The MAF Blog: Worldwide Pulse

Posts Tagged ‘prayer’

Like Trying to Fly an Airplane

Posted on: November 16th, 2011 by MAF |

Once MAF candidates have been accepted, they are considered pre-field missionaries or “pre-fielders.” This is a period of time, typically a year, where they visit with churches and build up their ministry partnership––a team of prayer and financial supporters. Kevin and Tasha Spann are at this stage, preparing to serve with MAF in DRC Congo (Africa). Below is an excerpt from the Spann’s October 2011 prayer letter:

At the time of this writing, we have been on the road now for five weeks. We have put 1500 miles on the car, visited nearly a dozen churches, met with many individuals and have a new perspective on the body of Christ, as Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 12. In the past, we only applied the concept of one body with many parts within a particular congregation. Now, we see it applies to the Church as a whole! There are many different churches, all seeking to bring glory to God in their own way with the skills they have been blessed with. If everyone was called to serve overseas, where would the help stateside be? If everyone was called to help at home, where would the overseas help come from? We truly have an amazing God who thinks of everything!

Before each presentation, we spend some quiet time praying and focusing our minds. This particular Sunday found us at a church in Knoxville, Tennessee. While Kevin wanted to pray for a specific goal to be met, we decided to pray instead for God to touch someone’s heart. After the presentation, a woman came up to us and said “God told me to…,” she had our undivided attention, “… give you an entire month of support. How much is it?” After my mind wrapped around those words, and in between tears, I told her how much we needed per month. Without blinking, she said, “Great! When do you need it?”

On another occasion, we prayed that God would allow us to have a conversation about our ministry with a complete stranger before the day ended. That afternoon we saw a woman who was having some difficulty operating a movie rental kiosk. Kevin walked over and asked if she needed help. She said “This thing is like trying to fly an airplane,” to which Kevin responded, “Well, you’re in luck. I do that too!” She then asked who with. As she drove away with a prayer card in hand, we both stared at each other. Could there have been any better introduction into a conversation about MAF?

For more of Kevin and Tasha’s adventures as they trust God for this stage of their MAF journey, follow their blog at www.spann-ingtheglobe.blogspot.com. To learn more about them, visit their page on the MAF website.

Even in the Small Things

Posted on: October 26th, 2011 by Between the Verses |

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Words on the screen blurred through tears as I fumbled encouragement through the keyboard of my computer. The streams from my eyes quickened and dripped at my chin as my constricted heart longed to be there, sitting on the edge of my daughter’s bed in an understanding embrace.

These situations for which the answers must be learned, trust in faith built, and perception of God’s plan gained through experience would not be any different were I on this side of the ocean or that one. But our tears could pool together, my comfort be tangible, and sincerity not mocked through strokes of the keyboard.

This. A painful sacrifice. My greatest weakness. Leaving my daughter for her first year at college. 7,456 miles away.

This. Where power is made perfect? Where can I boast? How do I delight in this hardship? Where is the strength from this weakness proven?

I took my makeup to work with me three days this week because troubled sleep had its way, but not its victory. Prayer proved its power each day. I made dinner, served guests, attended Bible study. Bedtime stories and nighttime cuddles with my youngest soothed this mamma’s heart.

But the ache remains. This weakness. This longing. No great tragedy. No big event. No persecution. Just separation. Just. Missing part of my heart.

But His grace got me through (gets me through) each day—even with tears threatening to spill over at inopportune times. His power helped me to wrestle out of bed seven mornings since. Christ’s power even in these small things.

Lord, help me to delight in your power in my weakness. Not in the face of insurmountable odds, but in the daily obedience to your call. You care so much in my small hardship that I can boast of your grace and power in the act of carrying out your calling through these difficulties.

“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” – 2 Corinthians 12:10

Soaring Into The Future, Part 2

Posted on: October 7th, 2011 by MAF |

In the second half of this interview, Jason Chatraw continues his conversation with MAF president and CEO, John Boyd, and new chairman of the board, Gregg Prickett, where they discuss the future of Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) and where it’s headed.

Running Time – 10:49

Subscribe to the MAF Podcast on iTunes »

Unexpected Life Changer

Posted on: July 20th, 2011 by Nancy Burton | 1 Comment

“You need one of these. It will change your life!” my friend told me. She was referring to her two-burner portable stove that runs on a tank of butane. I had never before heard anyone mention “camp stove” in their list of life-altering items.

When I think of things that have changed my life, I think about accepting Christ, meeting my spouse, losing a loved one, having babies, near misses; but not stoves. Upon reflection, though, I have other memories of which I can say “because of that, either I am different or my life is different.” Memories of time spent with friends, my first dog, a class taken, a decision made, even a conversation.

Mission Aviation Fellowship Missionary, Nancy Burton

Nancy Burton holding a young boy on a recent visit to the Kimbondo Hospital/Orphanage, Congo.

Often here, we don’t have electricity or city water––for hours or days at a time. Even with a generator, everyday activities like cooking and laundry can be challenging. Eventually, we took my friend’s advice and purchased a two-burner gas stove so we could cook without electricity. We discovered that she was correct. It’s hard to explain to others how significant that stove is to us now. A gas stove may not have made my original list of life-altering items, but sometimes our “lists” are composed of big things when little things can also matter a lot.

When I walk through the neighborhood to buy vegetables and talk with people, when I visit the orphanage and hold babies or chat with the older girls, when I buy Kleenex from a street kid or meet a need that someone has, it matters. Can a stove change a life? Absolutely! So can a smile, a kind word, a lift home, a loaf of bread, or a prayer spoken. It is possible that you can change someone’s life today with just a small act of kindness. You never know . . . it might be just what they need.

Pray for That?

Posted on: June 16th, 2011 by Jim Manley | 3 Comments

It first happened before I joined MAF. As company pilot, the CEO and his assistant were my passengers that morning. The crisp air seemed full of promise for the big meeting–except the engine wouldn’t start. Priming, purging and throttle finesse failed. Even with appropriate pauses to let the starter motor cool, the battery weakened.

We exited the cabin. The helper stood, hands in pockets while the boss paced and glared at his watch. I pulled off the cowling, scowled at the fuel injection, but could do nothing. I had neither tools nor a mechanic’s license. I was just a pilot.

The president stopped, turned on his heel and strode toward the terminal. I watched him through the big window, sitting, poking his open calendar. Missing this meeting would ruin the deal.

“Lord,” I prayed aloud. “I really need your help. Please help me to start this engine.” I climbed back into the cockpit.

The boss, still in the terminal, walked to the pay phones and lifted the receiver.

I followed the “Flooded Start” checklist . . . again.

The boss dropped coins into the phone.

I called, “Clear!” and pushed the starter button. The engine roared to life.

Later, in flight, the assistant shook his head and said, “I didn’t know you could pray for things like that!”

Neither did I.

Airplane Radio

Twelve years later in the Amazon jungle, I’m a pilot and a radio technician. On the bench lays a radio with more computing power than Apollo astronauts carried to the moon. It lights up, but nothing works right. The plane can’t fly without it. If the plane can’t fly, the missionary can’t reach the conference. The medical team can’t move to the next village, which also ruins their vaccines. The visiting aid workers will miss their international flight. Oh, and the birth complication patient won’t get to the hospital.

But I’m just a pilot and a B-level technician, not an engineer. I’ve spent hours measuring, poking, and prodding. I’ve read every manual, every tip and exhausted every trick. Nothing. The clock ticks and the airplane sits. “Lord, what do I do?” Suddenly I remember the assistant’s incredulous epiphany.

“Jesus, I really need your help. Please help me fix this radio.” I flip the power switch . . . again. The display springs to intelligent life. The digits make sense. All functions work. All channels work. The plane takes off and God’s plan continues, propelled, as always, by trust.