Evangelicals pay tribute to John Stott at memorial service in Delhi

A service of thanksgiving for the life of renowned evangelist and Biblical scholar Rev. Dr. John Stott was held at the Cathedral Church of the Redemption in New Delhi on Thursday, August 4, 2011.

One of the most influential evangelical thinkers of the 20th Century, Stott died at 90 on July 27 in Surrey, England, after several months of deteriorating health.

Affectionately known as "Uncle John" to millions of believers around the world, Stott was declared by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2005.

He was the chief architect of the Lausanne Covenant, a defining statement that launched the global evangelical movement.

"Stott's contribution to global church has been immense. The Lausanne Movement in fact has brought together a variety of people from many shades and has kept the Church together," said Rev. Richard Howell, general secretary of the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI).

"His character and love for Jesus Christ was exemplary. We salute it," said Howell, paying rich tribute to Stott.

In his eulogy, Rev. Paul Swarup, a minister with the Church of North India, recalled Stott as a man of "tremendous humility".

Drawing attention to Stott's teaching of "double learning", Rev. Swarup said "Uncle John emphasized on double learning which means listening to God's word as well as God's world."

"He urged us to hold the Bible on one hand and the newspaper on the other so we could preach relevantly and communicate the Gospel effectively to people of the world," Swarup recollected.

Evangelical leader and former head of EFICOR, Rev. CB Samuel, said Stott was very balanced in his understanding of mission. "He heeded Jesus call to be salt and light in the world. He was not just a Bible teacher but was also a great human being."

Born in London on April 27, 1921, Stott attended All Souls Church, Langham Place, London, as a child. Upon ordination he was appointed as curate in the church and then as Rector.

During his life, Stott wrote about 50 books, which were translated into over 65 languages. His "Basic Christianity" published in 1858 has sold more than 2.5 million copies.

In 1969, Stott founded the Langham Trust to fund scholarships for young evangelical leaders from poor countries. Of the 300 scholars trained, about 50 were from India.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, earlier paid tribute to Stott as a man of "unsparing service and witness" who "won a unique place in the hearts of all who encountered him".

"He was a man of rare graciousness and deep personal kindness, a superb communicator and a sensitive and skilled counsellor," he said.