For friends who have a special interest in the beliefs and operational strategies of missionary leaders from the colonial era, here are some of the more famous quotes of John Mott.
- “It is possible for the most obscure person in a church, with a heart right toward God, to exercise as much power for the evangelization of the world, as it is for those who stand in the most prominent positions.” ~ John Mott
- “The history of missions is a history of prayer. Everything vital to the success of the world’s evangelization hinges on prayer.” ~ John Mott
- “The GREATEST HINDRANCES to the evangelization of the world are those within the Church.” ~ John Mott
- “The missionary church is a praying church. The history of missions is a history of prayer. Everything vital to the success of the world’s evangelization hinges on prayer. Are thousands of missionaries and tens of thousands of native workers needed? Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He send forth laborers into His harvest.” ~ John Mott
- “Evangelism without social work is deficient; social work without evangelism is impotent.” ~ John Mott
- “The invasion of the Church by the world is a menace to the extension of Christ’s Kingdom. In all ages conformity to the world by Christians has resulted in lack of spiritual life and a consequent lack of spiritual vision and enterprise. A secularized or self-centered Church can never evangelize the world.” ~ John Mott
- “As the President has indicated, my life has been a life of travel – for 60 years constantly moving over the wide world on journeys which first and last have taken me to 83 countries, and, what is more significant, to most of them again and again.” ~ John Mott
- “Solemnized by the knowledge of the deep need and inspired by the vision of all things made new by the mighty Christ, resolve to give yourselves to encouraging a spiritual awakening.” ” ~ John Mott
- “In all ages conformity to the world by Christians has resulted in lack of spiritual life and a consequent lack of spiritual vision and enterprise. A secularized or self-centered Church can never evangelize the world.” ” ~ John Mott
- “It is possible for the most obscure person in a church, with a heart right toward God, to exercise as much power for the evangelization of the world, as it is for those who stand in the most prominent positions.” ~ John Mott
- “A necessary pre-cursor of any great spiritual awakening is a spirit of deep humiliation growing out of a consciousness of sin, and fresh revelation of the holiness and power and glory of God.” ~ John Mott
- “Among the qualities most needed among those who aspire to true leadership in the fostering of peace and goodwill among the nations and in overcoming racial and religious antagonism is the cooperative spirit and objective.” ~ John Mott
- “Extreme nationalism and Bolshevism have broken up the old world, a new world is in the making. It is literally true that old things are passing away; all things may become new, granted we have wise, unselfish, and determined guides.” ~ John Mott
- “It is a startling and solemnizing fact that even as late as the twentieth century, the Great Command of Jesus Christ to carry the Gospel to all mankind is still so largely unfulfilled.” ~ John Mott
- “We have nothing less to do than to get inside of whole peoples and change their motives and dispositions.” ~ John Mott
First published: 2022/09/02