Memorial service to honour John Stott

TORONTO, ON—On Sunday, March 25, Canadian Christians will gather in Toronto to remember and bid farewell to the Rev. Dr. John Stott, the man evangelical leader Billy Graham famously called "the most respected clergyman in the world today."

Stott, author of 50 books and founder of Langham Partnership Canada (part of the Langham Partnership International family), died peacefully at the age of 90 on July 27, 2011.

The upcoming memorial service, to be held at St. Paul's, Bloor St. Toronto, is presented by Langham Partnership Canada, with Charles Price of The People's Church, Toronto, speaking.

Price says, "John Stott was an impeccable and influential leader of the worldwide evangelical movement for 60 years. His commitment to the authority of Scripture, the Lordship of Christ and to understanding and relating intelligently to the contemporary world has provided enormous enrichment to countless people. His pastoral ministry in London, England, his many books of biblical exposition and contemporary thinking, his speaking engagements throughout the globe, his strong commitment to the developing world and his moral and spiritual leadership has left the world a better place. His influence will live for many years."

Stott visited Canada many times during the course of his ministry and led missions at various universities and churches across the country. Stott inspired the creation of Langham Canada, a charity that equips the Church of the Majority World by helping to equip its leaders and pastors.

Langham Partnership provides scholarships for theological PhD studies for evangelical teachers of the Majority World—some of whom study in Canadian seminaries—publishes and distributes theological literature to pastors, libraries and schools around the world—many of them edited by Isobel Stevenson, a Canadian editor—and nurtures excellence in biblical preaching through seminars and workshops.

The memorial service, scheduled for 4:30 p.m., is expected to draw Christians from many denominations, because Stott was widely recognized as a leader that transcended church boundaries.

"As a member of a non-denominational Bible study I recently attended said, 'He belonged to us all,'" says bishop Stephen Andrews, who served as a teaching assistant to Stott during his own studies and is Chair of Langham Partnership Canada.

A reception will follow the service, with an opportunity to learn more about John Stott's legacy through the ministry of Langham Partnership International.

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