I listened to John Stott's presentation of the Snowy Owl while doing a course at the LICC. I never labelled him as an environmentalist, and he wasn't - he was a Christian whose life was so rooted in Scripture that his love for and stewardship of the rest of creation was part of his daily life. He was also willing to be challenged and changed in his understanding and interpretation of Scripture. His understanding of stewardship of creation also evolved and this book is an excellent collection documenting this journey. Whatever stage we are at in our own journey - whether you are sceptical, exploring, interested or passionate - this will inspire, inform, invigorate and illuminate your understanding. This book is not an appeal to start caring for creation or a mere reaction to the ever growing environmental crises but a collection of inspiring biblical reflection which will also influence how and why we worship God.
— Kuki (Lalbiakhlui) Rokhum, Director of Training and Mobilization, EFICOR.

Read this book outside! And follow Jesus' exhortation and Stott's example of observing the birds and the lilies of the field. Read it outside, and pause between sections or chapters to reflect and to really see what and who is going on around you... We know now even more than Stott did just what a desperate state our world is in and the terrible destruction that we have wrought on it, and we need to act. We cannot read his words, as we cannot read the scriptures, and fail to take action.
— Ruth Valerio, from her foreword

John Stott's remarkable and visionary embrace of both the biblical imperatives for caring and the need to translate them into practical action, particularly in the majority world where the impacts of both climate change and biodiversity loss are most directly felt, was deeply significant. He took pains to be well-informed and to keep his views under constant revision as both science and biblical theology progressed in response to an unfolding set of ecological crises. In addition, he gave generously of his time to many all over the world who were discovering what their own commitment to Christian callings to care for God's earth might mean. This book charts John Stott's creational journey, one that was made with great rigour and precision. It serves not simply as an account of a rapidly developing set of convictions, but as a model for how authentic Christian leaders can empower the whole church when they live in community and deep humility.
— Peter Harris, Co-Founder, A Rocha

What a treasure trove this book is! What a testimony to the prophetic foresight of John Stott in urging Christians to be thoroughly and biblically committed to loving, studying and caring for God's creation, long before environmental and climate crises came to dominate our consciousness and trouble our consciences. And what a gift to have all these riches of John Stott's (so quotable!) writing and preaching gathered in one place, within such a helpful historical interpretative framework. May its message still speak as powerfully as the man himself once did.
— Christopher J.H. Wright, Global Ambassador and Ministry Director, Langham Partnership

John Stott was known for unimpeachable character, winsome personality, and rich theological clarity. What a gift to be able to sit at his feet once again through this new volume on the vital subject of creation care. The authors and contributors have done excellent work framing, commenting upon, and expounding Stott's work. Whether a sermon, excerpt, or lecture, each chapter gleams with his characteristic lucidity and passion. Readers will be delighted to learn about his enthusiasm for wildlife, especially birds, his respect for Charles Darwin, and insistence on the ethical imperative of a simple lifestyle. His is not a secular environmentalism with a little God-talk added on, but a distinctly Christian environmentalism born of faith in the Triune Creator God whom we know and worship by caring for his creation. Throughout, we hear fervent appeal to embrace creation care as the responsibility of every Christian and a central part of the Church's mission. I pray we will heed his call.
— The Rev. Canon Emily H. McGowin, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Theology, Wheaton College

In 2021, Stott still speaks "a word in season" to every disciple of Jesus. In this 94000 word feast, we are invited to explore the deep biblical application of the command of Jesus (Luke 10:25-28) in how we care for creation. This embodied obedience, and Stott's brilliant questions, hold together his deep love of scripture and the biggest need in the world today. It creates new imagination for everyone who desires to be a faithful disciple and a leader in the world.
— Revd René August, The Warehouse

This book puts front and center the Cultural Mandate as part of what we now call 'Integral Mission', alongside the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. This collection of John Stott's teachings on creation care shall hopefully move concern for culture and the environment as an important and a most urgent missional task for the churches.
I live in a country that is resource-rich and one of the world's densest in bio-diversity, yet has become poor and disaster-prone because of bad governance, -- over creation and over society. The disasters we live in have intensified fears about the 'end times.' But this book cogently argues for an alternative picture of the 'apocalypse' - a 'new heaven and a new earth' as the people of God show up in its remaking. "We are not going to be saved out of the earth," it says, "but saved along with the earth."

— Melba Padilla Maggay, Ph.D., Institute for Studies in Asian Church and Culture

In John Stott on Creation Care, Sam Berry and Laura Yoder have given the creation care movement and the entire church family a wonderful gift. Many of us were aware of John Stott's commitment to creation care, but few of us knew how much he had written and how deep were his thoughts on the subject. This exhaustive collection of Stott's writings about creation care along with key commentary from many others gives clear insight as to how his thinking developed in this area over time. It also provides a solid biblical and theological foundation for the "good doctrine of creation" that Stott called for. This book needs to be in every pastor's library and read by every person preparing for church ministry - and the rest of us as well.
— Edward R. Brown, Executive Director, Care of Creation, Lausanne Catalyst for Creation Care & Lausanne/WEA Creation Care Network Coordinator

This book offers a thoughtfully assembled account of Stott's decades-long commitment to restoring the doctrine of creation to evangelicalism. His wry and searching observation that 'human beings find it easier to subdue the earth than they do to subdue themselves' runs like a faithful thread through his consistent scriptural engagement with growing environmental crises. The collection carefully frames Stott's writing with accounts of a man who was willing to change his mind, who pursued self-restraint, and who sincerely loved the diversity and beauty of the life he encountered, both human and non-human. In an era where the toxic culture around many evangelical leaders has rightly been exposed, this tribute to a leader of real integrity and vision is welcome and timely.
— Hannah Malcom, Anglican Ordinand and editor, Words for a Dying World: Stories of Grief and Courage from the Global Church

John Stott's The Radical Disciple was the first Christian book I read. I was a teenager and knew nothing about Stott or the global significance of his ministry, but the chapters on Creation Care and Simplicity had a profound impact on me. As a young person passionate about climate justice and very much figuring out faith, those chapters painted a compelling picture of how following Jesus impacts the way we live and consume. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a solid biblical foundation from which to engage in climate justice.
— Josh Smedley, CEO, Just Love

John Stott was a giant of his time but I didn't know that he was a birdwatcher, nor that this interest enabled him to encounter through scripture a clear mandate to care for creation. The late Sam Berry, himself a giant of a man in the interface between ecology and Christianity, has left an valuable legacy in drawing together Stott's writing about creation care being a core part of Christian Discipleship. Despite the vintage of some of Stott's texts, this book has a freshness and an ability to speak prophetically at this time of climate and biodiversity emergency.
— The Rt Revd Graham Usher, Bishop of Norwich and Church of England Lead Bishop for the Environment.

John Stott (1921-2011) exercised a worldwide ministry as a church leader, Bible expositor and author. His bestselling books have been translated into numerous languages, won several awards and shaped whole generations of ministers, thinkers, writers and bloggers. In 2005, Time magazine ranked Stott among the 100 most influential people in the world.


Robert James 'Sam' Berry (1934-2018) was an eminent British biologist and Christian theorist. He was Professor Emeritus of Genetics, University College London. He was president of the Linnean Society, the British Ecological Society, the European Ecological Federation, and Christians in Science. He served on the A Rocha Council of Reference alongside John Stott, as well as on the Advisory Board of the Faraday Institute, and was a founder and Board member of the John Ray Initiative. He received Marsh and UK Templeton awards for his Glasgow Gifford Lectures.


Laura S. Meitzner Yoder is the John Stott Endowed Chair and Director of the Human Needs and Global Resources Program, and Professor of Environmental Studies, at Wheaton College, Illinois. Her work intersects with various missiological and environmental networks, including Micah Global, INFEMIT, ECHO Inc., and Tearfund (UK and USA).

About the authors xiii
Foreword by Ruth Valerio xvii
Foreword by Ruth Padilla DeBorst xxi
Preface xxiv
Acknowledgments xxvii

Introduction by Laura S. Meitzner Yoder 1
1 John Stott's journey: Living to reflect love for our Creator 5
2 Early explorations: Psalms and first sermon on creation care 16
3 Fall and redemption: Dualism, science and mandate to 'watch birds!' 44
4 Missional developments: New learning from the Word and the world 65
5 Doctrine and relevance: Lifestyle, double listening and creation's goodness 102
6 Clergy-naturalists and learning from birds 123
7 The works of the Lord: Creation care in Christian discipleship 146
8 Commitment to nature conservation and Christian mission 180
9 Reflections: Influence of Stott's teaching on creation care 213

Afterword: Planetary gardening by Ruth Padilla DeBorst 259
Appendix 1: An evangelical declaration on the care of creation (1994) 274
Appendix 2: 'Reasons for environmental concern', excerpt from Issues Facing Christians Today (2006) 280
Bibliography 294
Index of Scripture references 312