Papua

MAF has served in Papua since 1952—reaching isolated Papuans with Christ’s love by supporting churches and mission efforts, providing medical assistance, community development, education, crisis relief, and the training and leadership development of Papuans. 

Our Operation

The Indonesian province of Papua is located on the western half of the world’s second-largest island, New Guinea. Not to be confused with Papua New Guinea on the eastern side of the island. 

Papua is home to some of the most remote people groups on earth. Rugged mountains, dense jungles, rivers, and swamps stand in the way of more than 250 ethnic groups and the outside world.

With 134 staff, MAF operates and maintains 5 Kodia 100, 1 Cessna 208, and 3 Cessna 208B aircraft from multiple bases in Papua, reaching deep into the interior to bring the Gospel and improve the quality of life for isolated Papuans who have no other way to reach the outside world.

With basic services such as education and medical care unavailable in remote areas, countless Papuans suffer from treatable medical conditions such as chronic malaria, skin fungi and malnutrition.

Unreached people groups on the western half of the island live hidden away in rainforests, mountains, and swamps.

Our three email hubs and communication networks help over 60 missions and humanitarian agencies to increase their efficiency and effectiveness as they seek to meet the country’s needs.

Kalimantan

For over forty years, MAF has enabled ministry groups and NGOs to bring the gospel and basic, life-sustaining services to this difficult-to-reach region of Indonesia. MAF provides support to medical clinics in villages, delivers building materials for schools, churches and other community projects, transports medical supplies and school materials to isolated communities, enabling life in remote parts of Kalimanta to thrive.

Our Operation

Indonesia’s province of Kalimantan occupies the largest portion of the island of Borneo and remains largely undeveloped. Kalimantan is home to many of the country’s hundreds of people groups. Dense rainforests, impenetrable mountains and the absence of roads limit access to the Gospel and life-sustaining services, such as health clinics and secondary education, leaving villages isolated.

With 22 staff and two Kodia 100 aircraft, MAF partners with 14 organisations to serve from Tarakan in North Kalimantan. Through aviation, MAF serves communities by providing medical evacuations, builds the Church by supporting remote pastors and Bible schools, and transforms lives by sharing the love of Jesus Christ. MAF supports remote communities through enabling community development projects as well as the transport of goods, medicines and school supplies.

In addition, a unique ministry run by the MAF team in Kalimantan is the Rumah Singgah hospital house, where patients and family members flown by MAF stay while receiving treatment in Tarakan. It’s another ministry touchpoint where staff—including the wives and children—can serve and bless the people coming from remote villages.