Mark & Faye Griffiths

Faye joined Gateways Christian Fellowship (then Christian Centre) in 1980 when she moved to Palmerston North to study at Massey. She spent some time away, firstly in YWAM Australia, and then in China where she was greatly encouraged by letters from the Palfreymans’ house group (era: late 80’s!). On her engagement to Mark (1994), he decided to throw in his lot with us at Gateways (then Christian Fellowship!). During these years they served with the Overseas Christian Fellowship at Massey University, Operation Friendship, and also on the church’s MAPP team.

At the time of their marriage, they were both committed to mission. After being blessed with Amy and Joshua, the LORD started to nudge them about being ready to move into mission. This really became possible through Mark taking a morning off each week to seek God. At this time, it was quite miraculous how the LORD brought Niger up in many ways. One of these was an article in the SIM magazine, titled ‘Medical missionaries urgently needed in Niger!’ This started them on the journey that included time in Auckland, Hamilton, and then France (to learn French) before arriving in Niger at the beginning of 2005.

Mark works at a small medical centre that grew out of a leprosy centre. Apart from this work, he is also involved in outreach in town. Faye supports Mark and does the odd task on the compound. She also has a couple of majority religion friends that she visits in town, and was involved with teaching literacy to women in the prison. This year (2024) the prisons stopped allowing NGO and Church groups to come in, so the prison work is currently on hold.