'Hope Has Wings' excerpt - How it all started

12th January 2018

In Stuart King’s book ‘Hope Has Wings’, we learn how God called together like-minded people after World War II to bring about MAF. Pioneers Stuart King, Murray Kendon, Jack Hemmings, Ken Ellis and Tom Banham, would use their aviation skills used in war to bring help, hope and healing to some of the most isolated people on earth

‘Traumatic at times, MAF’s story is an adventure of faith. Above all, it’s God’s story.

‘After World War II, in air forces throughout the world, the hearts of men and women were stirred by one question above all others – “Can aircraft that were used so effectively for death and destruction now bring God’s peace and love to isolated people in unreached areas?”

‘New Zealander Murray Kendon – who’d been an RAF pilot in Coastal Command – was one such airman inspired by this idea. Jack Hemmings, Ken Ellis, Tom Banham and I were among the first to join Murray and his new organisation, Missionary Aviation Fellowship. We all shared the feeling that God had called us to survey missionary needs in Africa by air.

‘It took two long years to raise funds for the twin-engined, four-seater Miles Gemini aircraft that became known as ‘The Mildmay Patfinder’ in honour of our sponsor, the Mildmay Movement.

‘Finally, on the afternoon of Tuesday 13 January 1948 at Croydon Airport – after an electrical fault had been corrected– Jack (pilot) and I (engineer) were given permission to take off.

‘We promptly flew the Pathfinder into a squall of icy rain with a 70mph crosswind for good measure. There had been a brief debate about waiting for better weather, but we’d done crazier things in the war and couldn’t wait any longer to start this new adventure!

‘Flying low across the Channel, a strong side wind made it necessary to correct our course by 20o all the way to France. Two hours later, we touched down safely in Paris – the first leg of our African adventure completed. Praise the Lord!’

Just before the Mildmay Pathfinder left England that day, a supporter thrust a small movie camera into Stuart’s hands and urged him to film the journey. The resulting documentary is called ‘Flights of Faith’ and is now available for a donation on DVD.

Excerpt taken from MAF co-founder Stuart King’s book ‘Hope Has Wings’.

‘Hope Has Wings’ excerpt – How it all started

12th January 2018

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