Tributes have been paid to “dedicated and visionary leader” Peter Rowan (1967-2024), co-national director of Overseas Missionary Fellowship (OMF) U.K., part of OMF International, who died in the company of his family after a brave battle with cancer on Monday, Dec. 9.
An OMF tribute on its website said that Rowan’s contributions to the missionary organization, which is based in Sevenoaks, Kent, England with an evangelism focus on East Asia, and the global church generally, had been “immeasurable.”
“Peter’s warmth, humour, compassion, and dedication touched the lives of countless individuals,” stated OMF UK. “Peter will be remembered not only for his professional achievements but also for the kindness, integrity and love for Jesus he showed to all who had the privilege of working alongside him.”
Rowan joined OMF aged 30 in July 1997 with his wife Christine, and the couple’s work as missionaries led to several postings in the East Asia Region.
The couple initially served the mission in Thailand and then relocated to Penang, Malaysia in 1999 to enable them to study the Malay language. The next year, 2000, they moved to Miri, Sarawak for Rowan to take up a teaching position at the Malaysia Evangelical College.
Next, the couple moved to Kuala Lumpur in 2003. This allowed Rowan to take up another position as a member of the faculty of the Malaysia Bible Seminary.
These living and working experiences in East Asia fed into the couple’s roles as co-national directors of OMF (UK), which they took up in Jan. 2010.
“Throughout his tenure as co-national director,” added the OMF tribute. “Peter was a driving force behind many important initiatives, and his tireless efforts helped shape OMF (UK) into what it is today. Peter’s commitment to mission, his deep missiological insights and his heart for East Asia’s peoples will remain a lasting legacy.”
Condolences were given to Rowan’s immediate family: his wife Christine, their children Gabrielle, Yasmin, Luke and Jude, sons-in-law Sam and Lorenzo, and his mother, May, as well as “his friends, and all who were fortunate enough to know him throughout his life.”
“Peter was dedicated to the kingdom mission of Jesus Christ; OMF (UK) continue in their commitment to this cause, which meant so much to him and to us,” added the OMF UK tribute.
Rev. Canon Mark Oxbrow, program director of the Guided Research Programme at Oxford Centre for Mission Studies, wrote his own personal tribute on social media channel, LinkedIn.
“It was with a sense of relief (that the suffering was over) but also great loss that I heard this week of the death of Peter Rowan, the UK co-director of OMF after a rapid deterioration through cancer,” Oxbrow wrote. “When I last saw him a few months ago and asked him about the growth behind his eye he simply said, 'It's growing but it’s OK - God knows what he is doing.' What a wise leader we have lost.”
Details have yet to be published in regards to the funeral and memorial services.
