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.