Murray Kendon
Mission Aviation Fellowship began as the dream of two Kiwis; Murray Kendon and Trevor Strong.
Find out more below about their dream of using aircraft to bring good not destruction after WWII, and how that dream has now become a global organisation.
Through the years
Click on the gallery to view some of the key events in MAF New Zealand's history.
19451945 Murray Kendon and Trevor Strong “demobbed” at the end of World War Two and began meeting with others for prayer, Bible study and discussion of using aircraft to aid mission work.
1946Murray Kendon flew the U.S. to connect with Christian Airmen's Missionary Fellowship (CAMF), who discovered that their vision and name were almost identical and decided to work alongside MAF in the UK.
1946Trevor returned to New Zealand in 1946, where he formed the first MAF prayer and support communities, promoting MAF in New Zealand. Trevor was the first chairman of the NZ Committee and later the Council that formed in the 1950s. (Photo: Trevor Strong).
1947Murray stayed in the UK to promote MAF and help purchase the Miles Gemini (which to make the first MAF survey flight, in Africa). (Photo: Murray Kendon). During the UK tour 20,000 people heard about the plans for MAF.
1952Vic Ambrose from MAF Australia came to New Zealand and gave the organisation a boost, as did Grady Parrot from USA a little later.
1959MAF NZ became an Incorporated Society on 23 May, 1959, with Trevor serving as President for a number of years.
1960New Zealand farmers Trevor and Helen Bryant were moved by God to sell their property and give the entire proceeds to MAF, with the result that aircraft maintenance facilities at Ballarat were established.
1961Alex & Mollie Jardine from New Zealand established MAF-Air Services, the engineering and training organisation for MAF, on the former RAAF base at Ballarat.
1961MAF New Zealand operated out of its first office, above the Bible College at the top of Queen Street in Auckland.
1962More New Zealand staff head overseas, including Roger & Rose Young, Laurie & Dawn Darrington and Alan & Naomi Collecut.
1979MAF New Zealand purchased a Cessna 172 for training, following the vision of David Brown of Christian Aviation.
1989Official opening of newly constructed Flight Training Centre at Ardmore Airport on Saturday, 8 April. Ted Crawford became General Manager of MAF NZ (1989–2001)
2008Frank Carter (second from left) rode DOT (the motorbike in the photo below) 4,598 kilometres from Cape Reinga to Bluff in the Ride To Fly fundraiser. The event raised $50,000 for MAF.
2015Rick Velvin (left) and John Neal (right in photo) carried out the three-day ferry flight from Cairns. Mark Fox, (MAF NZ CEO) in centre. The Cessna 206 landed at Ardmore airport on Wednesday, 11 March. Over 50 people gathered at the hangar of Christian Aviation to be part of the Dedication of the aircraft
