically demanding region. Their team is dedicated to serving 56 locations — supporting more than 90 partners as they carry out essential work for indigenous men, women and children.

Looking back on their move from Scotland, Ruth reflects, ‘At that time, we had no real concept of what lay ahead — we needed to climb a steep learning curve very quickly!

One year on, we still love the everyday challenge of leading this programme and the fact that no two days are the same.’

A recent story illustrating the importance of MAF Arnhem Land is that of Wendy (her name

The remote bushland of Arnhem Land in northern Australia is home to Aboriginal communities isolated from one another by harsh terrain and huge distance. MAF’s programme in this region is dedicated to supporting their need for healthcare, education and development opportunities.

Scotland Office Challenge House 29 Canal Street, Glasgow G4 0AD T 0141 332 5222 E scottishoffice@maf-uk.org

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Wendy and her young son were collected from an airfield by an MAF flight. Her face bruised and swollen, she’d been a victim of domestic violence. Like too many women in remote northern Australia, her only hope of escape was a plane journey to a women’s shelter run by MAF partner Crisis Accommodation Gove (CAG).

From the safety of CAG, Wendy was able to gain support and encouragement for the long process of rebuilding her life.

Please pray for Ruth and Duncan as they continue to lead this extraordinary programme. Pray they can continue bringing help, hope and healing to the communities they serve — with every flight, every day.