Called to Love: Serving the Least of These with Christlike Compassion
Peter Waddup
CEO of The Leprosy Mission
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Website: www.leprosymission.org.uk
Peter Waddup has been involved with The Leprosy Mission since 2008, firstly for nine years as a volunteer and now as the Chief Executive Officer since April 2017.
After visiting a community affected by leprosy whilst backpacking with his wife Helen in the 1990s, he was shocked to see that leprosy is still a big problem. Later in his career, it became clear to him that he was being called to serve people affected by leprosy and now considers the opportunity to do that as part of The Leprosy Mission a privilege.
Prior to joining The Leprosy Mission, Peter was a qualified accountant working in the insurance industry and more recently the Managing Director of joinery manufacturer Scotts of Thrapston.
“The poor will always be with us” – but so will the call to love
When Peter Waddup talks about his journey, he doesn’t center himself—he centers Christ. As CEO of The Leprosy Mission, his story is not just about leading a global nonprofit; it’s about embodying the Gospel and living out Jesus' command to love the “least of these.”
Leprosy might seem like an ancient disease, something long dealt with and discarded to the pages of biblical history. But as Peter passionately explains, the disease still ravages the lives of over 200,000 people every year—primarily in communities plagued by poverty, where stigma and isolation compound the suffering far beyond the physical.
“The disease is curable,” Peter says, “but it’s the discrimination that’s harder to heal.”
In countries like India, where The Leprosy Mission serves some of the most neglected colonies, people are still being pushed to the margins—both socially and spiritually. And yet, it is there, in those forgotten places, that Christ's light shines the brightest.
Love that Touches the Untouchable
Peter doesn’t just talk about loving people—he lives it. One of the most moving moments from the podcast was his reflection on the power of human touch. In many leprosy colonies, people have not been physically touched in decades. They’re treated as untouchables, thrown coins from a distance, and passed over by society.
“But when you’re willing to shake their hand, to embrace them,” Peter shares, “they can’t believe it. This is what Jesus did.”
This isn’t just charity—it’s ministry. It’s living the Gospel in action. Peter’s work is a reminder that the heart of Christianity isn’t just preaching sermons, it’s being the sermon.
A Longing Planted by God
What’s most remarkable is how Peter’s calling started decades ago—when he was just five years old. Watching a news story about famine in Africa, he cried for children dying of hunger. Though he didn’t know God yet, he felt something stir in his heart. A whisper. A purpose. A calling.
It would take nearly forty years of working in accounting and business before that seed would blossom into full-time ministry.
But God doesn’t waste a single chapter. Every detour, delay, and disappointment becomes part of the divine training ground. And when Peter finally turned toward Christ, the doors flung wide open.
“I think when I became a Christian, God must have been sitting in heaven saying, ‘Finally! Now I can get to work!’”
Jesus, Still Ministering Through His People
Peter believes leprosy is still in the Bible—and still in our world—because Jesus wants to remind us that His love reaches the outcast. In fact, Jesus often left the crowd to find the one. And many times, that one was someone afflicted by leprosy.
This message couldn’t be more relevant today.
We live in a world fractured by fear, division, and suffering. But the Gospel reminds us: Jesus is alive. He’s still healing, still restoring, still calling us to be His hands and feet.
“We’re called to love our neighbor,” Peter says. “Not just in word, but in action. And when we do, lives are transformed—not just theirs, but ours too.”
Living Out the Call
Peter isn’t slowing down. At 61, he sees his work not as a job, but a calling for life—one he will pursue as long as God gives him strength.
“I love these people I’m called to serve,” he says. “And I know that God does too.”
His story reminds us that it’s never too late to step into the purpose God has placed on your life. Whether you’re an accountant, a business leader, or a stay-at-home parent, the question remains the same: How will you love?
Because in the end, all of Scripture hangs on this—love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.
Want to Join the Mission?
If your heart is stirred by this story and you'd like to be part of this Christ-centered work, visit:
👉 www.leprosymission.org.uk
You can pray, give, and go. But most of all—you can love.
Written by Jovilyn Dela Cruz
“It’s an absolute privilege to be the hands and feet of Jesus. This is what Jesus did—He touched the untouchable. We’re not just curing a disease; we’re restoring dignity and showing the love of Christ.”
