John Stott was a teacher of the way of Christ who firmly rooted his life and ministry in the Bible. He has died at the age of 90.
John Stott’s ministry in South America over the 1980’s was a humble modelling of the humility and servant heart of the Great Teacher, his Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. The following story from Argentina exemplifies his character:
Latin American theologian Rene Padilla remembers vividly one of his early encounters with Stott. “On the previous night we had arrived in Bariloche, Argentina, in the middle of heavy rain. The street was muddy and, as a result, by the time we got to the room that had been assigned to us, our shoes were covered with mud. In the morning, as I woke up, I heard the sound of a brush—John was busy, brushing my shoes. ‘John!’ I exclaimed full of surprise, ‘What are you doing?’ ‘My dear René,’ he responded, ‘Jesus taught us to wash each other’s feet. You do not need me to wash your feet, but I can brush your
shoes.'”
Even in the midst of an anti-Western paradigm of liberation theology who could withstand such love and not listen to his message of love in Christ? Certainly not the South Americans with whom I had the privilege of sharing and learning from “Tio Juan” ( as he was affectionately called in Spanish; in English ‘Uncle John’).
John Stott supported our university ministry through his teaching and also our literature ministry. As we worked to build an South American literature ministry of writers and Certeza, the publisher and bookshops, John Stott gave wisdom, encouragement and financial support. He was an enthusiastic supporter of our ‘Pastors’ Library’ program via Certeza.
As a young Christian in the early 1970’s I read books by John Stott and he became, with Leon Morris, one of my most read and recommended writers. John Stott has contributed and continues to contribute greatly to my life and I thank God for him.
I join in praising God for his life and I thank God for the privilege of learning from “Tio Juan”.
See article, John Stott has died and for your encouragement a John Stott Remembrance Book.
What an amazing influence he would have had on so many Christian Disciples. May he enjoy the reward of seeing both many of them, and his Lord, face to face in glory!
While I had few personal contacts with John Stott I can say that his teachings and books had perhaps more salutary effects on my life than anyone other than Jesus Christ himself. We published his books in Sinhala in Sri Lanka, and I personally read as many as I could find in a time of personal growth and seeking. I grew up in the Pentecostal movement, and I once told John that he was the Anglican who made a Baptist out of me. He laughed and laughed. John’s spiritual influence on Christian leaders in Latin America (where we have served the past 33 years) is well described by René above, he will be missed, but much more, remembered and appreciated!
Thanks John and Richard.
From ourselves, Australia, Sri Lanka, South America, we see his godly influence – an influence that is so truly international – I have just been reading the Remebrance Book. PTL indeed.
AND… He was a world-renowned and respected bird-watcher!!!
BUT .. of course! After one conference in Argentina he disappeared into the far ends of Patagonia to with binoculars, camera … AND Bible … to watch feathered birds!
Traduzco lo de arriba: El teólogo Latino Americano René Padilla se acuerda con claridad uno de sus encuentros con Stott. “En la noche previa habíamos llegado a Bariloche, Argentina, en medio de una lluvia fuerte. La calle era barrosa y, como resultado, ya cuando llegamos a la habitación que se nos asignaron, nuestros zapatos estaban cubiertos de barro. A la mañana, cuando me despertaba, escuché el sonido de un cepillo – John estaba ocupado cepillando mis zapatos. ‘¡John! le exclamé lleno de sorpresa, ‘¿Qué estás haciendo?’. ‘Mi querido René,’ él me respondió, ‘Jesús nos enseñó lavar los pies los unos a los otros. No necesitas que te lave los pies, pero sí puedo cepillar tus zapatos.’”
Gracias, Richard.