MAF NZ Recruitment - May 2017

HELP MAF GET URGENTLY NEEDED STAFF OVERSEAS! Recruits are the life-blood of MAF’s future.

Our job as MAF New Zealand is to both support current field staff and recruit new people to keep the roles filled. We do everything we possibly can to find and train new recruits—but we need your help!

Can you imagine what would happen if people or communities in urgent need were told that our aircraft weren’t flying because of a lack of staff? What would this mean for women having difficulty delivering their babies, missionaries trying to get into hard to reach places and doctors or medical teams desperate to reach those who need treatment?

Each year a number of staff who have served overseas with MAF complete their assignment and return home. To make sure we have a full complement of qualified staff to keep the work growing and developing these positions need to be filled.

It takes a whole team to keep the planes flying!

Everything MAF does, from flying resources into remote villages in Papua New Guinea to getting teachers and pastors to remote places in Arnhem Land, requires staff—the right staff for the job.

Of course we need pilots and aviation engineers—however, to make sure our pilots have the absolute best support they need, other essential staff are required. We need to urgently recruit finance, IT, operations, ground staff and managers. In other words, all those needed to keep aircraft flying safely and the good news being delivered. Like a jigsaw, every one of the pieces is needed to make the complete puzzle. One piece missing means the jigsaw puzzle cannot be completed.

Some of the amazing Kiwi staff currently serving overseas.

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The challenge of finding the right people Finding the right people, however, is not easy and MAF sets the bar pretty high!

* We need people with a high level of professional training—but who are also willing to give up their often high paying jobs! * They need to be mature Christians—preferably with some Bible College training and life experience. * On top of this, they must have a “heart for missions” and be willing to go overseas and serve in some very challenging nations. * Finally, they must have the character and personality to be able to consistently show love to others, even when they are hot, tired and things are not going well!

Above: our latest recruits!

The Watsons are preparing to serve God in PNG. You can help us find more like them!

Recruiting new staff

To make our need for recruits known our staff speak in churches, missions conferences and Bible schools. We also regularly go out on the road to get the word out at airshows and big events like Festival One. Our Touch and Go events around New Zealand are a lot of work but hundreds have heard about MAF at them.

We have been contacting Flight Training Schools and Aero Clubs throughout New Zealand, letting them know of our need. We have a sense of urgency as we set about this task because our staff overseas are relying on us.

You may have heard me talking on the radio recently about two roles defined as “Critical”. This means that without these staff the overseas programme is in danger of shutting down.

We need to make sure every person and family member is as well equipped and prepared as possible for what they will find when they arrive in their new country. We need your help to make sure they are fully trained and ready to serve with MAF! Would you consider making a gift towards this project?

The journey to joining staff on the field Even though they may already be highly qualified, candidates face a long journey to get to the field. Olivia, our Recruitment Manager, works alongside them, encouraging and mentoring candidates through the process.

Candidates like the Watsons have a number of expenses they are required to cover as they prepare to go overseas. On top of their training, they are responsible for the costs of their technical assessments, medical exams and vaccinations.

For pilots the cost of training in the aviation field is especially high. Each pilot has to go through a series of rigorous flight tests before he or she is passed to fly with MAF. For some, this expense becomes overwhelming and, although highly qualified and doing well, they may face dropping out.

Other parts of the cost of preparing staff is covered by MAF New Zealand. Olivia estimates that it costs MAF NZ thousands of dollars per application.

MISSION AVIATION FELLOWSHIP

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Would you be a part of helping MAF find and prepare new staff to fill essential positions overseas?

As I mentioned earlier, recruitment comes with a cost. This is your opportunity to help us find and send essential staff to work with MAF overseas. Your donation at this time is very much appreciated—and will make a big contribution to our recruiting process.

We can’t do it without you! Would you consider making a gift?

Please note; this is a tax deductible donation!

If you know of anyone who has the skills that MAF needs in IT or finance—or managers who are highly organised and good at planning—tap them on the shoulder and tell them about MAF! They don’t have to have an aviation background. Thank you for praying that God will provide the men and women we need!

Mark Fox, MAF NZ CEO