Retired PCA minister and evangelist Harold Arnold “Arnie” Maves, Jr., 87, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, April 16, 2016. Maves was born on March 3, 1929, in Indianapolis to Harold and Lucile Maves. He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Barbara Boyd Maves, whom he met and married at Purdue University while earning his bachelor of science degree in forestry. He leaves behind five children, nine grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. He was a loving and faithful husband and father who left the forestry business at age 31 to follow God’s calling into the gospel ministry.
After five years as a pastor, his last church being Midway Presbyterian Church in Powder Springs, Georgia, he became a full-time evangelist with the Presbyterian Evangelistic Fellowship (PEF). He traveled all over the United States preaching and teaching God’s Word, and over time the Lord opened up more opportunities for him to take over 90 trips to more than 25 countries. He spent extensive time in Greece, Hungary, and Romania, where he trained laymen to be pastors. He was always ready for a new adventure and whatever sacrifice was required for the sake of the gospel.
PEF Executive Director Dr. Rick Light, wrote about Arnie, “Arnie was a preaching evangelist in every sense of the word. His passion was to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, calling men and women everywhere to repent of their sins and come to Christ for salvation. Arnie was blessed to preach in a time (the 1950’s and 60’s) when the Holy Spirit was moving in the Southern Presbyterian Church in a powerful way that led to the formation of the Presbyterian Church in America. He was part of eight PEF evangelists that the Lord used to bring our new denomination into existence. Arnie obeyed the call of the Lord to go to Eastern Europe and strengthen the underground churches at great risk to his own life and the Lord did “Acts” –like things through his ministry there!”
In 1972 when a planning meeting was held in Savannah, Georgia by 16 persons representing 10 churches which had already withdrawn or were planning to sever their connection with the PCUS, a letter was read from Rev. Arnie Maves: “… as you gentlemen come to do an historic work…I simply want to say, I am with you…and I want to become a part of this continuing Presbyterian work called Vanguard Presbytery. I don’t know who chose that name…but it’s a good one. Praise the Lord.”
A celebration of Maves’ life was held on Wednesday, April 20, at McIlwain Memorial Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Pensacola. Memorial gifts may be given to the Presbyterian Evangelistic Fellowship 100 5th St., Suite 330, Bristol, TN 37620. His family would like to thank all the churches and individuals who supported his ministry for so many years.