“Uncle John”: Remembering the man who changed the face of evangelicalism

John Stott, once named among of the 100 most influential people in the world, possessed a borderless influence that shaped the global evangelical movement. Ahead of Stott’s birthday (27 April) Dr Donald Sweeting honours his dear friend’s life

Stott’s impact was not confined to London. By the 1960s, he had become an international figure in student evangelism. Traveling to university campuses around the world, he demonstrated that evangelical Christianity could be both devout and intellectually credible.

His missions at Cambridge, Oxford, and Urbana influenced thousands of students, showing them that faith and reason were not enemies but allies. For Stott, the university was a mission field of critical importance. It was there, on campus, where he mentored young leaders, many of whom would go on to have significant ministries of their own. Those who worked closely with him often called him “Uncle John,” a title that reflected both the affection and respect he magnetised.

His study assistants, tasked with everything from research to driving him to appointments, were often struck by his discipline, humility and kindness. “We were treated to a master class in how the Christian life ought to be lived,” one of them recalled.