John Stott’s 90th Birthday
On April 27, 2011, John Stott celebrated his 90th birthday!
Around the world, millions of people have been and continue to be blessed through the clarity of his presentation of the Scriptures and who Jesus is. You are likely among those who have been blessed, challenged, and encouraged either by John Stott himself – or one of many people he helped launch into ministry.
We give thanks and praise for his legacy — the ministries that continue to impact God’s kingdom in all corners of the world.
On 27 July 2011, John Stott "changed address", and went to be with his Lord. See johnstottmemorial.org.
Hello there Rev John, and a very happy birthday and every remembrance of your happy visit to NZ many years ago, and our many uses of your very useful books of all kinds in our follow through with new Christians over many years.
These have gone on to become very effective witnesses to our Lord Jesus in all walks of life, bringing their own children and many others up in the faithful following of our Saviour.
Your living Word open daily as their food for life, encouraged through your stimulating commentaries has been so helpful and has proved more than enough for those who have gone on to know Jesus well.
How our brothers and sisters in Jesus great eternal family has valued these simple, helpful and stimulating volumes on a wide range of Christian literature which have challenged our youth and thinking adults for many years. My friends and I have given many of John’s valuable volumes to our new brothers and sisters in Jesus, and also from many countries too.
John we do salute you as one who has remained faithful to your first vision of Christ-ins growing in the effective faith in Jesus through the written Word.
I always marvel at the way God brings them through His Holy Spirits help to seeing spiritual things in their growth in grace. Shalom, my Father in Christ. Praise our wonderful Saviour for His Grace in your life and work for Him. Peter
Thank you Sir for your continuing conviction of the need for concise biblical teaching and the spread of the gospel. You have been such an influence on all who have dared to call themselves theological students for many decades. Praise God for this milestone and as we all know: you would have all glory placed on the one who has lovingly called and saved us. Happy 90th
Happy birthday, uncle John!
We celebrate you today as a great man of God! Through your long life passion for God and His Kingdom you taught us that following Christ means to embrace His way of life and to be open as Christ to the work and lead of the Spirit.
Thank you uncle John for the way you showed Christ to us, and we pray today that for all that you did for many of us, God the Father, in His Son, through the Spirit will reward you richly.
In His love Dani Oprean
John Stott has been a beloved hero to me, ever since I first met him at Singapore, and even more so after I met him at Lausanne. I thought his address at Lausanne (And that of Michael Green) far and away the most moving and memorable of the public addresses, and I felt most honoured when John asked me to participate in the Committee which was seeking to make a Lausanne Statement.
John’s balance, and wisdom, and humility have always impressed me. I have read and used so many of his books. One that particularly impressed me was his commentary on Ephesians. No wonder that in my last few years of preaching and conference speaking, my first choice became Ephesians. Another was his book on Ethics – what a treasure for my thinking and teaching.
Few people achieve such an appreciation and love from people all over the world as John.
NOW TO JOHN: The birthday has gone, John, but I am using the opportunity to send my deep respect and appreciation, and may I say, affection. I am sorry to know you are now needing care. I can sympathise with the situation. Since December 2009 my wife and I have been in a Rest Home/Hospital. The most immediate reason was Dorothy’s now very advanced Alzheimer’s, we cannot communicate much now. Dorothy is now 90, I am 88. I’ve got (I think!) most of my brains still, but various physical limitations. Coming here I had to abandon all my books, which I sometimes miss very much. But the Lord enables adjustment to a different lifestyle, with my computer and email, and I read a novel or two every fortnight from a visiting Library, and my fellow- inmates. John, I have just now prayed for you, that God may give you great happiness, a number of good friends, and deep joy, not only at wonderful memories, but the occasional moments when God especially blesses you right now, and uses you to bless another.
Well, John, accept my greetings. The Lord loves you deeply, and let that make you glad.
David Stewart, former Principal of the Bible College of New Zealand, now Laidlaw College, Auckland, NZ
Happy Birthday, John! We give thanks to God for you and for our many years of friendhip. This morning we are praying that you will experience great blessing from our Lord on this very special day.
With much love,
Rod and Bec
Your many books have been a great help in both the personal Christian life and in ministry. Best wishes on your 90th birthday! May God continue to richly bless you today and others through your ministry.
Happy Birthday Uncle John,
Thank you for your wonderful ministry as a pastor/scholar. Through my 20 years of preaching, your writings have resourced, inspired and challenged me. God Bless You!
Martin Macaulay, Senior Pastor, East Taieri Church, NZ.
Dear Uncle John,
Happy Birthday to you! Wonderful to know that today you have reached another milestone in your long and faithful ministry serving the Lord. We were indeed fortunate to be able to hear you speak during our sojourn in London. You have been such a blessing to us and we will continue to pray for you in the words of 3 John 2.
With grace and peace,
Victor and Mary
There’s a lovely picture of you posted at the Langham Partnership Int NZ site, with a great backdrop – perhaps of your beloved Hookses’ retreat in Wales! I mention this as very early in my adult Christian walk something you said/wrote prompted me to try to cultivate two essential things long term: a prayerful intimacy with our heavenly Father, coupled with an intelligent, bold, and clearly visible discipleship in the world. You yourself have surely embodied this twin emphasis; and so thank you for making it so plain a necessity. There’s much more that could (should?) be said, but the insistence upon withdrawing from the world in order to become utterly immersed in the world, for the sake of the world, for whom Jesus died on the Cross – this much is enough of a secret to your glorious, indefatigable 90 years; surely?! Thank you for helping to plant such a seed, and many other such seeds, which have borne such a global harvest: DG!
Bryden Black, Anglican minister, Christchurch, NZ
Dear John – we’ve never met, though I had the great pleasure of hearing you preach once at All Soul’s Langham Place and I have read (and own) most of your books. Last year my wife and I really enjoyed spending the year going through ‘Through the Bible, through the Year’. We found it a real blessing.
I also remember attending the Lausanne Young Leaders’ Gathering in Malaysia at the number of people from all around the world who could trace their Christian faith back to interacting with you personally or through your writing was amazing. The spread and growth of Christianity, especially in the two-thirds world, is something that God has used your work to achieve.
You have many ‘children of the faith’ and I might modestly include myself among them. Your writing has been a huge influence to me and I’ve recently read your last book ‘The Radical Disciple’ and found it to be especially moving.
God bless you in your 90th year.
I have never met you in person. But I have used you books as basis for missionary work in Tonga for 15 years – Romand 5-8. I have just taught 5 sessions over Easter, “Living Under the Cross” What a wonderful blessing it was to our people.
Thank you sir for your passion for writing and pastoring the people of God but mostly thankyou for your singular devotion to Jesus Christ. Have a day of rejoicing on your birthday.
John, your writings and ministry have helped shape my life and ministry focus over the years. Thank you so much for your wisdom and faithfulness. Have a fabulous celebration. Yours 4 Missions, David (director of Missions Interlink NZ)
I’ve just finished writing a review article of ‘John Stott: A portrait by his friends’ for the Baptist Times, and it has brought back many satisfying memories of earlier years. I just want to say that your writings, along with those of C S Lewis, have done more than any others to shape my Christian faith, and that in your personal dealings with me you have always been gracious and encouraging. Contacts with you when I was Editor of the CEN and then Crusade magazine (including a memorable interview with you in 1974), followed by involvement in NEAC 1977, the Care and Counsel study group on Personal and Pastoral Attitudes to Homosexual People, and the International Consultation on Simple Life-style (1980), all remain highlights in my memory. But above all else, I remember your servant heart on the occasion of a consultation we both attended in Berlin, where we shared accommodation. On my one free afternoon I wore myself out traipsing round the city revisiting places I knew well from the 19 months I spent there on military service. The following day I was completely shattered. I could hardly walk to the pick-up point for the airport bus let alone carry my heavy case. You came to the rescue, even though you were 17 years my senior. You took charge, picked up my case to add to your own and then fussed around me as I negotiated several flights of stairs over to the bus-stop. At the airport you shepherded me through check-in and passport control and guided me to my seat on the plane. Your actions have been a constant inspiration and challenge to me ever since. Many happy returns of the day, and the Lord bless you real good!
John Capon
Happy birthday. Thank you for all you have done to encourage good evangelical scholarship. I really apreciated your books in the 1960s and 1970s as a good counter to liberal theology here in New Zealand
God bless you
God has blessed you with a very fruitful ministry.
Enjoy the continuing moments of the Lord.
Dear John,(If I may!)
I recall times of fellowship and your wise advice and particularly your teaching on 2 Corinthians 4-5.
“We do not lose heart…” has resonated ever since!
My favourite quote of yours was spoken to a friend from New Zealand, “Duncan who…?”
Dare I say, “Many Happy Returns!”?
Many thanks for your consistent testimony and teaching in times of turbulent ‘winds of doctrine’ and God bless you richly on the last lap home.
I first heard you speak at the Keswick Convention in July 1978. It was on 1st Thessalonians and was brilliant!!!!
I was then a young minister. Ever since I have purchased and read all your books with great benefit and blessing.
I quote you frequently and regularly.
Some of my young people tease me about it!!
Thank you for your great faithfulness, witness and legacy to and for Our Lord Jesus.
A very happy and blessed birthday to you.
Aian W Ferguson – Methodist Minister, Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland
Thank you dear brother for your faithfullness to the Lord Jesus in making so clear His Truth from the Word of God. It has been such an encouragement to me over many years, both in my studies, and to declare with passion, the liberating work of the Good News in Christ
Warmest greetings on your 90th birthday.
Have a wonderful day
Thelma and Haldane Rowan
Happy Birthday, Uncle John
Thank you for the many years of service to our Lord.
Best Wishes on this day.
Dear John,
Happy birthday and may the day be very special for you and those who gather with you as you celebrate your 90th year. We first met in the late 1960′s through Ted Schroeder although I had read a number of your publications prior to that. Over the years you have been a tremendous inspiration to so many of us. It was always a joy to meet up – albeit fleetingly – at All Souls and at various points in Egypt and other places. You always had a word of encouragement for me. You have modelled expository preaching and teaching for us and many of us have tried to follow your wonderful example.
Prayerfully and with every blessing.
+Derek
Dear Uncle John, We have not met but you have had an enormous influence in my ministry and preaching. I have enjoyed reading many of your books and still read them. God’s blessings on you on this very special day.
Helloooooooooo and Happy Birthday!!!!! I am so thankful to have found one of your quotes in recent days…regarding eternal torment…”Well, emotionally, I find the concept intolerable, and do not understand how anyone can live with it, without either cauterizing their feelings or cracking under the strain.”….I am grateful as that is exactly where I was…I then remembered an old co-worker once had told me about annihilation, and that led to a computer search, and thus to John R.W. Stott….God bless you…..”the second death..”
Happy Birthday, Uncle John!
The first book I read of yours was Acts in the Bible Speaks Today series. That book helped point me toward a life of service to Christ’s church as pastor. I had the opportunity to hear you preach on the “three crucifixions” of Galatians 6:14 at Willow Creek in 1994. Since then I have read (and re-read) dozens of your books and have been greatly blessed. Thank you so much for you life of faithfulness to Christ Jesus and for your teaching ministry. I pray that you are well and blessed on your 90th birthday.
Your “nephew” and brother in Christ,
Aaron S. Meares
Happy Birthday Uncle John! You share my Daughter’s birthday! I am actually in the midst of reading your Between Two Words for my homiletics class right now and studying your Galatians commentary for a sermon and paper on the New Testament’s use of the Old. Thank you so much for your ministry and clear teaching on the person of Jesus!! I love you very much brother! and if I am not able to tell you that in person on this side on the resurrection, I look forward to getting to know you on the New Earth with Jesus eyeball to eyeball!
Your brother in Christ,
CHRIS MANLEY
Some friends took me to All Souls’ in 1963, it was there on Oct 13 that year that I became a Christian. I am eternally grateful for your ministry.
With love and every blessing on your 90th birthday
Dear Uncle John
It was a few years before when we met you in Hong Kong at a conference of Langham.
That was the beginning of our knowledge about Langham and its services.
We thank God for your life-long devotion and contribution and we benefit a lot for what you have been doing.
May you enjoy the time of aging with God’s abundant grace and mercy.
With love in Christ
Jaclyn and Kenneth
Thanks, Langham Trust, for the invitation to CELEBRATE JOHN STOTT’S BIRTHDAY. According to some it’s his 83rd, others his 86th or his 89th. But your announcement declares it his 90TH. So be it. I add my note of appreciation for a humble but great servant of God who has made a huge impression on the church and in the world. Only today I received and read the CAPE TOWN COMMITMENT, a magnificent LCWE statement, and was reminded of the contribution of John Stott to the mission of God during our lifetime. We thank and praise God for “Uncle John” Stott, God’s faithful servant.
Dear Uncle John,
Happy 90 Birthday!
I’m a JSM student in Fuller seminary (CA, US) for PhD of practical theology. In my country China, 90 is a perfect number, not only means long life, but also great achievement. I thanks God using you as a blessing channel to many students, leaders, workers in His kingdom, may the Lord bless you, heal you and comfort you always!
Love in Christ
Esther
Happy Birthday!
John, We have not spoken in a while now & as i have been so involved since 1973 & arranged all of your travel up until recent. I wanted to wish you well & have a very Happy Birthday.
Best Wishes. John.
Heard you speak at the Keswick convention when I was 16 or 17. Your teachings have been an inspiration ever since. At 50 I read your Daily Reflections regularly and enjoy listeing to your CD’s whilst driving. Thankyou for being such a blessing in my christian journey ~ have a great birthday !