JOHN STOTT: The Making of a Leader
By Timothy Dudley-Smith
IVP. 513 pages. . ? ring IVP
ISBN 0 85111 757 0
We owe a vast debt to John Stott and his work. The preaching and writing of the Rector Emeritus of All Souls, Langham Place in London, has, under God, been one of the most powerful and gracious influences for good on the whole post-war evangelical church worldwide.
This is the first volume of the official biography and takes the story, decade by decade, up to the end of the 1950s. In the foreword, the author, quoting G.M. Trevelyan, explains his approach. Personal and temporal proximity make assessment of a subject difficult so the chief function of official lives is 'to supply material for judgment rather than to pronounce judgment'. With full access to John Stott's letters, diaries and papers, Bishop Timothy has provided a clear, eloquent, entertaining and thoroughly professional piece of work. This is a treasure house of insight and information.
