The Rietveld Family
We believe God has called us to use our practical skills to help reach the most isolated people on earth — bringing help, hope, and the Gospel.
Missionaries with MAF
Welcome! We are Wilbert and Marieke Rietveld, and we are serving with Mission Aviation Fellowship. After serving in Indonesia for 14 years, we transitioned to a role at MAF's headquarters in Nampa, Idaho.
Wilbert applies his expertise in Information Technology to further MAF's global mission. During our years in Indonesia, Wilbert enjoyed using his God-given skills in doing practical IT work. As Director of Infrastructure and IT Support, he collaborates with teams worldwide to enhance MAF's outreach.
Wilbert and Marieke seek to live out the command in Matthew 6:33: "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."
Learn about MAF
Called to serve
Wilbert grew up in the Netherlands. He was raised in a Christian home and came to faith at a young age. As a teenager, his older brother served as a Bible translator in Africa. Wilbert admired this greatly. He also felt a longing to go overseas, but never thought he could do something like his brother. His skills were very different, more practical. He pursued degrees in engineering and IT management and started a career in industrial automation, but his desire to go overseas remained.
Marieke, also from the Netherlands, grew up in a nurturing Christian environment. As the eldest of five, she naturally took to serving others. She got her degree in midwifery, and it was during her college years that God started growing a desire in her heart to go overseas and bring help, hope and healing to remote places.
After we got married in 2006, God continued to work a desire in our hearts to serve Him with the practical skills we both had been given. When a former missionary in Papua told us about the work of MAF, God opened the doors for us to join this organization, bringing us to Indonesia where Wilbert could work in IT, and Marieke used her skills in midwifery. God also blessed us with three beautiful children during those years: Doortje, Lucas and Daniel.
When we initially joined MAF, God often used Matthew 6 to remind us to not be anxious for anything. God would provide for all our needs. Now, many years later we do look back and are overwhelmed by His faithfulness and goodness during those years. It is our prayer that God will continue to use us for His glory, to build His kingdom, in the US, and to the ends of the earth.
A world in motion
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Matthew 6:33