Speakers

• Ghislaine F. Benney, Director, Operation ACCESS!
• John Boyd, President and Chief Executive Officer, MAF
• Ron Wismer, Field Manager, Operation ACCESS!

To request a speaker, please send us a detailed message using our contact form.

GHISLAINE F. BENNEY
Director, Operation ACCESS!

A former atheist and banking executive, Ghislaine entered full time Christian service in 1984 after a powerful conversion experience.

The result of her husbands loving witness and prayers, her unique and undeniable encounter with the God whose existence she had long denied, led Ghislaine to commit her life to Jesus Christ. She immediately resigned her position as a Vice President of Citibank in New York to begin a spiritual and missionary journey that led her, and her husband Chuck, to Africa, Mexico, and various parts of the U.S.

Some of the experiences that God placed on her path during her first seven years of volunteer mission service include director of all support services for an $80 million famine relief program in Ethiopia, mission mobilization for a large denomination, director of a food program and homeless shelter in Arizona, and executive director of an orphanage in Mexico.

A former atheist and banking executive, Ghislaine entered full time Christian service in 1984 after a powerful conversion experience.

The result of her husband’s loving witness and prayers, her unique and undeniable encounter with the God whose existence she had long denied, led Ghislaine to commit her life to Jesus Christ. She immediately resigned her position as a Vice President of Citibank in New York to begin a spiritual and missionary journey that led her, and her husband Chuck, to Africa, Mexico, and various parts of the U.S.

Some of the experiences that God placed on her path during her first seven years of volunteer mission service include director of all support services for an $80 million famine relief program in Ethiopia, mission mobilization for a large denomination, director of a food program and homeless shelter in Arizona, and executive director of an orphanage in Mexico.

In 1991, the MAF leadership asked Ghislaine if she would be willing to help them with its ministry awareness. Since then, she has held a number of management responsibilities with MAF including leading the global research project Operation ACCESS! Nothing surprised her more than the humbling challenge of directing this five-year project that surveyed 364 isolated areas of the world where transportation and communications barriers prevent or impede access to the Gospel.

Ghislaine welcomes opportunities to share her witness, introduce others to MAF, or inform groups about the needs for Gospel transformation that Operation ACCESS! uncovered. Born in Canada of French parentage, Ghislaine has a passion for discipling new believers and for encouraging fellow Christians to actively participate in missions.

Chuck and Ghislaine have been blessed to see their two daughters and three grandchildren who live overseas grow in their faith in Jesus Christ.

Until Chuck's health severely declined, he and Ghislaine served as leaders in evangelism programs, Sunday School and in VBS. Chuck, who went home to the Lord in July 2008, was a strong supporter of MAF, having served on the Board of Directors of the MAF Foundation.

Ghislaine continues as an active member of New Hope Baptist Church in Nampa, Idaho.

JOHN BOYD
President and Chief Executive Officer, MAF

A native of Scotland, John grew up in Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. In 1993, while pursuing a successful business career, he felt called by God to enter Christian ministry. John has since served MAF in varying roles.

An experienced MAF pilot, he has logged many hours in Zaire/Congo, Haiti, and Lesotho. In 2001, following a four-year term as chief executive officer of MAF-South Africa, John accepted the call to serve at the U.S. headquarters, where he will continue as vice-president for ministry advancement until his appointment as president in January.

John's heart and passion is to reach the unreached with the Gospel. He loves to share with others all the wonderful things God is doing through MAF. John said of his current role as CEO: "I'm filled with humbleness, yet also with joy and excitement about the future. 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.

John and his wife Tanya have 3 children. View their family webpage here.

RON WISMER
Field Manager, Operation ACCESS!

Ron has served with Mission Aviation Fellowship since 1985. His tenure includes positions as program manager and pilot-mechanic in Central and West Africa. In 2003, Ron was assigned the role of field manager for Operation Access! In that capacity he supervised all field surveys while personally conducting surveys in 19 countries.

Raised in a Christian home in Michigan, Ron accepted the Lord at the age of 10. After two years at Wheaton College, he transferred to Moody Aviation, and graduated with a BS in Mission Aviation Technology. Ron is a commercial pilot with instrument and multi-engine ratings and holds a license as an aircraft mechanic (A&P). He received his airplane transport pilot's (ATP) license in 2001.

Ron and his wife Roz currently reside in Nampa, Idaho. Roz attended Taylor University for two years and graduated from Ball State University with a BS in Nursing. She received a Master's in Professional Studies from Alliance Theological Seminary. The Wismers are the proud parents of three teenage children. View their family webpage here.