Portraits of a Radical Disciple: Recollections of John Stott's Life and Ministry

by John Stott, Christopher J.H. Wright (Editor)

John Stott has been a giant on the landscape of the worldwide church for more than half a century. Here, however, are almost three dozen brief, very human-sized portraits of a man who has been a radical disciple of Jesus all those years.

One of the outstanding gifts that God gave to John Stott was an incredible capacity for friendship. Never did the word single seem less appropriate than for this lifelong bachelor. So in these sketches by his friends, relatives, coworkers and worldwide partners in the gospel, we see portions of his life and personality that many have not.

We see the small acts of kindness and service he performed such as regularly emptying wastebaskets and taking hours to find the old, toothless mother of a priest in India. We see the range of his interests, from Woody Allen movies to chocolate. And we see a poignant portrait of Stott as he continues to follow Christ in the midst of age and physical decline.

This volume, edited by Christopher Wright, includes contributions from many international leaders such as Michael Green, Keith and Gladys Hunt, Samuel Escobar, René Padilla, Ajith Fernando, Peter Kuzmic and Mark Labberton. We also find insight from others less well-known to the world but very well-known to one of the great international Christian leaders of our day.

Genres: Biography

242 pages, Paperback

First published November 7, 2011

Reviews

[Graham Heslop · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciate the idea of these short portraits to give us a balanced as well as diverse shorter biography of Stott. But because of the format I found the book a little repetitious. However, I did come away from it with a new respect for Stott.

[Andrew Canavan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book of personal recollections from Friends of the life and ministry of John Stott. I appreciate Stott's consistency over the course of a lifetime. That did, however, make for some repetition as many visits echoed others. Still, this was a worthwhile and encouraging book.

[Lily · Rating 2 out of 5]

for Aaron. I only skimmed it. It is short notes from people that knew John Stott.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK, I'm prejudiced. John Stott is one of my heroes of the faith. What I like about this book, however, is that this is a collection of reminiscences about Stott from those who were close to him that is "warts and all"--the way he wanted it.

Not that one could find many warts. He didn't suffer fools gladly, he could carry self-discipline to what most would think an extreme (a sign on his door early in his career said "8:00 am - 8 pm working, Please do not disturb unless urgent"). And he struggled with self-pity during the years of his decline.

What comes through in essay after essay however is how living in the light of the cross of Christ and pursuing Christ-likeness shaped every aspect of Stott's life. Mark Labberton's essay tells the touching story of Stott visiting the aging mother of a missionary priest from India, holding a private service with her on a small piece of carpet saved for such occasions. In all this one sees the beauty of Christ expressed in a very human personality--the sparkling wit, the inviolable HHH (horizontal half hour), the passion for bird-watching--ornotheology to Stott, the love of the arts, the self-effacing service of others, the powerful impact of the Langham Trust, the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity as well as the personal impact of conversations with everyone from children to his study assistants.

This collection leaves me wanting to know and better follow the Lord John Stott so deeply loved and proclaimed.