Contact: Ghislaine Benney, 208-498-0770, GBenney@MAF.org; Download complete press kit at www.MAF.org/news

NAMPA, Ida., Sept. 26 /Christian Newswire/ -- Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), a faith-based, non-profit ministry that serves missions and isolated people around the world with aviation, communications and learning technologies, has named John Boyd as its new president and chief executive officer, succeeding Kevin Swanson.

Photo: John Boyd

Boyd, a native of Scotland who grew up Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa, has served with MAF for 15 years.  His varied experience with the ministry includes the roles of pilot, chief executive officer of MAF South Africa, and vice president for ministry advancement.  Boyd’s fields of service have included Zaire/Congo, Haiti, Lesotho and South Africa.  In 1993, Boyd interrupted his successful business career when he felt the strong call of God to enter Christian ministry.

Boyd will continue in his present role until Jan.1, when he assumes his new position.  Most of his time in the next few months will be spent in Lesotho, Mozambique and South Africa on previously planned ministry trips.

“I’m filled with humbleness, yet also with joy and excitement about the future,” Boyd said. “We are on the threshold of such great ministry opportunities. My vision is that MAF will become even more strategic and significant in taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world.”

Kevin Swanson joined MAF in 1979 as a pilot/mechanic and rose through the organization, becoming a board member in 1995, vice chairman in 2003 and president and chief executive officer in 2004.  At his request, he accepted the role of president for a limited term. His mission was to lead the MAF relocation from Redlands, Calif., to Nampa, Idaho, as well as direct the expansion of various ministry operations.

With the completion of those key initiatives, Swanson will finish his term at the end of December.  He plans to relocate to California where an aging parent requires his personal attention. Despite his inability to remain in Nampa, Swanson looks forward to continuing serving in ministry.

“For the past several years”, said Swanson, “I’ve felt called to direct church ministry and have communicated that calling to our board of directors. Several opportunities have been presented to me, and I’ll make my decision over the course of the next few months.”

“I’m delighted, and thankful to God and our staff, with how smoothly the move to our new headquarters in Idaho took place.  MAF is now well positioned for expanded operations and future growth," Swanson said.  "As for my successor, I've worked very closely with John, and I truly believe God has been grooming him for his new position as MAF president,” Swanson said.

“Under Kevin's direction, the relocation of the MAF headquarters to Idaho went extraordinarily well,” said Julie Shimer, chairman of the board of MAF. “We've also seen expansion in the ministry's aviation services, program growth in Central Asia and new opportunities in learning technologies."

As for Boyd, she said, "John's field experience will be of great value as the new president of MAF. His international perspective, along with his vision and passion, will benefit MAF for many years into the future." 

Founded in 1945, MAF (www.MAF.org) stations some 200 missionary families in the remotest regions of 26 countries on five continents.  MAF serves more than 600 Christian and humanitarian organizations. The ministry’s pilots fly approximately 40,000 flights a year, transporting missionaries, medical personnel, medicines and relief supplies, as well as conducting thousands of emergency medical evacuations.  MAF also provides telecommunications services, such as satellite Internet access, high-frequency radios, electronic mail and other wireless systems, in isolated areas.