About QAVAH
you are welcome to read
Our Story
The vision of Qavah Partnerships is to advance the Kingdom of Jesus Christ on earth through partnering with individuals and organisations that keep discipleship and evangelism paramount in their activities. Qavah Partnerships provides an accountable and available organisation for its members to grow their ministries within the body of Christ.
Qavah Partnerships came about because of the increasingly difficult transport and communication problems being experienced in the remote areas of PNG and Australia. This lack of transport and communication has left Christian people in these places isolated from the wider body of Christ. This has contributed to many of the church groups being weak and ineffective. The communities they serve have continuing problems accessing Christian, medical and educational help. Many once strong institutions have collapsed or become dysfunctional, now receiving no assistance or training from the outside world. Almost no other support group other than Qavah has the current ability to respond to the churches needs at this time.
GOVERNANCE
Our Board
Mike Jelliffe
Chairperson
Michael (Mike) Jelliffe has spent much of his working life in PNG, where he has worked in aviation, management, governance and church ministries. With over 40 years experience as a pilot as well as operational roles in airline, air traffic control and flight training in Australia, he also has experience at executive levels of management and governance. In PNG this includes alternate periods as General Manager and Director of MAFPNG, government appointments to the Boards of PNG National Airports Corporation and PNG Air Services Ltd, now NiuSky Pacific Ltd, and membership of the PNG Institute of Directors.
Mike has a passion for discipleship and cross cultural ministry and in more recent years prior to COVID continued to conduct training to encourage pastors in rural and remote areas in PNG, while developing and publishing materials which aid discipleship training. He has worked closely with QAVAH Partnerships in this.
Currently living near Coffs Harbour NSW with his wife Kathy, they continue a discipleship focus with refugees and people overcoming addictions. Apart from his aviation qualifications (ATPL, Instructor, Safety Auditor), he holds an MA in Intercultural Studies and is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Church of PNG. When not engaged in grandparenting their eight grandsons, Mike’s hobbies include watercolour art, music and a small publishing business promoting independent authors with a focus on PNG writings.
QAVAH Partnerships as a mission organisation brings together the elements of aviation and discipleship in remote communities, and Mike seeks to bring his experience in management and governance to promote a sound executive framework for this ministry to develop.
Rolf Straatemeier
Secretary
Rolf was born in Port Moresby, PNG before growing up on Sydney.
His parents moved to Queensland in 1972 to Hervey Bay where he went to high school and from here he joined the Queensland Police Service.
He spent over 43 years working as a police officer, retiring in 2018 as a senior manager in Far North Queensland.
Rolf became a Christian in 1988 after his first son was born. He is married to Larraine and they have two children.
Rolf knows very little about aviation ministry, however, he is passionate about his faith and hopes to serve in whatever capacity God has in store for him.
John Goodall
Treasurer
John was born in regional Victoria and joined what was once known as the PMG in the
telecommunication field. He worked in regional Victoria and then in Queensland for over 30 years in telecommunications with a break
to run his own business on the Sunshine Coast.
John accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour at the age of 35 years whilst living in Toowoomba.
He has been actively involved in our local Church since becoming a Christian and also has a passion to support missions in a practical sense and in later years in administration.
John is currently on the leadership team of his local Church as well as treasurer for three Christian organisations.
John has been blessed to have a wife who shares the same passion for our shared ministry of serving our Lord and Saviour.
COORDINATION
Minisitry Coordination
Adrian Gould
Ministry Coordinator
Adrians early years were in the highlands of PNG. After finishing university and pilot training in Australia most of Adrians work-life has been balancing aviation and ministry.
Adrian has been involved in remote area ministry for over twenty years. He is married to Debbie and with their three children live near our Atherton North Queensland base. He is a licensed aircraft maintenance engineer and instructor pilot.
Adrian has a passion for seeing the church overcome the tyranny of distance to remote communities and congregations.
Adrian believes in ministry partnerships both on the individual and organisational levels.
Adrian and Deb Gould
qâvâh, kaw-vaw’; means a primitive root; to bind together (perhaps by twisting), i.e. collect; (figuratively) to expect:—gather (together), look, patiently, tarry, wait (for, on, upon).