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OM's Peter Maiden (1948-2020): A pioneer of modern missions
The former director of Operation Mobilisation (OM) passed away today aged 72. David Vardy remembers him
It has been my privilege to know Peter Maiden for more than 50 years. He has been a wonderful friend, a fellow worker in many Christian enterprises and an outstanding role model of Christ likeness.
Peter was born in Cumbria in 1948 to Godly parents, Reg and Amy. On leaving school he went in to a management training programme with a local Carlisle company but this did not last long. Such was the demand for his preaching and teaching he effectively had two jobs. The call into full-time Christian ministry was unmistakable. He left secular employment in order to fulfil all the invitations he received.
He served for a time as an evangelist with the Open Air Mission, followed by a period of itinerant preaching and teaching at youth events and evangelical churches throughout the country. It was as a result of speaking at youth gatherings and at the funeral service for Keith Beckwith, a young Cumbrian full-time worker with Operation Mobilisation, he met George Verwer, the founder of OM. George, a very able identifier of talent, pursued Peter until he agreed to become the leader of the growing ministry in the UK, a position that Peter held with great distinction for a period of 10 years. Premier Christianity.
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