Our world has lost a great Christian leader in the internationally known and respected Anglican cleric John R. W. Stott, who died on July 27 at age 90. According to Dr. Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, "The death of John Stott will be mourned by countless Christians around the world.''
I will be one of those many mourners, but I will grieve with a thankful heart. I have precious memories of powerful Biblical sermons by John Stott during my college years in England. While many churches in England were empty, All Souls Church was filled to capacity. The reason? Stott preached relevant Biblical sermons that impacted his congregation and impacted the world.
More recently, I was privileged to examine Stott's preaching ministry at All Souls Church in London, England, where he served as rector and rector emeritus for more than half a century. I learned from Stott's example that one must first listen attentively to the Word of God before daring to speak for God.
In 1974, Stott played a significant role in the International Congress on World Evangelization in Lausanne, Switzerland. He urged those in attendance not only to love their neighbors but also to tell them the good news about Jesus. That was a message that Stott repeated and restated throughout his ministry.
Some consider his 1986 book The Cross of Christ to be his magnum opus, but I also recommend Basic Christianity, published in 1958. For the personal libraries of preachers and lay preachers, the 1982 book Between Two Worlds is an essential addition.
While still living in London, I had the privilege of visiting John Stott at his flat near Regent's Park, just a short walk from All Souls Church at Langham Place. I will always remember a comment he made during that meeting: "We should be praying that God will raise up a new generation of Christian communicators who are determined to bridge the chasm; who struggle to relate God's unchanging Word to our ever-changing world; who refuse to sacrifice truth to relevance or relevance to truth." I am determined to honor that request.
John Stott set a noble example. It might well be said of this great Christian leader -- to borrow from Paul's letter to Timothy -- "You have fought the good fight, you have finished the race, you have kept the faith. Finally there is laid up for you the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to you on that day, and not to you only but also to all who have loved His appearing."
--The editor of Ministry magazine, Derek J. Morris studied John Stott's preaching while earning a Doctor of Ministry degree in Preaching from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.