Books, Bible studies and commentaries sold more than 6 million copies John Stott—renowned pastor, theologian and author of numerous best-selling books—died July 27 in London, his hometown. He was 90. Stott is best known for writing more than 50 books, including Basic Christianity (InterVarsity Press, IVP), which has been translated into more than 60 languages since it was originally published by IVP-UK in 1958. Some of his other books include Why I Am a Christian, The Cross of Christ, Christian Mission in the Modern World and Your Mind Matters (all IVP), as well as Through the Bible, Through the Year (Baker Books/Baker Publishing Group). Last year, IVP published the biography Basic Christian: The Inside Story of John Stott by Roger Steer. More than 6 million copies of Stott’s IVP books, Bible studies and Bible commentaries have been sold in the U.S., company officials said. Besides writing the “John Stott Bible Studies” series (IVP), Stott was also a major contributor to and New Testament editor for the IVP Academic commentary series “The Bible Speaks Today.” “We are deeply grateful for this long publishing partnership and friendship with one of the most influential and beloved evangelical leaders for the past half-century,” said Bob Fryling, publisher of IVP, Stott’s main publisher in the U.S. “Stott was not only revered, he was loved. He had a humble mind and a gracious spirit.” IVP Associate Publisher for Editorial Andy Le Peau said that Stott’s works were embraced for their “clear, balanced, sound perspective on Scripture and life. He was filled with a grace and strength that will be dearly missed in this era of extreme viewpoints and harsh rhetoric.” Scott Bolinder, president of global publishing for Biblica, who spent more than 20 years as Zondervan’s executive vice president and publisher, said that he developed a friendship with Stott during his career in the industry. “His writings took on even greater impact in my life because now I was able to experience the man whose walk fully matched his talk,” Bolinder wrote on a tribute Web site for Stott. “There is hardly a week that goes by in my work at Biblica where I don’t think of John and his encouragement to me to help the church grow deep and not just wide.” As a principal framer of the Lausanne Covenant in 1974, a defining statement for evangelical Christians, Stott was at the heart of evangelical renewal in the U.K. for more than half a century. In 2005, Stott, who retired from public ministry in 2007 at age 86, was recognized by TIME magazine as part of its 100 "world's most influential people."
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