From a friend:

Reading your comments about John Stott reminds me of having heard him speak on the Gospel and the Church back in 1973 At the University of Papua New Guinea.

John having finished his talk, invited questions from the audience.

One of the nationals asked him a question and John, said ” You are asking…..”

” “No said the national, my question is …..”

Again John said I understand your question to be …”

“No”, said the national.

Then we watched as John left the podium and walked over to the gentleman and the conversation went to and fro for a couple of minutes…

Finally John returned to the podium and said,

“Your question is ………… “

“Yes”, said the national , much to the relief of everyone in the lecture room.

And then John made his response.

As I left my friend said, “Well what did you think of his talk tonight ? I said it was good, but I was deeply impressed by his manner of interacting with his audience. It was brilliant”.

It is a lesson which I appreciated and have used it in various situations.

So I thank John for that beautiful lesson, demonstrated all those years ago in Papua New Guinea.