John Stott (1921-2011)

On the 27th July last Dr. John Stott died or came alive as never before when he went home to heaven. His coming to faith as a teenager was to be the great determining factor for the whole of his life. He felt a call to the ministry and in time became the rector of All Souls in London for twenty five years. His contribution to the Christian Church world wide was immense. He authored fifty books that will continue to be of blessing in the coming years. Personally, I have always found his commentaries most helpful. The sales of his books were enormous in paperback editions. Virtually all of his considerable royalties went to charitable trusts. I liked the fact that we shared a common pastime. He was a birdman. In fact, he was an authority on birds and wrote a wonderful book on birds entitled, The Birds Our Teachers.

He lived a simple lifestyle and was in demand all around the world as a speaker. He had a great concern for the developing world and helped in any way he could the church in those poorer places. The number of people who attribute their salvation under God to him was great. He was the spiritual father to hundreds.

His sermons can be downloaded and listened to from the website of All Souls. Listening to him speak you were struck by the measured and thoughtful study that had preceded the sermon. I have always heard him with great profit.

If you preach regularly and have not read any of Stott’s commentaries, start now. You will be a better preacher for having read him. He never married but will meet a great family of his spiritual children in heaven. Oh to have even a few spiritual there!

John Stott was a great Christian man. His passing, leaves a great gap in the Christian world and also causes us to thank God for his life and labour and makes us cry out for more men like him.

Article by Matthew Brennan.