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PREACHING
Preaching Mission :
Why Langham Partnership is proud to sponsor Sermon of the Year
Pastor training , equipping scholars and developing books are the three ministries of Langham
As this year ’ s Sermon of the Year
event is launched , Langham Partnership is proud to be its sponsor . Langham was founded over 40 years ago when Rev Dr John Stott ( at the time Rector at All Souls , Langham Place , hence the name ) witnessed the vibrance of the global church but saw in many regions that it lacked the resources to grow in maturity . The answer , he believed , was in the Word of God and articulated in three biblical convictions :
1 God wants his church to grow to maturity ( not just in numbers )
2 The church grows through God ’ s Word
3 The Word of God comes to people primarily through preaching .
Rev Dr John Stott ( 1921 – 2011 ) founded Langham Partnership in 1969
John Stott concluded that if we are concerned for the maturity and mission of the global church then we must focus on raising the standards of biblical preaching . It is on this foundation that Langham grew out of John Stott ’ s own ministry to equip the church to impact the world focusing on :
• Training indigenous pastors ( Langham Preaching )
• Developing biblical resources ( Langham Literature )
• Equipping theological leaders ( Langham Scholars ).
Langham now works in over 90 countries with a commitment to double its global impact in the coming years . As the church continues to grow in the Majority World , the need for equipped church teachers to faithfully proclaim Christ is as urgent and vital as ever . Addressing the gap in leadership which this growth has created , and ensuring believers are protected from false , irrelevant or stagnant teaching , Christian leaders must be a priority if the global church is to grow in maturity and size in the face of opposition .
• It is estimated that only 5 % of pastors in the majority world have formal biblical or theological training .
• Every day it is estimated that 174,000 people start their new lives in Christ .
• Every week thousands of churches are planted in hope of being salt and light in their communities .
Langham is uniquely and strategically positioned to equip and empower indigenous leaders through the multiplying effect of investing in scholars , literature and preaching .
2021 is the centenary of John Stott ’ s birth . Langham recognises this year as a great opportunity to introduce a new generation to John Stott ’ s preaching , teaching and writing – showing the ethos that drives Langham to equip the next generation of Bible teachers .
With Langham ’ s heritage and vision rooted in promoting good biblical preaching , we are proud to sponsor this year ’ s Sermon of the Year 2021 .
As John Stott said , ‘ Churches live , grow and flourish by the Word of God , and they languish and die without it .’
In closing , our current International Ministries Director , Rev Dr Christopher J H Wright , reminds us that we are one body in Christ :
‘ When John Stott began this ministry , he was thinking of serving from the relatively resource-rich churches of the West to reach out in love , compassion and brotherhood to poorer parts of the world , the Majority World . But in some ways what is happening is that by enabling the Majority World church to be strengthened in its theological understanding , now that life and vigour and growth in churches across Africa , Latin American and Asia is feeding back into the church in the West , which needs it greatly .’
Read more from Chris Wright on page 16 with his article on preaching creation .
Find out more at www . uk . langham . org