MAF International Integration

As we make steps towards integration, we’re keen to celebrate areas where we see collaboration and integration at work.

Staff from across resourcing and operations recently met for a groundbreaking summit in Oslo, Norway, hosted by the Marketing Development Steering Team (MDST). This was the first time in MAF’s history that representatives from across marketing, fundraising, communications, HR, strategic development and operational programmes gathered together in this way.

We were supported by representatives from MAF US and MAF Canada, generously sharing their expertise.

The aim of the summit was to move MAF International forward in key areas of marketing and fundraising (Institutional Funding, Major Donors, Recruitment Marketing, Mass Market Acquisition and Productisation). 
PA Consulting and the Integration Programme joined to help staff look through the lens of Integration, showing we are much stronger and can achieve much more when we join together.

The week concluded with presentations to all resourcing office CEOs and  MAFI CEO, Dave Fyock, who were greatly encouraged by the level of expertise that we have amongst us and the sense of collaboration as we move toward One MAF together.

Thomas Beyeler, CEO of MAF in Switzerland said, “‘I was impressed to feel a real unity among the participants. This was more than just trying to share expertise and resources as we have done in the past – this was already integrated thinking and working as one organisation, even without a formal structure around it just yet. It is a great step in this important process.”

Out of the summit, project teams have been tasked with carrying their ideas forward, continuing to work in an integrated way to see significant progress in these areas over the next 18 months.

We celebrate and continue to pray for areas where we see integrated working and collaboration, even before integrated structures have been formed. This summit provided us with a glimpse of a future One MAF!

Many thanks to the MAF in Norway team and the MDST for hosting this event!

Integration needs you!

The Integration programme is moving forward quickly and many of you have told us you want to get involved. This is exciting – MAF wouldn’t be here without passionate and talented staff like you, and we can’t wait to work together to shape our future! 

Here’s five ways you can have your voice heard, use your skills and make a difference:

Join our Integration Support Team

We know there are many talented people in MAF. We don’t have specific jobs available yet, but we still want to know if you’re interested in being involved and what skills you bring to the table. There will be opportunities to join projects, workstreams and contribute on an ad-hoc basis, so even if you’re not looking for a new role but still want to play a part, get in touch. Find out more here. (Don’t worry, we’ll always work with your manager to ensure you have time!

Become a One MAF Champion

We will be building a network of champions who can help communicate with our teams in each location, feeding back on how we can communicate better and helping us to adapt for our different cultures. One MAF Champions will be launched at our All Hearts meeting on June 25 when we'll invite you to sign up – watch this space!

Keep talking to us

We’re working on ways to keep the conversation going, so that we can listen to your feedback, questions and concerns. We’ll be sending out short surveys on a regular basis with specific questions to gather your views. In the meantime, please keep emailing [email protected] or filling out the feedback form – your voice matters!

Save the date!

We know that it can be hard to get excited when you’re not quite sure what the future holds. The good news is you don’t have to wait long to find out more details. Save the date – June 25 2025 (time TBC) – for our first All Hearts meeting when we’ll be sharing more about integration and what the future might look like.  

Pray for us

Finally, we can’t embark on this adventure without our loving Father. Please keep praying for the integration process, the Integration Steering Team and the Integration Programme as we work to bring our vision of One MAF to life.

Thank you,

Thank you for your prayers last week as we met with Board Chairs and CEOs at the Integration Forum. You will also now know that Dave Fyock, CEO, is leaving MAF International later this year. We are grateful for his unwavering support through the integration process so far. 

At the Integration Forum, we shared key updates: 

• Reflecting on where we have come from, our mission, vision, and why it is vital to change now to increase our impact.
• Highlighting that to increase our impact, we must grow our funding and resources, while optimising existing work, and why Integration will help achieve this.
• Presenting the high-level structure and key leadership roles we need for the future. This is known as the Target Integration Model (TIM).
• Outlining a high-level timeline for the transition ahead. 

The overall response is that we are headed in the right direction, and we will now begin to work on the detail. The feedback we received was hugely positive, with excitement and optimism, captured in the word cloud below. 

Each of you will have different questions and concerns based on your role, and we encourage you to stay connected with us and your leaders. Please reach out to [email protected].

Our workstreams—Funding, How We Work, and People—are in full swing, with 'Who We Are' to follow at a later stage. Stay tuned for more updates! Anna Beck previously shared about our workstreams (see Previous Announcements, 28 January 2025). 

We’re also planning an all-staff virtual meeting, ‘All Hearts,’ where we’ll share our progress. Look out for your invite! 

Thanks for being part of this exciting journey! Please keep praying for the Integration process. 

Integration Forum: Thank you for your prayers

This morning, we held our virtual Integration Forum where members of the IST presented the results of three months’ hard work to all member Board Chairs and CEOs that make up the MAF International family.

It was a blessed time. I would like to thank you for covering this process in prayer – we feel God’s hand in our meetings and our conversations. I am pleased to say that we are making good progress.

This was an opportunity to discuss high-level design and to receive the questions which are on the hearts of our members. Whilst we don’t always have the answers at this early stage, it is important for us to understand the issues and concerns at hand. After today’s meeting I can say that there is a broad sense of unity and that we are moving in a positive direction. More information will be shared soon.

The Integration Steering Team (IST), PA Consulting team, plus members of the Integration project team and those who supported the technology to enable the virtual presentation.

I would like to thank the IST and our teammates in PA Consulting for their hard work up to this point. Importantly, I would also like to express gratitude to your CEOs and Board Chairs for joining with us with open hearts and minds as we find a way forwards, enabling us to reach more isolated communities by 2045.

If you have any questions, wherever you are in the world and whatever your role, I encourage you to continue to email us on [email protected].

Integration Forum this Saturday 29 March 2025

Our Integration Forum – Saturday 29 March

This Saturday, the Integration Steering Team (IST), Board Chairs, and CEOs will meet online for our Integration Forum.  

The IST will update our Chairs and CEOs on how MAF can work together in a new way to achieve our ambition to bring help, hope and healing to at least 5,000 isolated communities by 2045. This follows the unanimous vote for our Vision for Integration at Global Forum last September (See Previous Announcements below, 21 September 2024). 

Towards a new integrated MAF  

In December 2024, the IST was given the mandate to design a new integrated organisation. Since then, we’ve looked at how we work now and what we need for the future, with the help of PA Consulting. 

We’ve defined our funding ambition and developed a high-level framework for how we can work more effectively together. Our focus is to ensure: 

• All parts of our new organisation have clear accountabilities
• We make decisions in the right place and at the right level
• We’re co-ordinated
• We make best use of our collective skills.  

At this stage, this is an outline for how we work together. We’ll progress the detail for our future organisation in the coming months. 

Integration Forum and beyond 

We’ll discuss our high-level framework with our Board Chairs and CEOs on Saturday. Shortly after, we'll share a more detailed update with you about the Integration Forum.  

We'll then start working on the detailed design, which will be ready by Global Forum in September 2025. As this work progresses, we'll continue to keep you informed. We’ll also find ways to involve you.  

Please let us know if you have any questions or feedback on [email protected].  

This is an important time for us. Please pray for all attending the Integration Forum and for wisdom for all involved.  

Integration Programme - New Team Members

Our Vision for Integration

We aim is to double our impact and bring help, hope and healing to over 5,000 isolated communities by 2045. To help us reach this goal, we’ve set up a strong integration team. 

Meet Our New Team Members

I’m excited to introduce Mark-Jan Bremmer and Emily Davies, who are joining our integration team this month.

• Mark-Jan Bremmer, Head of Integration Strategy & Design: Mark-Jan will be leading the design process for our future organisational structure and how we work together to achieve our vision.
• Emily Davies, Head of Integration Change & Engagement: Emily will design and manage the change programme to engage everyone in the MAF family, as well as keep you updated on our progress, listen to your feedback, and inform you about topics that are important to you.

About Mark-Jan and Emily

Mark-Jan Bremmer: Mark-Jan was the Head of Fundraising in The Netherlands, handling Marketing, Communications, Events, and Relationship Management while also working part-time on change design through a consultancy outside MAF.

Emily Davies: Emily was the Internal Communications Manager in MAFI. She not only brings certified strategic communications expertise but also knows MAF’s people and history very well.

More about Emily and Mark-Jan in the coming weeks.

With these two roles in place joining the Head of the Integration Programme, Lu Verne Ward, we now have a strong core integration team working with the Integration Steering Team (IST):

• Integration Steering Team (IST): Their role is to guide us and keep us on track for our 2045 vision. (See 'Previous Announcements', 10 December 2024)
• Lu Verne Ward: Joined the team as Head of the Integration Programme in January. (See 'Previous Announcements', 5 February 2025)

These roles were originally communicated and advertised with alternative job titles; however, these have been changed to bring clarity to responsibilities.  

Please join me in congratulating Emily and Mark-Jan and keep them, the IST, and the Integration Programme team in your prayers as we work toward our long-term integration goals. 

Stay Connected

We’d love to hear from you! If you have any questions or suggestions, please reach out to us at [email protected].

Achieving Our Vision for Integration - Update from the Integration Steering Team (IST)

We have a clear vision for integration. Our goal is to at least double our impact and bring help, hope, and healing to more than 5,000 isolated communities by 2045. This is a bold goal, but by building on our 80-year legacy, the dedication of our people, and God’s grace, we believe we can achieve it.

The Integration Steering Team (IST) met in London on 13-14 February to plan how we can work together more effectively to maximise our impact. Here’s an update on our progress and next steps.

Our Priorities

We focused on the four key workstreams that will help us achieve our vision:

1. How We Work – We need systems that enable us to work efficiently, adapt quickly, and collaborate as one unified organisation. This includes governance, technology, and operational structures.
2. Supporting Our People – Attracting, recruiting, leading, and supporting our people is essential so they can carry out our mission as effectively as possible.
3. Improving Funding – We will develop stronger fundraising strategies to attract major donors and use our resources wisely to increase our impact.
4. Who We Are – We must clearly communicate our identity, values, and mission to the outside world, including potential donors, while honouring our rich history and legacy.

We also agreed on communication and change principles to guide our integration. It’s important that everyone has opportunities to contribute ideas and be part of the changes ahead. More details will follow soon.

Above all, we are thinking big - focusing on what will make the greatest impact. We are excited about the future and grateful for the chance to work on this important mission together.

Our Integration Team

The IST is responsible for guiding integration and ensuring we stay on track toward our 2045 vision. The detailed work will be carried out by talented teams across the MAF family.

Lu Verne Ward, MAF’s Integration Programme Manager, is responsible for coordinating people, plans, and resources to move us forward. Verne is currently appointing key roles, including a Design Lead and a Change and Communications Lead, with announcements expected by the end of February.

Thank you to everyone who has shown interest - we will need more people to join these teams soon.

Looking Forward to the Mini Global Forum

The next few weeks will be very busy as we prepare for the Mini Global Forum on 29 March. By then, we will have finalised our design principles and created a high-level model for how we can work together most effectively in the future. We will present this to Chairs and CEOs at the forum for discussion.

Please join us in prayer, asking the Lord to strengthen our unity, provide clarity on the journey, and grant us courage to follow where He is leading, so that we can achieve an even greater impact together.

Stay Connected

We’d love to hear from you! If you have any questions or suggestions, please reach out to us at [email protected].

Appointment of Lu Verne Ward as Integration Programme Manager

Moving forward with our Vision for Integration, it is essential that we have the right people in place to lead us through this exciting transformation. With that in mind, we are pleased to announce the appointment of Lu Verne Ward as the Integration Programme Manager.

Many of you know Verne from his work as Head of Communications for MAFI and his leadership of the Marketing Development Steering Team (MDST). His deep understanding of MAF, strong leadership, and passion for our mission make him the ideal person to guide this programme.

Why this role matters

The Integration Programme is about strengthening MAF’s ability to bring help, hope, and healing to more isolated communities. Verne will play a key role in making this vision a reality by:

• Overseeing the successful delivery of the programme—bringing together people, plans, and resources to ensure we move forward effectively.
• Leading the development of the integration plan—coordinating efforts across governance, change management, and communications.
• Ensuring we work together as one team—helping us align our efforts for greater impact and sustainability.

Looking ahead

The Integration Steering Team (IST) is committed to achieving our next major milestone by the end of March: developing the high-level design that will shape how we work together in the future.

Verne’s leadership will be critical to this effort, and he will be supported by the PA Consulting team as well as the entire MAF community. We are also moving quickly to appoint other key roles, including Design Lead and Change & Communications Lead.

A message from Verne

“I'm honoured to take on this role. Together, we have an incredible opportunity to serve isolated communities by living out God's love through practical action. It is His heart in each of us that will enable us to do what it takes to reach those who are often overlooked but He has never forgotten.”

Join us in welcoming Verne

Please join us in congratulating Verne on his new role. We look forward to his leadership and the impact we will create together as we build a stronger, more unified MAF.

We encourage everyone to stay engaged in this journey. If you have any questions or feedback, reach out at [email protected]. To follow our progress and see what’s been achieved so far, visit the Integration website.

Forward together,

Integration Update

At the September 24 Global Forum, the Board Chairs reached a unanimous vote for the MAF Vision for Integration (see PDF below). At the end of last year, the Board Chairs agreed the Integration Steering Team (IST) who would oversee our integration programme to deliver this vision.

The IST has now been established (announced 10 December 2024), and on January 15-16, they came together in London to chart the next steps in our exciting journey of integrating into a stronger organisation. This gathering was a significant milestone as we focus on creating a foundation for lasting impact. 

Listen to IST member, Anna Beck, talk about the progress so far.

Our integration isn’t just about structure—it’s about aligning our resources to better fulfil our mission and vision to serve isolated communities worldwide. We’re excited to share the key outcomes from the meeting and start providing clarity on the road ahead. 

Four Key Focus Areas 

We’ve identified four foundational areas to guide our initial thinking about what integration will mean for MAF. Each is vital to building an organisation equipped for long-term success: 

1. Unifying Who We Are We aim to shape our shared identity by refining our brand, culture, and service philosophy while honouring our rich legacy and steadfast mission.
2. Establishing How We Work This includes designing governance, technology, and operational structures that empower us to work effectively and collaboratively as one unified organisation.
3. Improving Funding By creating unified fundraising strategies, we can strengthen campaigns, attract major donors, and maximise resource allocation to amplify our impact.
4. Supporting Our People We are developing a people strategy to support, nurture, and empower our teams. 

Immediate Next Steps 

The IST is actively forming a team to lead the integration programme, and three critical roles will be filled in the coming weeks: 

• Programme Manager 
  Oversees and coordinates the integration programme, ensuring milestones are achieved and resources are used effectively.
• Design Lead 
  Develops the design for how MAF will be organised, to achieve the Vision for Integration.
• Change and Communications Lead 
  Fosters engagement, transparency, and understanding to guide teams through this transition. 

This team will work closely with the IST to deliver our next major milestones in March 2025. By that time we aim to have: 

• A high level design for how MAF will be organised in the future to achieve the Vision for Integration
• Understood what we need to do to move to this new way of working
• Established methods to evaluate and measure the impact of this more integrated way of working 

Your Role in This Journey 

This transformation is a shared mission, and every voice matters. Whether you’re contributing ideas, joining a project team, or simply staying engaged, your participation is vital. Please reach out to the integration team ([email protected]) if you have questions or would like to explore how you can get involved. 

Always in Prayer 

As we take these steps forward, we’re reminded that the foundation of this work is Christ, who has guided and sustained MAF through the years. Let’s commit to prayer, trusting His wisdom and provision as we walk this path together. Please join us in praying for wisdom, unity, and strength for the journey ahead. 

Thank you for your faith, dedication, and partnership as we work together to overcome barriers of isolation and create a world where everyone has access to help, hope and healing. 

With gratitude, 

P.S. Stay connected and email [email protected] if you'd like to get involved or share feedback. Every perspective enriches this process!

Integration: Key decisions for 2025

Earlier in December we announced the members of our Integration Steering Team (IST) following a rigorous appointment process. Read the previous announcement by clicking on the first button below.

We know you’ll be eager to hear about what’s been happening since the IST was formed – so here’s a brief update.

Reminder of our Vision for Integration
We have a bold ambition to at least double our impact to bring help, hope and healing to more than 5,000 isolated communities by 2045. The only way we can do this and ensure we thrive for future generations is to bring all MAFI groups together as one organisation to make best use of our collective resources and expertise. This is the purpose at the heart of our integration programme. Our Board Chairs have given the IST the mandate to lead this work on behalf of the MAF family.

The IST’s role
The IST is accountable for steering the design and direction of our integration and overseeing implementation so we’re on track to achieve our vision for 2045.

They will:
• Define the programme’s outcomes and success criteria    
• Set up the governance structures and work streams to ensure successful design and implementation – from programme management, design through to change management and communications. They will form teams of people with deep and relevant expertise to do the detailed work and delivery
• Manage progress so we get the maximum benefit in the shortest time 

Progress since the IST was formed

The IST have met twice in December to make key decisions to get the programme under way. It agreed its Terms of Reference, defined how it will work together as a team and the wider MAF organisation and appointed lead roles within the team. Norman Baker (Chief Operating Officer, MAF International) is the newly formed IST Chair, and the Vice Chair is Rebecca Hansen (Board Chair, Norway).  

Summarising these early meetings, Norman said: "We are excited for the opportunities this programme envisions and are deeply aware of its importance, as well as the trust placed in the IST by the wider MAF family. We've taken thoughtful steps to lay a solid foundation, aiming to make meaningful progress as we move into the new year."

A key decision was agreeing the programme goals for March and September 2025 to maintain momentum. By the end of March, the IST will have defined the high-level model for integration, set up the governance structure to design and deliver this, established processes to identify and track cost-benefits, and appointed people to key roles to deliver the work - Programme Manager, Design Lead and Change and Communications Lead. In resourcing the programme, the IST will also look at what external expertise it will require to work alongside MAF team members. By September, the programme will be up and running and starting to deliver early benefits.

Coming up in January 2025    

The IST will continue to develop plans in early January and then come together for a face-to-face meeting offsite in London for two days on January 15/16. Their focus will be on making the decisions necessary to achieve the March 2025 goals. 

Please pray for the IST and for necessary funding and staff to bring the programme to life in 2025. We’ll update you on the outcomes of the next meeting later in January. Meanwhile, any questions you have please let us know by clicking here.

This week, the Board Chairs and the MAFI Board Chair voted on the appointment of eight people who will make up the Integration Steering Team (IST). This team will be responsible for planning, decision-making and overseeing the process of bringing all MAFI groups together as one organisation. 

The candidates for the IST were nominated by board chairs and a rigorous selection process took place to select the final eight people. The Vision Panel have stated: "The Integration Steering Team (IST) will spearhead the significant changes that will help us progress towards the vision of One MAF. To set the correct foundation, we conducted a careful and impartial selection process to identify individuals who possess a combination of wisdom, skills, knowledge, experience, and strengths for the IST. We are confident that we have achieved this goal, and we want to commend these leaders to you." 

I am happy to announce the following people have been selected to lead this important work:

• Adri van Geffen - CEO, Netherlands
• Anna Beck - Chief Finance Officer, MAF International
• Donovan Palmer - CEO, UK
• Ian McBride - Board Chair, Australia / New Zealand
• Maxine Holman - CEO, South Africa
• Norman Baker - Chief Operating Officer, MAF International
• Peter Hedelund - CEO, Denmark
• Rebecca Hansen - Board Chair, Norway

You can learn more about how the candidates were chosen by reading the full process here.

I would like to extend my thanks to all members of the Vision Panel for doing such a good and qualified job. This is both an exciting and challenging task. Please keep the IST in your prayers as they work to make our vision of integration a reality.

Appointing the Integration Steering Team (IST)

Over the past few weeks, the Vision Panel, with help from our external consultants, has been carefully choosing candidates for the Integration Steering Team (IST). This process has involved honestly looking at the skills, experience, diversity, and behaviours needed to make our integration vision a reality.

Once the IST members are chosen, they will be responsible for the strategy and oversight of the integration process.

Next week, the Board Chairs of the member entities in MAFI, and the Chair of the MAF International Board will vote to decide who will be on the IST. They will each have an equal vote.

The results of the vote will be announced in mid-December.

Please pray for this process, that the right people are chosen for the right roles, and that God will provide everything needed for the success of the integration.

Stones of remembrance: 15 November 2024

I wanted to share with you something that was of great encouragement to me and to all who attended Global Forum; a story of God speaking throughout this integration process.

As discussions around integration progressed, the story of Joshua 4 became very important to us. 

Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’  tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.” - Joshua 4:5-7

We knew that this story was significant. So much so, that we asked each member to bring a stone from their home nation to the Global Forum. When it was decided that we would move forwards with integration, we created our own memorial of stones to symbolise our coming together and to remember what God had done.

Not only that, but during the week there were more significant moments. We had invited someone external to us to share during our devotional time. This person had not been briefed and yet they too spoke from Joshua 4. At the end of their time with us, they gave each of us a stone of remembrance. Not only did we bring a stone of remembrance, but we were each able to take a stone of remembrance home with us.

Additionally, Dutch staff member, Esmara Gaalswijk, who is preparing to move to Chad, had been sharing stones with her supporters, each inscribed with Joshua 4:24, “He did this so that all peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.” One of the these stones came to Global Forum and was added to our collection - just another confirmation that God was speaking and working amongst us.

The stones of remembrance are currently displayed on reception in the Ashford office. Unfortunately, it’s not possible for us to replicate in all locations. Instead, you will see the above poster arriving in your location soon – a visual reminder that we are better together, that God is powerful, and he is working with us and ahead of us. 

Next steps for MAF International integration: 8 October 2024

As we set our sights on the future following a significant Global Forum, it is fair to say that we are embarking on a journey. Whilst there are many questions around what integration looks like, we can share with you our immediate next steps.

During the Global Forum, there was a commitment from all members to integrate, acknowledging that it will require change for all and unique sacrifices by each.

The Vision Panel, with the support of our external consultants, has been tasked with making recommendations for members of an Integration Steering Group (ISG). The ISG will be selected based on competencies, skills, diversity and behaviours. Resourcing Group Chairs, together with the MAF International Chair, each with equal voting power, will decide the final composition of the ISG. 

Once appointed, the ISG will be responsible for the strategy and oversight of the integration process. 

The timeline for this process is as follows: 

As you can see, the change will take time, and it will be worth the journey. 

While you may not see the fruits of integration instantly, and there is lots of work going on behind the scenes, you will start to see changes to our language and our culture as we move toward new ways of working together.

Please uphold this process in prayer, particularly the Vision Panel as they seek to recommend the right people for the right roles. 

On behalf of the CEOs and Chairs of all MAF International Resource Groups 

Dear MAF Family, 

On Friday, September 20, and Saturday, September 21, 2024, during the MAF Global Forum in the UK, CEOs, Board Chairs of all MAF groups, and the MAF International ELT met to discuss the integration into a single unified structure. We were pleased to have our MAF US and Canada colleagues join us as observers. 

First and foremost, we extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone for your support and contributions. To those who lifted us in prayer, the Vision Panel members, and our friends at PA Consulting for their thorough listening and analysis, and to all who completed the feedback form—your input has been invaluable. 

After intense and productive discussions, we are pleased to announce our full commitment and determination to integrate.  

We felt the Lord’s presence and His direction was clear in this pivotal moment. 

While we’ve agreed on the project vision, we recognise that this is just the beginning of a journey filled with opportunities, unknowns, and challenges. Nevertheless, we are confident the benefits far outweigh the risks. We also believe this integration is essential to fulfilling our mission more effectively and efficiently, reaching more isolated communities in the years to come. 

As an immediate next step, and on the basis of the excellent work delivered so far, the Vision Team and PA Consulting have been tasked with forming a steering committee of internal colleagues and external consultants to develop an execution and resourcing plan. 

We understand you may have many questions about this process. Your CEO or board chair will provide further updates. As your continued contribution and involvement is key, we thank you for your patience in the next steps. 

Please continue to pray for this process and for the Lord’s guidance, wisdom and provision.

Thank you for your ongoing support and trust.

Friday, 20 September and Saturday, 21 September will be the annual Global Forum, where the CEOs and Chairs of all MAF groups meet with the Board and ELT of MAFI to discuss the state of MAF International and hold the Annual General Meeting (AGM). 

This is no ordinary Global Forum. These meetings will determine our future ways of working together as we discuss the integration of MAF International Resourcing Groups and Operations. The outcome will be critical to our long-term future.

I would like to urge you to cover these meetings in prayer.

• Pray for wisdom, open hearts and open minds as we take these steps forward.
• Pray that the Holy Spirit might dwell among us, and that we might be of one heart, whatever the outcome.
• Pray for unity, even where there may be disagreement or questioning.
• Pray that we will come out stronger and more united than ever before.

Please find moments over the next week to pause and pray, individually and in your teams. We covet your prayers.

Together for our King,

Integration Survey: 23 August 2024

As you know, PA Consulting have been engaged by MAF to gain a broader understanding of the attitudes towards potential integration.

They are eager to hear from as many members of the MAF family as possible and have created a short survey with the aim of collecting your views and feelings on integration.

The survey will take no more than 5-10 minutes to complete, and your responses will be collected anonymously and by them – no one at MAF will have access to your answers. Your response and inputs are extremely valuable to not only understanding what integration might mean, but also the future of MAF as a whole. 

The survey will close on 30 August 2024, so please do try to complete it before then. If you need translation of any questions, it’s recommended that you use DeepL for translations.

Visit the survey here.

Announcing the Vision Panel for our Integration Journey: 15 August 2024

Dear MAF International Family, 

I am happy to share with you an important update on our journey towards integration. As we progress in our work with PA Consulting, we have reached a significant milestone: the formation of our Vision Panel. 

The Vision Panel 

PA Consulting invited nine individuals from the CEOs and Board Chairs across our organisation and two from MAFI's Executive team to form the Vision Panel. This panel will serve to validate the content produced by PA Consulting and will play a key role in shaping the vision for our integration project. 

The members of the Vision Panel are: 

• Adri van Geffen: CEO of MAF Netherlands
• Andreas Jansson: Board Chair of MAF Sweden
• Anna Beck: CFO of MAFI
• Chris Barnes: CEO of MAF Australia
• Donovan Palmer: CEO of MAF UK
• Ian McBride: Board Chair of MAF Australia and MAF New Zealand
• Marielle Langelaar: Board Chair of MAF Netherlands
• Norman Baker: COO of MAFI
• Peter Hedelund: CEO of MAF Denmark
• Rebecca Hansen: Board Chair of MAF Norway
• Thomas Beyeler: CEO of MAF Switzerland 

These individuals represent a diverse cross-section of our organisation, bringing a wealth of experience, perspectives, and insights to the table. We are grateful for their willingness to serve in this capacity and look forward to the valuable contributions they will make. 

Moving Forward Together 

As we progress on this journey, the Vision Panel will play a critical role in ensuring that our integration efforts align with our values, mission, and the diverse needs of our global organisation. They will help us highlight challenges, identify opportunities, and shape a vision for MAF International that will enable us to serve even more effectively in the years to come. 

Your continued prayers, support, and input remain invaluable throughout this process. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to our shared mission. Together, with God's guidance, we are working towards an exciting future for MAF International. 

Forward in faith, 

Integration progress: 01 August 2024

Dear MAF International family, 

I'm thrilled to announce that we have selected PA Consulting, a world-renowned firm known for delivering innovative solutions to complex business challenges, to work with the MAF family as we prepare for our Global Forum. This marks an exciting step forward as we come together to shape our collective future. 

Here's what makes this partnership with PA Consulting so exciting: 

1. Focused interviews: PA Consulting will conduct in-depth interviews with Resourcing Group CEOs and Board Chairs, ensuring leadership insights from across our global network are heard.
2. Your voice matters: While PA Consulting won't be interviewing all staff directly, we value everyone's input. The Integration Feedback Form is available for all staff to submit their thoughts and perspectives. We assure you that all feedback will be carefully considered in this process.
3. Breaking down language barriers: Interviews will be conducted in the language most comfortable for each participant, fostering a truly global conversation.
4. Seeking to understand: The PA Consulting team is committed to deep understanding, always probing further to grasp every nuance of our unique organisation.
5. Timely progress: Interviews and feedback collection will occur throughout August, setting the stage for informed discussions at the Global Forum. 

This initiative goes beyond organisational change—it's about fulfilling the call that God used to establish MAF in the very beginning. It echoes the question posed by our founder, Murray Kendon: "Why should not aircraft be even more effectively used to carry messengers of peace and to unload cargoes of blessing?"

As we embark on this journey with PA Consulting, we invite all of you to join us in prayer. We ask that you pray for wisdom and discernment throughout this process, and that the Lord will continue to bring unity across our organisation as we all follow Him. Listen well to what the Lord says to you and puts in your heart. We are reminded that "Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain." (Psalms 127:1a) 

Your role in this process is crucial. We must listen well and speak the truth in love as we strengthen our global unity, expand our reach, and multiply our impact. Each of you plays a vital part in our mission, and your insights, whether shared through leadership interviews or the Feedback Form, will be valuable as we work with PA Consulting to chart our path forward. 

Together, with the guidance of PA Consulting, the wisdom of our global family, and the direction of the Lord, we will be ready to share God's love by bringing help, hope, and healing to those who need it most. 

Forward in faith,

Integration progress & thoughts for the one billion: 18 July 2024

Dear MAF International family, 

As we move towards one functional organisation, my thoughts turn to the one billion people still living in isolation.

Without outside help, their lives are made infinitely harder, struggling to access basic services like healthcare and education, as well as the opportunity to hear the Good News. Without access, there is little hope for change. MAF brings that hope, and so much more.  

As one school manager in Papua New Guinea said: 

Only MAF has heard our cry for help. If I did not receive these goods, my teachers would close the school. I don’t want to fail my students.

- Erick Yakz, Tekin Primary School, PNG

We don’t want anyone to fail due to a lack of access.  

Being one functional organisation will position MAF to have greater impact, growing to expand our reach to provide help, hope and healing to more of those one billion isolated people across the globe.

This week, I ask you to pray for us. On Monday 22 July, we will interview several consultancy firms and select one to help us prepare for Global Forum when senior leaders from the MAF International family meet to discuss and agree our next steps. The work of this consultancy firm will ensure we get the most out of our time together in September and set the stage for the necessary change in the following months. Please pray for wisdom in selecting the right firm to bring in the expertise required. 

Remember to check the Integration website for the latest updates. Please continue to use the Feedback Form to submit your questions and feedback – as always, your input and perspective is invaluable. 

Forward in faith, 

Integration progress & Given's hope: 04 July 2024

Dear MAF International Family, 

I want to share a story that captures the heart of why we're taking up the challenge to become one functional organisation. It's about an 8-year-old boy named Given Sikuku from a remote village in Kenya. 

Given faces incredible challenges – extreme health issues that require regular treatment, poverty, limited education, and geographical isolation. Yet do you know what Given dreams of becoming? A pilot. 

This boy's audacious hope struck me. If Given can dare to dream so big in the face of such obstacles, we can dare to believe in our vision to overcome isolation. 

We are making critical steps toward that vision becoming reality, with our focus on identity, impact and integration as agreed by the CEOs in April. Below are some of the key milestones:

1. In June, I completed a listening tour, engaging with each of our Resourcing Group boards. The feedback, questions, and encouragement I received were invaluable as we move toward a resolution to integrate at Global Forum in September.
2. A summary report of common concerns and questions has been sent to all boards.
3. We're in the process of identifying an outside consultancy to take the input gathered to guide further conversations and help prepare for a Global Forum that will position us for the future impact we all desire.
4. We have developed a dedicated webpage to keep the latest update information in one place. A FAQs page will be added with answers to commonly asked questions.
5. The Integration Feedback form is available and accessible. Please use it to share your thoughts - your input is invaluable. 

Recently, we flew another flight with doctors to Given's village. His mother, Salome, used to endure 12-hour journeys for his treatments. Now, thanks to our flights, Given "walks with crutches", and Salome dreams of seeing him "walk like other children." 

This is why we're doing this. For every Given. For every Salome. For every isolated community waiting for help to arrive on wings. 

As we face the challenges ahead, remember Given's story. If he can dream of flying planes despite his circumstances, our dream of defeating isolation isn't too big for our Lord. 

Let's approach this unification process with our eyes fixed on the Lord and follow His calling. Together, we're not just changing our organisation; we're changing lives - one flight, one child, one community at a time. 

Forward in faith, 

P.S. Keep an eye out for our upcoming FAQs page addition to the webpage. In the meantime, please continue to use the Feedback form to share your hopes and questions. Your voice matters as we shape MAF International's future together. 

Vision for MAF International

Announcement: 30 April 2024

On Saturday, 20 April 2024, the MAF International Resourcing Group CEOs unanimously voted to propose to all MAF International boards that we become one functional organisation with one line of authority. 

This special meeting was called to discuss the future of our organisation in this changing world and followed a week of meetings where around 40 staff from across the MAF world held a Marketing and Fundraising Summit.

For the first time ever, those who attended the summit were able to see the number (not names) of donors we have globally, and their giving patterns. While we could celebrate the faithful partnership of our regular donors, it was sobering to learn how few major and mid-level donors we have, and that our donor base is both aging and shrinking. The summit attendees created collaborative teams to begin addressing these realities.

As part of the summit there was a ‘Road Map’ group made up of CEOs or their delegates from MAF US, Canada, UK, Australia, Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland. They identified three key areas for us to address: our identity, our impact and integration. These three areas were presented to the CEOs of MAFI's resourcing groups on the Saturday as part of a special meeting.       

The urgency to think differently, and to take action became clear. During the conversation we focused on the question of why this was needed. As we looked to the future and to the needs that MAF is called to meet, it became clear that to properly address our identity and impact, we first need to address integration. This then led to the unanimous decision to seek board approval for MAF International to become one functional organisation. While MAF US and MAF Canada remain independent, they are supportive and encouraged by this decision.

Over the coming months each Resourcing Groups' board will wrestle with the question of integration with the aim that at our September Global Forum we will ratify this new direction. 

There will be many questions about what this looks like. These will need to be worked through once the boards have agreed to move towards integration. In the meantime, we invite you to submit feedback through this form.

There will of course still be a need for a local presence and leadership in each country – the need for recruiting staff and raising funds and prayer support has not changed. However, if approved, there will be changes to the structure of how we accomplish that; change is never easy, and we can expect there to be challenges along the way. I believe these changes will prove beneficial and that MAF International will come out stronger, ready to fulfil our mission for decades to come.

Please keep this as a matter of prayer. We sit in a historic moment of time in MAF International to boldly move forward into a new and more purposeful and impactful future.

Together for our King,