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Craig & Ruth Goodman

Serving with MAF

Craig and Ruth Goodman, and their daughter, Julianne, are missionaries with Mission Aviation Fellowship serving at the U.S. Headquarters in Nampa, Idaho. Craig, a maintenance specialist, is the Turbine Engine Coordinator. He primarily answers turbine aircraft related questions from the field programs and also coordinates turbine engine overhauls and major maintenance. In addition he evaluates turbine aircraft maintenance procedures and makes recommendations for improvement. Craig shares, "Even though I sometimes miss being in Indonesia, from this position at headquarters I can have an even broader influence on the operations and safety of our turbine aircraft fleet."

Craig and Ruth quote Colossians 3:23-24 as meaningful verses, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as work for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." They comment, "These verses are such a good reminder that we are to do all things as unto Christ, because it is Christ Himself we are serving, no matter whether we are working on airplanes, or working in the kitchen, or taking time to hug a child."

Craig was born in Elkhart, Indiana, and moved to Nogales, Arizona in his teens. God used the influence and witness of faithful friends, as well as a rock-climbing incident, to bring Craig to a saving knowledge of Christ Jesus at age 24. Craig was introduced to missions by a missionary couple from his church – Ruth’s parents. They took a special interest in him and encouraged him to attend a Christian college. Craig took their advice and enrolled in Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois, and pursued a degree in communication. He later changed his major to aviation and earned a diploma in Mission Aviation Technology from Moody Aviation in Elizabethton, Tennessee. Craig holds a private pilot's license and an Airframe and Powerplant mechanic’s license.

Ruth was born in Denver, Colorado. When she was two her family moved to Nogales, Arizona, where her parents served for 38 years as career missionaries with Conservative Baptist Home Mission Society (now Missions Door). She says, "I accepted Christ when I was six years old, in my father's study. I had heard the Gospel clearly through a vacation Bible school ministry and realized I needed a Savior." Through the godly influence of her parents, her interest in missions started as a young child and God continued to develop that interest over the years. She earned a diploma in Sacred Music from Moody Bible Institute and a B.S. in Christian Education/Music from Southwestern Bible College in Phoenix. Ruth also has a Master's Degree in Church Music from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland, Oregon. She has worked as a music teacher for over 15 years. Ruth and Craig met in 1975, and were married in 1996.

While maintaining a loving Christian home for her family, Ruth ministers especially in the area of hospitality, which includes taking meals to MAF families affected by major illness. She also provides child care for children of families who are in Nampa for MAF’s candidacy and orientation programs, and welcomes traveling MAF staff, as well as other friends, who may need a guest room.

How to Pray for the Goodmans:

Pray for Craig to have wisdom and understanding as he tries to solve aircraft problems that are half a world away. It is challenging to troubleshoot based on e-mail descriptions and photos.
Pray for Julianne’s special education needs. She continues to make good progress and is now full- time in a mainstream class, but she still has some special needs in certain areas.
Pray for Ruth to have wisdom as she continues to be an advocate for Julianne during Julianne’s educational years, and for us both as parents seeking to guide Julianne through the challenges of becoming a godly Christian young lady.

Area Profile:

Now that we are serving here in Nampa our ministry with MAF-US has a much broader scope. Recently MAF-US Joined with MAF-International, which now has a combined sphere of influence in fifty countries, including: Indonesia, Lesotho, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, Suriname, Haiti and Ecuador. The Christians in some of these countries suffer under great persecution. The needs range from spiritual, to nutritional, to medical, to developmental. The common thread of ministry in all these countries is that we are serving the local evangelical churches in areas where ground transportation and communications are difficult or impossible. In these situations air transportation is the best and sometimes the only option for people in need. Currently MAF-I serves over 800 Christian and Humanitarian organizations. During famine or drought, MAF will deliver food. We often transport medical personnel when needed and in many cases we will fly a patient to a hospital or clinic. MAF transports translators who are working to put God’s Word into the hands of people who have never before seen their language in print. Pastors, Evangelists, and Bible school students often use MAF’s services. In this way we help to provide a means for the developing indigenous churches to expand and mature. In Papua, Indonesia MAF continues to fly over untouched areas of jungle, finding people who previously have had no contact with the outside world.

Birthdays
Craig - 12/22/51
Ruth - 9/01/56
Julianne - 8/18/97 (daughter)

Anniversary
Craig & Ruth - 6/22/96