Annual Report
General Manager's Report 2007 PDF Print E-mail

 

Every time I visit one of the MAF operations, I am always impressed by the quality of the staff and the value of MAF services to the isolated communities. MAF is an amazing organisation that is an honour to be a part of and associated with.

A recent survey conducted by MAF US called ‘Operation Access’ identifies 189 regions in the world that are still unreached with the gospel of where there is no effective Church. Over half of these regions would benefit significantly from MAF’s services, as access to them is the major barrier to the gospel being shared. While MAF has accomplished a lot in its 60+ years, there is still plenty to do, and this for me, provides sufficient motivation for us to do our very best to eradicate barriers to the gospel.

Focus for MAFNZ

As a resourcing Nation we want to do our best to achieve our maximum contribution through sending people and funds to support the existing work as well as establish new operations. Our focus is on these two main goals; to increase staff, both in numbers and in quality, as well as raising funds to be sent overseas.

Recruiting

It has been good to farewell the Nel’s and Sims in the last half of this year and with the Wilkinson’s preparing for PNG we are continuing to provide quality staff for MAFI. There are several in various stages of their applications, so may see another two or three families depart in 2008. We have some plans for improving how well we prepare people for MAF service. Part of this could well be achieved through having an aircraft for training purposes and I would like to have a Proposal compiled for consideration next year.

MAFI are currently introducing a new psychometric test for pilots known as GPSS. The online tests take a few hours to complete and the results are collated in Holland. This will give a MAFI standard for all applicants and measure each against the specific requirements for MAF operations.

Fundraising

Wayne has been instrumental in restructuring our thinking and practices in how we go about increasing the level of funds raised and we are beginning to see an improvement from his input. Fundraising is a skilled task which needs to be done well and finding the right people to do this is a challenge.

MAFI has a goal to double the income by 2010 to meet the growing demands for our services. MAFI also recognise that for this to happen, there is a need for the resourcing nations to be better equipped and through the visits of Keith Jones (November 06, May 07) as well as hosting a Fundraising Conference in the UK in May 07, we have gained valuable insights into what can be done. I am very grateful to MAFI for their generosity and availability to help us.

MAFI - What has Changed for Us?

MAF Australia has run management training for some years in Cairns and we have been privileged to be able to participate in these events. MAFI have identified key staff in different roles to share their expertise helping to improve our overall standards and adopt the best procedures. MAFI are very much committed to being effective not only in the field operations, but also in the home personnel. This training is continuing and is a huge benefit to us. While not every idea or practice is transferable from another country, it does help us to know where to begin and to learn from their experiences. The willingness to share information and resources is incredible and a fine example of the commitment to serve the vision of MAF rather than national pride.

The Way Ahead

Perhaps the main challenge for us is to increase the number of people on the data base mailing list, and consequently the number of people who are able to support MAF in prayer and with finance.

The strategy is to appoint MAF Representatives in the major cities and towns. These volunteers would be carefully selected, trained and resourced to build up the support network of MAF. Their main purpose is to find mission minded people who can be included on the mailing lists, and facilitate Church or Home meetings for staff on leave.

It is expected that it will take another 3 years to substantially increase the donated income, anticipating that by 2011, we will be close to making our maximum contribution to MAFI.

We now have the equivalent of 3 full time staff and I would like to add other people to the team in the near future to help with the work load. It’s not essential for them to be Auckland based and a ‘positions vacant’ list will be distributed early in the new year.

I have been very much aware of God’s provision in many ways this year and I am deeply appreciative of the Lord’s enabling. I am also humbled by the generosity of so many mission focused people who through their prayers, giving, and faithfulness enables MAF to continue to show God’s love to people.

Thank you, Blessings

Rick Velvin

General Manager

 

 

 

This month, the founding documents that formalise NZ as a member of MAF International will be signed. The Declaration of Internationalisation was signed at the Council Meeting on Nov 1st, and the Covenant of Partnership signed at the AGM. As a member of MAF International, we can celebrate being part of a global organisation and working with the other member countries to show Christ’s love to those who live in isolated regions.

It will mean some changes. In due course, we’ll shift our financial year into line with other MAF countries (Calendar year), start using the old MAF-Europe logo more in our publications until a new logo is produced, amend some of our polices to reflect the preferred standards and practices, revise our strategies for promoting MAF and fundraising, all with having greater access to the  resources and assistance of MAF International.

This is a challenge for us and it’ll be great for us to realise the full potential for us here in NZ in supporting the ministry of MAF worldwide. 

Andre & Caroline Falconer are the newest family to be joining MAF in Arnhem Land. Earlier this year Leo & Glen Hume left for Ache in Feb, Kylan Diprose started a short term assignment in Arnhem Land in July (6 months) and Geoff & Leanne Calder arrived in PNG during Oct.  We are get ting a lot more people enquiring about MAF and its good to see more people committing to the training and discovering God’s call on their lives. Over the previous few years, we haven’t seen many leaving for service, however we currently have a number who are working towards serving with MAF in the future. We are blessed with having William Nicol to do flight assessments and help evaluate potential staff.

Information (Training) Days have been reintroduced to keep those enquiring about MAF better informed. Two PD (Partnership Development) courses have also been run to help staff with raising supporters and keeping them better informed about what’s happening.

Leon Muir started with MAF in 1996 when he went to Arnhem Land and later onto PNG in 1999. He excelled with his visits to many of the isolated villages in the Goroka region, showing films and later videos which he had had dubbed or translated into pidgin. With his marriage to Lynn in Jan 2004 and the birth of Nathan in May this year, his 11 years in PNG has been a very significant period in his life. We wish them well as they have resigned from MAF and are in the process of moving to Kentucky in the US. Thank you Leon & Lynn for a job well done and the ministry that you have lived in the Eastern Highlands of PNG

We have been fortunate to have had Denis Lorimer (Development Manager MAF Asia Pacific) and Keith Jones (former CEO of MAK UK) spend time with us recently. Its good to liaise with Denis and look for ways to work more closely together for MAF. Keith was here in Oct for 12 days offering advice and suggestions to help work better and increase the support for MAF.  As a member of MAFI, we can benefit a lot from their resources and experience, something which they are very willing to do.

Dianne joined the Team in April and has been able to accomplish a lot in the last few months. Wayne started in July and brings a lot of expertise which we are very grateful to have access to. I’m excited about the future and the possibilities that we have for promoting the ministry of MAF. We will need to look for other key people to fill positions in the office in the near future as well.

Being able to travel to Africa in Sept was a real privilege. Madagascar, Kenya and Southern Sudan are very different countries but share similar levels of poverty, lack of basic resources such as clean water, a very high risk of diseases and no easy solutions. Our families there, Carl & Michelle Ramsey, Gavin & Jo Prentice and John & Kristina Tipper, are very well respected by the nationals, other MAF staff and all are doing an excellent job. They are very appreciative of the support from churches and individuals and love having  visitors!

Its great to have Cherie looking after the Coffee project and she has taken it to a new level, where we’ll see the benefits for the growers in PNG and MAF continue to increase.

The biggest threat that the world is facing isn’t global warming. Sin is rampant and reigns in the hearts of people who are oblivious to its effect on their lives and the decisions that they make impacting others. After many years of Church work in countries such as PNG, we see declining economies, increasing corruption and instability. The barriers to the gospel are still there for the following generations, and so we continue with a renewed determination to play our part here in NZ, to see that the ministry of MAF is as effective as it can be.  Quality staff, faithful prayer warriors, generous donors, all sacrificially giving for the sake of bringing the love of Christ to those who probably have never experienced being loved.

Thank you for your support for a fantastic cause.

       Rick Velvin

      General Manager

 
Chairman's Report 2007 PDF Print E-mail

 

This has been a highly significant year in the history of Mission Aviation Fellowship. For the first time MAF has become a truly International organisation.

There is still much to be done in setting organisation structures in place, and key people to be recruited, but all the different MAF Groups have signed the agreement to coalesce into a single organisation. This is something that was only a dream just a few years ago, and through the working of the Holy Spirit, has become a reality.

As a consequence there are great efficiencies to be had from a coordinated organisation, with stronger purchasing and negotiating powers, resulting in more efficient use of the resources, both human and financial, that God has provided.

One of the benefits for us here in New Zealand is the commitment by MAF International to provide us with additional financial resources to enable us to employ the extra people we need to facilitate our growth. The time spent here by Keith Jones on behalf of MAFI identified several opportunities for the development of MAF NZ and the resources needed to enable us to take advantage of these have been promised. 

As part of the actions needed to enable a smooth integration with MAFI we have recently been undertaking a review of our Constitution. As you would expect our Constitution, whilst reflecting the New Zealand situation, must also be consistent with the Constitution of MAFI.

The introduction to the Constitution is a pertinent reminder to us of our role in the world of MAFI… 

“Mission Aviation Fellowship of NZ (MAF) is an autonomous self-governing society and a member of Mission Aviation Fellowship International. MAF was formed following World War II to enhance the work of Christian Missions and agencies seeking to help communities cut-off by distance or difficult terrain from receiving the resources that would enable them to live full and healthy lives. By using aircraft a lifeline was established to people in remote areas providing a ministry which MAF continues to fulfil.

The role of MAF in NZ is to promote the vision of this ministry to churches and the general public in NZ to enlist the help of supporters to raise funds and for the selection and training of suitable personnel for the ministry.”  

Our history in New Zealand shows that we have been faithful to that role, especially when we consider the number of New Zealanders serving in full time activities with MAF.

The list of New Zealand MAF staff members who are helping to transform lives as they reach out into the world is impressive. When taken as a ratio of the population of the country we are one of the highest providers of people into God’s work in this field. 

Please pray for our people, as they need your prayer support as much as they need financial support.

There are also others who are involved locally in special ways. Cherie West is doing a fantastic job in handling the great coffee from PNG for us. And there are all those involved in MAF Associates throughout the country. 

I would also like to pay tribute to the members of the MAF New Zealand Council. Special thanks must be given to Katherine McIntyre, who after six years on the Council, believes that now is the time to step down. She will be a hard person to replace as her wisdom has been greatly appreciated by all the Council members. We will miss you Katherine, and please accept our gratitude for your years of service to MAF. Also to Chris Bruce, Frank Higham and Mark Fox, many thanks for the time you have put in during this past year in facilitating the smooth running of MAF.

This does bring us to the subject of Council members. Katherine’s resignation has reduced the number of Council members down to below what is desirable. We would ask you to pray about the situation, and if God lays it on your heart to put your name forward, talk with Rick or any one of the Council Members, or if God brings a name to you that you feel we should approach, talk to us as well. I have the confidence of knowing that this is God’s work and that He will provide the people He wants to serve Him in this role. 

Rick has been very busy this year with deputation work and as a result we have been blessed by some good size donations from people whose hearts were touched by God to give to this work.

I would also like to express the gratitude of the Council and the members to Rick and Lauryn. The work that Rick puts in ‘over and above the call of duty’ is significant, and we appreciate what he is doing and we greatly appreciate the support Lauryn gives him. Without her support I do not believe that Rick would be able to function as well as he does. Thank you Lauryn. 

Many thanks also to Kaye and Judith in the office. Your roles are vitally important as you lift a lot of the administrative weight off Rick’s shoulders enabling him to focus on his deputation work.

The coming year ahead is full of promise. We are receiving enquiries from potential candidates for service and we are confident that 2008 will see more people progressing through the selection system.  God is working in the lives of these people as He calls them to serve and we rejoice that they are responding to the call. 

All of us who are involved with MAF have also been called.  We are called to pray, we are called to support, and we are called to become involved in the work being done here in New Zealand. The Council would like to thank God for the work of MAF Associates and the willingness of those involved to meet, to pray, and to support those of our people serving internationally. The activities of Associates is pivotal in our role as a resourcing nation.

It has been my privilege to be your Chairman this last year. Thank you for the opportunity.

God’s richest blessings on you all.

Bill Woodward

Chairman New Zealand Council, Mission Aviation Fellowship (NZ) Inc