John R. W. Stott, author and influential leader of evangelism, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 90.
Born in London in 1921, Stott was raised in All Souls Church and later began his ministry there after being ordained in 1945. Early on he began teaching of salvation and his tone for evangelism flourished.
He began his work as an author in the late 1940s. Over the years he had written and published more than 40 books. Perhaps his best known work Basic Christianity has been translated into more than 60 languages.
Stott’s leadership and influence permeated throughout England, into America and across the globe as he visited Third World countries. His travels helped him discover the incredible growth of the Christian church in the non-Western world. Moreover, he saw a lack of maturity. In an effort to raise the standards of biblical preaching, Stott founded the Langham Partnership International and John Stott Ministries in the United States in 1974.
Stott was named one of the 100 “most influential people in the world” by Time Magazine in 2005. Among his fellow evangelists, Billy Graham has referred to Stott as “the most respected clergyman in the world today.”
In addition, many within the body of Christ look to Stott as a Christian model. Brothers and sisters continue to comment on Facebook, thanking God for his life and rejoicing in his return home.
Poster Alasdair Kay writes, “Thank you! You made the gospel so precious to me. I promise to preach the Cross of Christ faithfully as you did till the day I die. May you enter with joy into your rest as finally you behold His face.”
The John Stott Ministries Facebook page invites you to celebrate the life and legacy of John Stott at www.johnstottmemorial.org.
