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Mission Leaders Put 'Knowledge into Action'

Mission Leaders Put 'Knowledge into Action' at MAF Conference on Landmark Study

NAMPA, Ida. - "Putting knowledge into action to spread the Gospel" was the goal, as leaders from some of the world's leading international missions organizations gathered for a strategic conference at Mission Aviation Fellowship's (MAF) headquarters here.

For the past five years, MAF has been compiling crucial information in a major study of remote regions of the world through its "Operation ACCESS!" project (www.operationaccessmaf.org).

Mission leaders discussed the findings and implications of the unique landmark study during the two-day conference, Oct. 18-19. Representatives from 15 organizations investigated how "Operation ACCESS!" data could help them collaborate, as well as how it might serve their specific organizations and the missions world as a whole. Among the organizations represented were JAARS, OMS International, Mission to Unreached Peoples, Talking Bibles International, New Tribes Mission Aviation and Global Mapping International.

"'Operation ACCESS!' is very exciting," said Phill Butler, president of visionSynergy and the conference facilitator. "It's hard to come across a study that has been done in the last 15 years that would come close to the detail of this study.

"Operation ACCESS! deals with key issues that, if applied and taken to heart, will provide opportunities for mission organizations to band together in partnerships for evangelism," he said. "We are working with MAF to get the material broken down into bite-sized pieces that are easy to understand and that illustrate their significant value," said Butler.

The potential long-term impact for the global church and worldwide missions is significant, said John Mark Estelle of New Tribes Mission Aviation.

"As far as the global strategy, I really believe MAF has started this with the input of different mission organizations. It's only a beginning - only the start of something that could be really useful in the long run for other organizations that chime in or get involved with this," said Estelle.

The study is the beginning of a compilation of information to help make missions more effective in today's world, Estelle said. "What it does is bring questions to mind. It is a start in a direction of how we should proceed."

The study will be a tremendous benefit to help assess the current effectiveness of work, determine barriers to the gospel and identify areas of need, Jerry Hogshead of OMS said.

Dave Bochman, chief operating officer of MAF and the organizer of the conference, said he is excited to be able to release the findings of the study to the missions community, but added that it's just a snapshot of information.

"This is something that will be ongoing and that other missions leaders can contribute to," said Bochman. "Additional help is necessary to carry it out. That's what the conference dealt with, as it cultivated greater collaboration among missions groups. It's a tool that encourages strategic partnerships and cooperation between agencies."

Transforming lives and overcoming barriers to the gospel are Mission Aviation Fellowship's key goals, Bochman said. The "Operation ACCESS!" project is helping to fulfill that mission.

Founded in 1945, MAF (www.maf.org) stations some 200 missionary families in the remotest regions of 23 countries on five continents. MAF pilots fly approximately 40,000 flights a year, transporting missionaries, medical personnel, medicines and relief supplies, as well as conducting thousands of emergency medical evacuations. MAF also provides telecommunications services, such as satellite phones, high-frequency radios, electronic mail and other wireless systems, in isolated areas

alan@newsblaze.com