Other roles

Andrew and Jean Boyd

Andrew and Jean both come from Inverness, in the North of Scotland, though Andrew originates from Bangor, Northern Ireland, and Jean is from Clackmannanshire in central Scotland.

Andrew became a Christian while training to be an Air Traffic Controller. Jean was involved in Church activities from an early age. She became a member of the Church at 16 thought it took some time for her to believe in Christ as her personal Saviour. They married in 1987 and have since been blessed with three boys: Andrew J, Fraser, and Iain.

On attending an MAF presentation in 1997 Andrew and Jean both felt God call them to be more involved. They were accepted to work with MAF and moved to Dodoma, Tanzania in March 2001. Andrew's first role was as the Operations Manager. As part of this role he was responsible for the flying operation in Tanzania, from receiving the bookings and organising the flights, planes and Pilots, to organising payments and liaising with the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority regarding licencing and legislation. He worked also with others in the team to monitor and maintain safety and was on the management team.

Jean, a former Nurse Teacher, worked during that time with a group of Asian ladies in Dodoma, sharing friendship with them and her faith. She studied theology and also helped out in the Tanzanian operation and local school as and when required.

Since then they have moved to Nairobi, Kenya where Andrew's role is now Quality Manager.

Paul was brought up in a Christian family in the Ashford area in Kent, where he first worked for a firm of chartered accountants for almost 12 years. He then joined MAF in the Folkestone office in 1995, working in the finance department for three years. In 1998, he took up the post of Finance Manager with MAF in the Uganda operation and this is where he met Edith.

Edith grew up in Kampala, Uganda, and she trained in the hotel industry. Later, she studied to become a Montessori preschool teacher and then taught in Heritage International School, which was set up by MAF and other missions.

Paul and Edith were married in 2004 and now have two children – John-Luke (born 2005) and Gabriella (born 2007). In September 2006, they left Uganda for England initially. They then accepted a new assignment wiht MAF, Paul first went to Mongolia in November 2006, taking up the position of Country Director in December. To begin with Edith and John-Luke remained in the UK but after the birth of their second child, Gabriella, the family all moved to Mongolia in August 2007.

Paul’s work is very varied in this small operation. In addition to Country Director, he also covers the positions of Finance Manager and Quality Manager, as well as dealing with matters relating to IT.

Coming from near Enniskillen in Northern Ireland, Glenn and Julie Anne married in 1999 and have three children – Joshua, Benjamin and Esther. Glenn was a lecturer in motor vehicle studies at Fermanagh College for ten years, having worked in a family garage business previously. He has been a Christian since 1991. Julie Anne became a Christian as a child and recommitted her life in her early teens. Before the children came along, she was a primary school teacher. Julie Anne first became familiar with MAF in the early 1980s when she lived in Tanzania with her parents and brother.

Glenn and Julie Anne have been serving with MAF in Dodoma, Tanzania, since July 2005. As Vehicle Workshop Manager, Glenn has been working to set up a stock control system, putting safety procedures in place, doing some training with local staff and raising the standards of vehicle maintenance. He has been very busy, and has much enjoyed the challenge of working on a wide variety of vehicles, not only for MAF but also for other missionary organisations and NGOs.

As well as caring for the children, Julie Anne helps in Sunday School at the Anglican Church in Dodoma and assists with a children’s club. Julie Anne is also ‘matron’ of a western style nursery school that she helped to set up. This allows Tanzanian children to learn through play for one or two years before being thrown into their rote learning style in the classroom, and is an advantage that most children would not have, as they do not learn through play, nor do many have toys at home. Before Esther was born, Julie Anne taught English through rhymes and singing for one morning a week in the two nursery classrooms.

Both Stuart and Ruth were both brought up in Christian families and each made a commitment to Christ as a young child. They met as leaders at a Kids’ Camp run by WEC International and were married in 1998 and moved to Newark. For several years, they felt led to work with MAF, believing the Lord has called them to make the most of the skills He had given them.

They moved to Kenya with MAF as a family in 2003 where Stuart flew the Cessna Caravan, predominantly into Southern Sudan, supporting NGO's and Christian organisations working in isolated, difficult conditions. He was also regularly involved in medical emergency relief flights to the Red Cross Hospital on the Kenyan border with Sudan. Other flying around Kenya and into neighbouring countries included transporting teams of eye surgeons and supporting the local Churches.

Stuart has always been interested in flying. Growing up in Norfolk, he joined the RAF as a pilot directly after leaving school. He mostly flew multi-engined aircraft, spent three years working as a flying instructor and during his last tour, captained the E-3D (AWACS). 

Ruth was born in Malawi, where her parents worked for Scripture Union. She studied medicine at Birmingham and then worked as a GP. Whilst in Kenya, Ruth did some part-time voluntary work at a clinic in the Kibera slum in Nairobi.

Daniel, born in November 2001, loves living in Africa with its warm ‘shorts and T-shirt’ climate. Anna Grace arrived in May 2004; she is delightful and full of energy like her brother.

Stuart and Ruth are now based in South Africa where Stuart heads up MAF's Training Base and flight operations. Ruth is involved with local medical work using her previous experience as a GP.

Steve was born in Wiltshire while his father was based at RAF Wroughton – his birth in the Air Force base hospital began a lifelong interest in flying! Steve studied Chemistry at York University and went on to gain a PhD at Southampton, during which time he made a commitment to the Lord. Upon completion of his studies, Steve took up a research post with ICI in Cheshire and met Philippa within a few months.

Philippa was born in Dorset and had a personal relationship with Jesus even as a young child. She studied Biochemistry at Oxford University, going on to work with ICI – initially as a research scientist but ultimately finding her niche in the training department.

Their first posting with MAF was to Tanzania in 1993: running the sub-base at Mbeya in the Southern Highlands, then moving to Dodoma for Steve to be Chief Pilot. Philippa has been MAF’s Training Advisor and now Consultant since1997; she is responsible for overseeing the design and delivery of all non-aviation training. Their daughters Jessica and Rebekah were born in 1995 and 1996.

Steve and Philippa moved to Uganda in 2003 where Steve is Programme Director. Due to rebel activity in the north, 11⁄2 million Ugandans have been displaced from their villages. They live in vast camps and the task of feeding them, maintaining sanitation and providing medical care is overwhelming. The unrest has made road transport so dangerous that anyone travelling to the region, or on into Sudan, has little option but to fly. MAF’s services are fully booked.

Both Steve and Philippa feel it is a challenge to support the MAF team as they work under constant pressure to meet the many demands. They share a passion for reaching people in geographically remote areas. In some isolated communities in Uganda, as many as 70% are infected with HIV/AIDS. There is limited medical care and people are dying without practical assistance and without knowledge of Jesus as their Saviour. It is time-consuming to site new airstrips to bring relief into these remote places, but we are committed to doing so.

Russell was born in Southampton, but grew up in various countries, including Kenya. This African experience has proved to be a useful preparation for life in Tanzania. Having worked for many years with transportation in the coaching industry, Russell is well equipped to serve with MAF.

By contrast, Maggi was born and grew up in a small Cornish village. God called her to be a missionary in Africa while she was studying Ceramic Art in Cardiff. Feeling this subject would not be relevant on the mission field, she went on to train as a primary school teacher. In 1990, Maggi began work with WEC International in Chad. This initially involved teaching missionary children, and then outreach through friendship evangelism.

They met in 1998 and following their marriage, lived in Southampton for three years before departing for Tanzania.

Their eldest daughter Phoebe sees Tanzania very much as her home. She is a lively and talkative four-year-old who loves to play imaginative games and often pretends to be a character from the Bible!

Lois arrived in May 2003, here in Tanzania. Life has not been easy for her, as she has had a problem with her oesophagus. When she was just three days old, Lois underwent an emergency life-saving operation in Southampton. Although she still has swallowing difficulties, God clearly has His hand on her life. He has brought her through many trials, and we are so thankful for her life.

Russell serves MAF as Base and Logistics Manager in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. This entails a lot of background work, which keeps the pilots and planes airborne. The work can vary from obtaining licences to the procurement of vehicles for missionaries.

Their Dar es Salaam home frequently has guests and they feel it has been a blessing to be able to offer hospitality to many pilots, missionaries and friends!

Russell and Maggi are glad that God has called  them to serve Him through MAF. Life in Africa has many joys and frustrations, but they are sure that they are in the place God has planned in advance for them, as they serve in Tanzania.

They are very grateful for a big team of Supporters who regularly pray for them and many of whom give financially.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

Having been serving overseas with MAF since June 2003, Derek and Ruth can testify that God has indeed been good and faithful throughout this time. Despite life’s struggles, He has been true to His promises. Initially their departure to Tanzania was delayed due to illness but they served there as their first MAF assignment.

As a family, Derek and Ruth were finding that sending thier eldest son Matthew to boarding school in Kenya while serving in Tanzania was not really working for them. They knew God had called them as a family unit. And God in His infinite wisdom knew that there was a place in Uganda for them where they could serve Him wholeheartedly and without the anguish of separation from their son.

An opportunity arose elsewhere in MAF and they moved to Kampala where Derek now serves as Finance Manager. Matthew is really enjoying his new school, and taking part in plays and musical productions. Theresa and William have both settled into school life and are making new friends. They have also found a warm and friendly Church to worship at on Sundays and a community of Christians to pray with and encourage one another.

Life in the big city can be difficult with pressures to fit in with the expatriate community here, but they know that they are called to be different as Christians. The disparity of wealth in Kampala is really marked, as the rich rub shoulders with the very poor. But God gives them opportunities to share His love with those in need both spiritually and physically.

Derek and Ruth lean on God to provide for them through support, both in prayer and financially, from many friends back in the UK.

Neville was born in Rangoon, Burma (now Myanmar) and with his family moved to England in 1960. He met Janet in 1974 and they married in July 1978, spending the early years of their married life in Congleton, Cheshire. Then in 1982, they moved to Holme, a village near Kendal in Cumbria. They have been blessed with three daughters, Melanie, Gillian and Helen, a grandson Kieran and granddaughters Jordan and Lauren.

Neville was brought up in a Christian family and made a personal commitment to Jesus in the late 1980s. Janet became a Christian after completing an Alpha course in 1995. Their Home Church is Holy Trinity, which also has a strong link with its neighbouring church, St James’s, Burton, with whom it shares a minister.

Neville is a Qualified Accountant and worked as a Company Accountant for many years. He ran his own accounting practice from 1992 providing bookkeeping, accounting and taxation services to his clients. After bringing up the family, Janet worked in school catering and part-time as a bookkeeper/administrator for the family business.

In early 2005, they both felt that God was calling them to serve Him with MAF, using all of the gifts and experience that He has given them over the years. They joined the Kenya team in August 2006, with Neville as Finance Manager. Janet helps in the finance office and volunteers at Kids2Kids (a small informal church-sponsored school for children from the Nairobi slums), and she also provides hospitality for visitors to MAF’s operation in Kenya. They now belong to a local Baptist church and lead an Alpha course in their Nairobi home.

Neville and Janet are very grateful for the support that they are receiving from family, friends and their Home Church fellowship.

Daniel and Libby grew up in Christian families and attended the same church in Reading from an early age. They both came to have a personal relationship with the Lord as children and were baptised together as teenagers. Having started going out in the sixth form, they went to St Andrews University together and got married during thier penultimate year in 1997.

Daniel worked as a Chartered Accountant in general practice for seven years, initially based in Fleet in Hampshire, and for four years in Watford, Hertfordshire. Libby studied Geography at university and then went on to teach Geography in a Secondary School in Reading until the birth of Joshua.

They began to sense a call to do something ‘more’ with their lives, particularly in Africa. After much prayer and ‘pushing doors’, they were accepted by MAF and moved to Tanzania in April 2006.

Daniel's first role with MAF was as Finance Manager and he is based at the MAF office in Dodoma. This role is responsible for monitoring the stewardship of funds, providing financial information and complying with all applicable laws in Tanzania. Libby looks after their children and assists MAF in a variety of ways. She is also involved in helping people in the local community. Since then Daniel has also taken on the Programme Manager role on a temporary basis.

Daniel and Libby have three children: Joshua (who was born on the infamous 11 September 2001), who loves trains and all things Disney/Pixar; Bethany (born on 1 November 2002), who is crazy about anything and everything pink, and Caleb (born on 9 February 2005), who is into everything!

Daniel and Libby firmly believe that working for MAF is exactly what God wants them to be doing, and that He has Supporters in mind who between them will provide the perfect amount of financial support for them from ‘God’s storehouses’.

Before Robert and Yvonne came to MAF we worked in Burundi, Central Africa, Robert as a Project Director and Yvonne as a Teacher at a mission school. Their call to Africa seemed very dramatic at the time but, on reflection, they can see how God tested and prepared them for mission work in a war-torn country. Despite a great many frightening and challenging situations, God’s grace was sufficient, and the peace that passes all understanding never failed. God is faithful. Thier sons David and John live and work in England. While living overseas, Robert and Yvonne have adopted Raisha who is now seven.

Robert and Yvonne had felt hungry for a new challenge for about a year while working in Burundi, but this seemed at odds with their circumstances. There were still many needs in Burundi. Then Robert’s mission, whose purpose is emergency relief, decided to leave because the war was ending. They realised then that their restlessness was God preparing them for change.

When they visited MAF’s work in Dodoma, Tanzania, Robert wanted to join immediately. As a young man, he had been a loadmaster in the RAF. They were accepted and Robert was able to return to his first love, but this time as God's servant, as Deputy Operations Manager.

Yvonne was called by God to be a Teacher. He directed her to university as a mature student through many miraculous experiences, and then into teaching positions where she was able to communicate to children how much God loves them. In Burundi, her call was to teach and disciple orphaned children. This ministry widened when many Muslim children joined the school. In Dodoma, the local Christian school has a great number of Muslim children who all need to know the love of Jesus.

Alan and Davina first served with MAF in Tanzania and joined the programme in April 2005, they experienced many joys and sorrows for its people, and faced several challenges. They saw the sorrows of failed rains and heard of the joy that knowing Jesus has given people.

Alan says: "The path along which the Lord has left me was totally unknown to me before I arrived. I came to Tanzania to work in Flight Operations, a job I thoroughly enjoyed. Then I heard the Programme Manager was leaving. I felt the Lord's call to apply for this post and I was privileged to lead the Tanzania team since July 2006. It is humbling and fulfilling to serve both MAF staff and the people of Tanzania."

Davina adds: "When I began my job at the school in Dodoma, little did I know of the challenges it would present. I learned much and used my skills in new and unexpected ways. The curriculum which I came to implement was introduced and that left me some time to support Alan in his role and to supervise the MAF guesthouse. The Lord has taken me into areas I never expected."

Since that first assignment with MAF in Tanzania, God has continued to lead and guide and support them. They are now based in Nairobi, Kenya where Alan's role is Programme Manager and Davina continues to support both him, and the wider MAF team.

Bert and Kate were married in 2004. As active Church members they were particularly involved in the Social Action Committee and the local soup run, Kate was also PCC Secretary.

Bert is a Primary School Teacher, and enjoys all aspects of that role - maybe not the SAT's though! Outside of school he is a keen competitive cyclist. Kate studied for an MA in international relations: global security and development. She also worked part time for AXA Assistance. Outside of work she has also undertaken a half-marathon.

Bert and Kate first came across MAF many years ago as Kate's friends from University - Ben and Anne Sibthorpe - have served overseas with MAF since 1999. As part of their support team they received news regularly, as well as looking at the MAF web site to see what is going on.

They began to think about working overseas themselves and it seemed slightly more than co-incidence that the first time they looked at the MAF job pages they saw two positions that could have been tailor-made (no pun intended!) for them! They felt that MAF's Christian ethos fit well with their own beliefs.

Bert's job is as Teacher in Canon Andrea Mwaka Primary School in Dodoma, Tanzania. Kate works as MAF's Partnership and Development Manager based at the MAF base in Dodoma. This role involves visiting partner organisations to ensure MAF's support is as effective as possible. Since the birth of thier son, Henry, Kate has been working part time.

John and Kristina Tipper

John and Kristina believe that learning that being prepared to do everything, especially what is not in the job description, seems to be key in their lives!

If they listed the various jobs they have been involved in, it would be a strange assortment, based in a wide variety of countries across the globe. God has used their experience of living in different places as preparation for adapting to work in other cultures.

Kristina is from New Zealand but was raised in Thailand, while John, from England, was born in Spain and emigrated to New Zealand!

Handing over their assorted tool kit of skills to God, they continue to see Him pick up a tool and asking them to use it again, perhaps in a different way, or else challenging them to try a new job somewhere else.

John and Kristina's initial roles with MAF were as Logistics Manager for John and Training Co-ordinator for Kristina, at least that's what the job titles said. Their first assignment to the island of Madagascar brought additional duties for John as Finance Manager and then Operations Manager, with various construction projects included. The mix of governmental liaison, practical construction and operational planning has drawn on John’s background which includes running an outdoor pursuits company, youth work with Youth for Christ, industrial abseiling, and prior service with MAF in Tanzania.

Kristina drew on her teaching career to teach at a mission school. Picking up some new skills, she also helped with the engineering stock systems and Health and Safety at the MAF offices.

They know that it is by God’s enabling, His wisdom and with the power of their Supporters prayers in partnership with them in Christ, that they can take on whatever tasks are in store as they continue our work with MAF. John and Kristina are now based in Juba, South Sudan, where they are developing MAF's base there.

Plans, puppets, police, partnerships, planes, prayer, people and parachute games…

But not necessarily in that order! Is it easier to see God’s plans when you are looking back at what has happened? When Adrian joined Essex Police 30 years ago, few of these were in his plans. His work provided opportunities through community policing to help people solve some of the problems they faced.

Adrian and Jaqueline were married in Stanway, Essex, in 1979, and then attended Bishop’s Stortford Baptist Church where they were both baptised. A move to Braintree in 1982 and the arrival of their two daughters, Emma and Katherine, saw them attending Bocking United Reformed Church, and together leading a rapidly expanding children’s club where parachute games were enthusiastically played.

During this time, Jacqueline gave Adrian the excellent present of his first flying lesson! A Private Pilot’s Licence, gained at Earls Colne, was the result. Meanwhile, Jacqueline was involved in a ministry to children – of all ages – using puppets.

Moving to Norwich saw Jacqueline working with children at Surrey Chapel while Adrian, now a Police Inspector, worked closely with partner agencies on projects to successfully reduce crime in the area. Then working from Norfolk Police Headquarters in 2005, Adrian developed a countywide strategy for police to work closely with young people, helping them become involved in positive activities rather than crime.

So after 30 years of policing and working with young people, Adrian and Jaqueline felt God was calling them to something new. They are based in Uganda where Adrian serves as Operations Manager, working with partners to get spiritual and physical help to people in places where aircraft provide an essential lifeline. Jaqueline is also involved in supporting MAF and local community projects involving puppet ministry.

Charles and Rachel Stockley

Charles and Rachel Stockley have just been appointed as MAF staff. Charles will be the Building and Facilities Manager based in the Arnhem Land programme. They are currently carrying out their pre-field preparation and support raising prior to leaving for their first assignment with MAF in early 2010. Charles and Rachel have four children; William, Alexandra, Georgina and Frederick.