SCOTTISH Scottish Special SPECIAL Summer 2019 – MAF Scotland news and events
APR-JUN 2020 New growth
As I look out into my garden, there are imminent signs of new life; the snowdrops are starting to bloom and new buds are appearing on the trees. Every year, the plants grow, taking over new ground and spreading themselves into new areas of the garden. Isaiah 54:2 comes to mind, ‘Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.’ This year at MAF Scotland, we are trying out a new style of approach in order to increase our church partnerships, strengthen our prayer support and increase the number of Scottish staff serving overseas. We are venturing into new areas to engage fresh audiences and maximise income growth. Our aim is to stimulate new minds — both young and old — with the work of MAF and the impact of a life that knows Jesus. With any new approach to mission there is increased risk, but this is always underpinned by abundant grace to grow in faith. Join us in prayer as we step out in faith, to increase help, hope and healing and change the nations for Jesus. Together in Christ Heather Malloch Head of MAF in Scotland
It’s party time!
Oh, I do like a party! And, by now, most — if not all — of our faithful supporters are aware that 2020 is MAF’s 75th birthday. It’s not that we need an excuse to celebrate what the Lord has done through MAF but, hey, why not celebrate and give thanks to our faithful God?! MAF Scotland has planned a wide selection of full-on, family fun days, placed strategically around the country. We’ll be bringing the MAF Scotland display plane, our flight simulator, the MAF rescue challenge (a team event that’s a cross between The Crystal Maze and The Krypton Factor), the MAF photo exhibition and much, much more.
www.maf-uk.org/scotland
Story Andy Martin
These free events will run from 10am till 5pm approximately and, in the evening, we’ll hold a celebration with speakers, worship and messages from the MAF world. In the meantime, why not invite your local MAF speaker along to your church or group (see the enclosed leaflet)? You could have your very own 75th anniversary celebrations, complete with the full audio-visual experience of MAF through the years! Take a look at the diary section on the back cover of the Special for an event near you — mark it in bold, red ink on your calendar and bring the entire family along!
The bigger picture Andy Martin chats with recent recruits, Communications and Marketing Administrator Cortney Lee and Office Administrator Sheonagh Struthers Hello, ladies — tell us about yourselves in one sentence. Cortney: I live in Glasgow’s West End, with my husband Stuart and my wee, six-year-old dog Murchadh. Sheonagh: I’m a loyal, fun, hardworking half South Africanhalf Scottish woman who loves Jesus, dancing and the great outdoors!
What’s your church life like? CORTNEY
Cortney: I go to Re-hope West end which is vibrant, full of life and constantly changing. I really respect the faithfulness and tenacity of our leaders in pursuing God’s direction. Sheonagh: I serve on the Praise and Worship teams at C7 Church, Glasgow. I love serving as I believe it’s an act of worship.
What attracted you to work for MAF?
SHEONAGH
Cortney: Two words I use frequently to describe MAF are ‘specialised’ and ‘efficient’. It’s also an extremely pragmatic organisation and that drew me to it. This role suits my skills and experience, but I want to get
fully involved in MAF’s bigger picture — real solutions to worldwide problems. Sheonagh: I previously worked for the charity SHARE (Scotland Housing Associations Resources for Education), but I’ve always been eager to be part of a team that’s advancing the Kingdom of God on earth.
Tell us about your interests and hobbies Cortney: I like being out with friends at any of Glasgow’s many great restaurants. Sheonagh: In my spare time, I enjoy travelling, dancing, socialising, reading, walking (weather permitting) and going to the gym.
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be? Cortney: I’m very interested in seeing the Arctic. It would be great to experience how resourceful people are in a completely different climate to ours. I’d also be on the lookout for the cool marine life! Sheonagh: India — I love the vibrancy of the culture and the wonderful food.
Setting his sights high! Cameron Paterson went all out for MAF recently when he took on the Couch to 5K running plan. The 13-year-old from Edinburgh completed his first ever 5km run in a fantastic 30 minutes, and raised £1,000 for MAF! Cameron is thinking of becoming a pilot and says, ‘I wanted to help MAF as it supports a lot of people around the world.’
Thank you, Cameron!
Language, libraries and learning Last year, Jo Crotty spoke to Scottish Special about preparing for a new life in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Here are her first impressions
I
arrived in PNG feeling both overwhelmed and thankful. A group of MAF mums and their children welcomed me at arrivals which was just lovely. They’d set my house up for me and left me some fruit, flowers, welcome cards and some food, so I didn’t have to worry about shopping just yet. Such a wonderful blessing! Day one was straight into language study, learning Tok Pisin, or: ‘(Mi) kisim save Tok Pisin’ (getting the knowledge of Tok Pisin). I studied with an MAF couple who were also new to PNG and we had many laughs together. The course finished with two weeks in an outstation where we had to speak Tok Pisin most of the time. A real test of how much we had learnt! On my return from the outstation, my new life began in earnest. Now, I spend three days a week in the office working on my regional responsibilities.
These include English Language Co-ordinator for an MAF project, researching and developing education support information for MAF’s Asia-Pacific programmes, and keeping in touch with families in Arnhem Land, Timor-Leste and Bangladesh. My other two days consist of PNG-based work including regular contact with families. I homeschool some children while developing a library containing fiction, non-fiction and education resources. Every few months, I visit an outstation and work with children on ways in which they can connect socially — such as children’s camps. I’m really enjoying being part of the MAF family and knowing that I am serving the bigger picture of reaching the isolated by supporting our families in their frontline work.
Please pray for Jo as she settles into her new life in PNG and for her continuing good health. Pray that she has flourishing relationships with her MAF family and with the local people she encounters, especially her garden and market meri (lady), Tapori. Pray for wisdom in balancing Jo’s regional responsibilities with her PNG ones and for the growth of her English Language Learning project.
Passionate about MAF
Hear the latest news!
Alan Devereux joined MAF in 2004 and was a key player in shaping our future
Meet MAF team members at an event near you
Prior to MAF, Alan’s successful career in business included heading the Scottish Tourist Board and Scottish Ambulance Service, for which he was awarded a CBE. However, it would be fair to say that MAF captured Alan’s heart and that he regarded his contribution to the organisation as his greatest honour and achievement. He said that MAF provided the perfect combination of his three abiding passions — engineering, mission and fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Alan joined MAF UK in 2004 at a time of great change, focusing his efforts on developing the Board of Trustees. Always keen to bring people together, a mark of his chairmanship was the gentle encouragement of Trustees, Chief Executive and senior management. An active chairman, Alan visited staff teams in the programmes to hear first-hand about the MAF ‘experience’. He reached out to MAF groups worldwide to share his vision of integration, becoming one of the architects of MAF International in the process. Alan’s friendly manner and quiet persistence played a key role in encouraging the MAF family to begin this exciting, new chapter of mission. In 2006, MAF International was formed and he joined the new Board, serving as Chair until 2010. Active in his local church and devoted to his wife Betty, his family and his dogs, Alan loved MAF and he loved his Lord. As a man who celebrated life and was passionate about the work of MAF, Alan thoughtfully left a gift to MAF in his Will. This gift is now transforming the lives of men, women and children around the world as our aircraft bring God’s love to isolated people.
We are so thankful to all our supporters who choose to leave a legacy to MAF. To find out more about making a gift to MAF in your Will, please phone our Legacy Manager on 01303 851242 or email miriam.wheeler@maf-uk.org
7 March – 27 June 2020
Glasgow. Saturday 7 March The Commission Men’s Conference Woodhill Evangelical Church, 30 Wester Cleddens Road, Bishopbriggs, Glasgow G64 2NH For tickets, please visit www.christianmentogether.com Bellshill. Sunday 8 March, 10.30am Bellshill Baptist Church, 31 Neilson Street, Bellshill ML4 1RD Neilston. Monday 23 March, 1.30pm Neilston Parish Church Guild, Main Street, Neilston G78 3ET Falkirk. Sunday 26 April, 6pm Grahamston Evangelical Church, Miller Hall, Gowan Ave, Falkirk FK2 7HL Glasgow. Thursday 30 April, 8pm Greenview Evangelical Church, 1439 Pollokshaws Rd, Glasgow G41 3RQ Glasgow. Saturday 9 May 10am-2pm and 6.30-8.30pm Family Fun Day and Evening 75th Celebration Bearsden Baptist Church, 14 Roman Road, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 2SL Boreland Loch Tay. Friday 15 – Sunday 17 May Wilderness 2020 Men’s gathering Boreland Farm, Boreland Loch Tay, Fearnan PH15 2PG For tickets, please visit www.wilderness2020.com Kilmarnock. Friday 22 May – Sunday 24 May Keswick Convention 2020 The Park Hotel, Rugby Park, Kilmarnock KA1 1UR For tickets, please visit www.keswickministries.org Dunblane. Saturday 30 May, 10am-2pm MAF photographic exhibition Every picture tells a story St Blane’s Church of Scotland, 112 High Street, Dunblane FK15 0ER Milltimber. Saturday 13 June 1pm-5pm and 6.30-8.30pm Family Fun Day and Evening 75th Celebration Deeside Christian Fellowship, 25 Binghill Drive, Milltimber AB13 0JE Perth. Saturday 20 June 10am-2pm and 6.30-8.30pm Family Fun Day and Evening 75th Celebration Perth Baptist Church, 14 Almond View, PH1 1QQ Inverness. Saturday 27 June 10am-2pm and 6.30-8.30pm Family Fun Day and Evening 75th Celebration Smithton-Culloden Free Church, 1 Murray Road, Smithton, Inverness IV2 7YU These are some of the events MAF will attend over the next few months. Visit www.maf-uk.org and MAF Scotland on Facebook for updates. If you would like a visit from us, or to have your MAF event featured, please phone Andy Martin on 0141 332 5222 or email him at andy.martin@maf-uk.org
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