Contact: Dave Hoffman, Vice President of Communications, John Stott Ministries, 970-612-0166, dhoffman@johnstott.org
MENLO PARK, Calif., May 1 /Christian Newswire/ -- World renowned theologian and evangelist The Rev. Dr. John Stott has made the decision to retire from public ministry at the age of 86.
Stott, who has been called by the Rev. Billy Graham "the most respected clergyman in the world today," will formally retire after fulfilling one final speaking engagement in July 2007, according to an announcement made by John Stott Ministries (the U.S. movement of the Langham Partnership International), the ministry Stott founded to equip churches around the world.
Though Stott himself is retiring, his global ministries are not! His legacy is well established throughout the world through John Stott Ministries/Langham Partnership International. Under the leadership of International Director Rev. Dr. Chris Wright, JSM-Langham is assisting the church to grow in Christian maturity through training, preaching resources, and support of seminary faculty throughout the Majority World.
"Uncle John," as he is known affectionately, has written 50 books, including his latest, The Living Church, to be released in the U.S. in November 2007. Stott's best known work, Basic Christianity, has sold more than two million copies and has been translated into 60 languages. David Brooks of the New York Times wrote that Stott has been called the "pope for evangelicals" and Billy Graham has said Stott represents a "touchstone of authentic biblical scholarship that…has scarcely been paralleled…"
He will be moving from his flat in Bridford Mews, London, where he has lived for more than 30 years, to a retirement community for Anglican clergy in the south of England which will be able to provide more fully for his present and future needs. John has made this decision with the strong belief that it is God's provision for him at this stage.
Dr. John Stott's retirement means that he no longer intends to engage in public speaking ministry. He continues to hold the titles that express his honored role in several contexts, including: Founder and Honorary President of the Langham Partnership International; Rector Emeritus at All Souls Church, Langham Place; and Extra Chaplain to the Queen. Dr. Stott intends to continue to correspond and receive visitors.
Uncle John will greatly value your prayers for him in the challenges and opportunities involved in this transition. He is also happy to reassure his friends that John Stott Ministries is well prepared to continue its work after his retirement.
For more information about John Stott, visit www.langhampartnership.org/john-stott/biography.
About John Stott Ministries and Langham Partnership International
John Stott Ministries (JSM) and Langham Partnership International (LPI) exist to help churches in the Majority World grow in maturity and be equipped for mission through three programs: Langham Literature; Langham Preaching; Langham Scholars. These programs develop strategic leaders that can take up the work local pastors, missionaries and church planters have started, so that Christians around the world can become mature in their faith.
You can learn more about the work of the John Stott Ministries by visiting www.johnstott.org.
