Ruth and Duncan Jack

Background

Ruth grew up in a Scottish castle! Her grandparents had been missionaries with WEC in West Africa for more than 20 years, and when they returned to Scotland, the Lord led them to open a Christian conference centre called Spire Christian Fellowship in Overtoun House. Ruth’s parents led this work with her grandparents, and so Ruth lived in community in a Scottish castle until the age of 18.

Ruth inherited her love of mission and a pioneering spirit from her parents and grandparents, so as she turned 18 she headed to Guyana in South America for 1 year, to set up a Children’s home for street children. Returning to Scotland the following year to study Management and English Literature at Aberdeen University, she got involved with City Church Aberdeen.

Duncan was born in Farnham in Surrey and gave his life to Jesus at a young age, getting baptised when he was eight. He attended boarding school in Essex and studied Civil Engineering at Aston university. As a new graduate, he worked on the building of the Channel Tunnel, and then in Financial Services in London. Duncan is an avid sportsman, and having taken up mountaineering amongst other things, he travelled regularly to the Scottish mountains from London to climb in the snow and ice. Making the decision to move to Scotland to pursue this passion, Duncan arrived in Aberdeen and was led by the Lord to City Church Aberdeen, where he met Ruth.

Our MAF Journey

After marrying in Aberdeen, Ruth and Duncan moved to Houston Texas for four years with the oil industry, and as part of a church plant from City Church. Their first daughter, Rebekah was born in Texas, and Ruth was pregnant with their second daughter, Sarah, when they returned to Scotland. Ruth worked in Youth Work management for some years, and when she took maternity leave to have their son Samuel, she decided to return to university to studey for an MSc in International Development and pursue a career in the NGO world. The Lord led Ruth to a job with Tearfund Scotland, where she stayed for two years, before moveing to MAF as the Head of Scotland in 2014.

In January 2019, Ruth and Duncan, together with their son Samuel, travelled to remote Northern Australia to co-lead the MAF Arnhem Land team. It was an incredibly enriching experience, and one that deeply informed their understanding of MAF operations around the world, as well as forging lifelong friendships with many team members. The Arnhem Land Programme underwent significant change during the Jack’s leadership and is now even more focused on serving the needs of the Yolngu community in the remote Northern Territory.

In 2022 the Jack family made another move, this time to Uganda, where Ruth is the Country Director of the MAF Uganda team. This represents another fantastic opportunity for the Jack family, who are looking forward to the new adventure and building life together Africa.

Join the Jack’s support team

Ruth and Duncan rely on a team of partners who agree to pray for them and to provide the financial support which enables them to serve with MAF.

Would you prayerfully consider joining their support team?

Background

Our MAF Journey

Join the Jack’s support team

About MAF UK