MAF Recipient of 2008 'Passion Award'

MAF Recipient of 2008 'Passion Award'
Presented by Servant Christian Community Foundation at Thurman Mitchell Servant Leadership Celebration

OVERLAND PARK, Kans., Nov. 4 /Christian Newswire/ -- MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) was awarded a 2008 "Passion Award" by the Servant Christian Community Foundation (SCCF) last evening for its outstanding commitment to furthering the Gospel.

The prestigious award was presented to MAF during the "Thurman Mitchell Servant Leadership Celebration," which was held at the Overland Park Convention Center in Overland Park, Kan.

"We are elated to receive this remarkable award," said Ghislaine Benney, director of development for MAF. "SCCF is committed to helping people give creatively and efficiently. We are thankful for the services they provide, not only for ministries like ours, but to ministries all over the world."

This marks the seventh year for the Thurman Mitchell Servant Leadership Celebration. It is named for the beloved Kansas City leader and public figure, Thurman Mitchell, who served as a popular television news reporter for KCTV for two decades. In 1998, he became a full-time pastor and founder of Urban Youth Leadership. He also was an instrumental part of forming the Kansas City Alliance of Urban Ministries.

The theme for this year's "Passion Awards" was "Picture This," and was based on Proverbs 29:18a, which reads, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." Through proposals, ministries were given the opportunity to express what they believed God is doing in and through their ministries, and to share their "God- sized vision."

"The real standout about MAF is its commitment to the Gospel - to do whatever it takes - and the resource it is to other ministries," said Connie Hougland, SCCF vice president. "It's not just about them. It's about how they partner with other ministries and help and empower others. Being in 27 countries, they also have a broad reach. And their ministry is fiscally responsible."

SCCF received 110 proposals from a variety of local and national ministries. The proposals were reviewed and scored by an independent grants review committee. Once scored, SCCF made personal visits to the top 49 scorers. Site-visit scores were added to written scores in order to identify 24 "Passion Award" recipients.

SCCF's ( www.servantchristian.com) mission is to inspire, teach and facilitate revolutionary biblical generosity. Since 2000, SCCF has worked with hundreds of people, ministries and churches. The organization helps people give creatively and efficiently by providing tools, resources and expert counsel. It is affiliated with The National Christian Foundation and is part of a growing network of Christian community foundations.

Founded in the United States in 1945, MAF (www.MAF.org) missionary teams of aviation, communications, technology and education specialists minister and enable the work of more than 1,000 organizations in isolated areas of the world. Its fleet of 134 bush aircraft averages 281 flights daily across Africa, Asia, Eurasia and Latin America. MAF pilots transport missionaries, medical personnel, medicines and relief supplies, as well as conduct thousands of emergency medical evacuations. MAF also provides telecommunications services, such as satellite Internet access, high-frequency radios, electronic mail and other wireless systems.

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