MAF missionaries raise support for a pooled fund out of which MAF covers salary, housing, benefits, and staff-related ministry expenses. MAF exercises discretion over the use of missionary support to carry out its mission and care for its staff.
Rodney and Tammi Dyrud and their children, Justice and Jaycee, are missionaries with Mission Aviation Fellowship, sharing the love of Jesus Christ through aviation and technology so that isolated people may be physically and spiritually transformed.
Serving the LORD energizes Rodney! As an Aviation Maintenance Specialist, Rodney is currently supporting the worldwide ministry of MAF as he manages MAF’s aircraft parts and supplies at the US headquarters. The end result is the hungry are fed, the hurting are healed and the lost are found in Jesus the Anointed One, to the glory of God the Father! Rodney wants his life to glorify the Creator of Heaven and Earth. Psalm 115:1 says, “Not to us, LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.”
Rodney grew up in Santa Ana, California, where his mother led him to Christ. At Calvary Church of Santa Ana, he enjoyed mission conferences and discovered MAF. He earned a B.S. in Aviation Flight Technology at Christian Heritage College and an A.S. in Aviation Maintenance Technology at Miramar College in San Diego, CA. But it was not until after college that God called him to serve overseas.
Tammi was born in San Diego, California, where at the age of three, after hearing her Sunday School teacher talk about how Jesus died on the cross for her sins, she became a Christian. Tammi became aware of missions as she attended Shadow Mountain Community Church and San Diego Christian College. She heard about MAF at a missions conference and felt the Lord leading her into missions in 2004, while on a trip to Africa with her church. Tammi graduated from college in 2007 with a B.S. in education; she and Rodney were married shortly thereafter.
In 2008, they welcomed their son, Justice, into the world, and in 2011, their daughter, Jaycee, was born in Uganda, Africa. They returned to the States in 2012 after it became apparent that Jaycee would need a number of surgeries on her right cheek due to being born with a facial deformity. They are pursuing treatment to prevent future problems and when the timing is right, they will seek the LORD’s guidance for moving back overseas again.
Tammi is homeschooling their children and supporting her husband as they serve with MAF. Tammi’s favorite verse is Jeremiah 29:11, “‘For I know the plans I have for you’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” She and Rodney are continually leaning upon the Lord as He guides them through life’s challenges.
God calls the men and women of MAF to serve Him in unique ways. He may also be calling you to a special role in Rodney and Tammi’s ministry. Please prayerfully consider becoming a ministry partner with them through prayer and/or financial support.
The U.S. offices of MAF serve as a hub for MAF services worldwide. A day in the life here includes specialized flight training, staff mobilization and counseling, purchasing and shipping of aircraft parts, finance and accounting, administration of an Internet gateway for worldwide email, fund raising, printing and mailing of various materials, and many, many more activities. Some staff serve around the country; training future pilots and mobilizing potential candidates to serve with MAF.