John Stott facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John Stott |
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| Born | 27 April 1921 in London, England |
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| Died | 27 July 2011 (aged 90) in Lingfield, Surrey, England |
| Church | Church of England |
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| Congregations served | All Souls Church, Langham Place |
John Robert Walmsley Stott (27 April 1921 – 27 July 2011) was an English Anglican priest and a leading Christian thinker. He was known worldwide as an important leader in the evangelical movement. In 1974, he helped write the Lausanne Covenant, an important document for evangelical Christians. Time magazine even named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2005.
Contents
John Stott's Life Story
Early Life and Education
John Robert Walmsley Stott was born in London, England, on 27 April 1921. His father, Sir Arnold Stott, was a doctor who didn't believe in God (an agnostic). His mother, Emily Stott, was raised Lutheran and went to All Souls Church, Langham Place, a Church of England church.
John started boarding school at age eight. In 1935, he went to Rugby School. In 1938, while at Rugby, John heard a sermon by Eric Nash. This talk made John think deeply about his faith. Nash pointed him to a Bible verse, Revelation 3:20, which says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."
John later said this verse changed his life. He realized he had always kept Jesus "outside the door" of his heart. Opening that door, he said, changed everything about his life's direction and quality. Eric Nash became John's mentor, guiding him in his Christian journey.
For a time, John was a pacifist, meaning he believed in peace and not war. Later in his life, he changed his mind and supported the idea of a "just war," where war is only right under certain conditions.
John studied languages at Trinity College, Cambridge. He earned top grades in French and theology. He was very active in the Christian group at his university. After Cambridge, he went to Ridley Hall Theological College to train to become an Anglican priest. He later received a special Doctor of Divinity degree in 1983.
His Work as a Minister
John Stott became a deacon in 1945 and worked at All Souls Church, Langham Place. This was the church he grew up in. He became the church's main leader (rector) in 1950 and stayed in that role until 1975.
During this time, he became very important both in England and around the world. He helped lead discussions about whether evangelicals should stay in the Church of England. In 1960, he started the Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC). This group brought different evangelical Christians together.
As his influence grew, he appointed another vicar at All Souls Church in 1970. This allowed him more time for other projects. In 1975, he stepped down as rector but remained at the church as "rector emeritus," which means he was still honored for his past leadership.
In 1974, he started Langham Partnership International. This organization helps Christian leaders and authors around the world. In 1982, he founded the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity. He was its honorary president until he died. This institute helped Christians connect their faith with everyday life.
Retirement and Passing Away
John Stott announced he was retiring from public speaking in April 2007, when he was 86 years old. He moved to a retirement community for Anglican clergy in Lingfield, Surrey. He remained the "Rector Emeritus" of All Souls Church.
John Stott passed away peacefully on 27 July 2011, at the age of 90. He was surrounded by family and friends who were reading the Bible and listening to Handel's Messiah. His death was due to old age.
Many Christian leaders shared their sadness and respect for John Stott. The American evangelist Billy Graham said that the Christian world had lost one of its greatest speakers. Rowan Williams, who was the Archbishop of Canterbury at the time, said John Stott was a kind and wise person. He also said that John Stott helped change how evangelical Christians thought about helping others in society.
John Stott's funeral was held on 8 August 2011, at All Souls Church. Many people attended, filling the church. Memorial services were also held in many cities around the world, including London, Auckland, Sydney, and various cities in North America, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. His ashes were buried in Dale Cemetery in Wales.
John Stott's Impact
John Stott had a huge impact on evangelical Christianity. A journalist once said that if evangelicals could choose a "pope," John Stott would be their choice.
His Writings
John Stott wrote over 50 books and many articles. Some of his books were translated into Chinese, Korean, and Spanish.
One of his famous books is Basic Christianity. It explains the main ideas of Christianity and why they are important. Another important book for clergy (church leaders) was The Preacher's Portrait, published in 1961.
He also wrote The Cross of Christ (ISBN: 0-87784-998-6). Another Christian leader, J. I. Packer, said this book explained the topic of the cross better than any other.
In 2005, he wrote Evangelical Truth, which summarized what he believed were the most important parts of the Christian faith for evangelicals.
Even after he officially retired from public events, he kept writing until he died. His last two main books were:
- The Living Church: Convictions of a Lifelong Pastor (2007), which shared his thoughts on how the church should live.
- The Radical Disciple (2010), which was his final book. It ended with a message asking people to continue his work through the Langham Partnership International.
Influence on Anglican Evangelicalism
John Stott was very important in guiding evangelical Christians within the Church of England. He helped convince evangelicals to stay and work within the Church of England, rather than leaving to form separate churches.
In 1966, at a meeting of evangelicals, another leader named Martyn Lloyd-Jones suggested that evangelicals should leave their mixed churches and unite only with other evangelicals. John Stott disagreed with this idea. He believed that evangelicals should stay and work within the Church of England.
The next year, at a conference called the National Evangelical Anglican Congress at Keele University, John Stott's influence was key. Evangelical Anglicans decided to fully participate in the Church of England. This decision shaped the direction of a large part of the British evangelical community and continues to affect it today.
Awards and Recognition
John Stott received many honors for his work.
- He was appointed a Chaplain to Queen Elizabeth II in 1959.
- In 2006, he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by the Queen.
- He received a special Lambeth Doctorate of Divinity degree in 1983.
- He also received five honorary degrees from different universities, including Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Brunel University.
Personal Life
John Stott chose to remain single his entire life. He believed that being single was a special calling from God. He lived a simple life and gave away his money. He once said that pride was the biggest challenge for Christian leaders. When asked what he would change if he could live his life again, he replied, "I would pray more."
John Stott loved birdwatching. He even wrote a book called The Birds Our Teachers, which used his interest in birds to teach lessons about faith.
See also
In Spanish: John Stott para niños
