James M. Houston dies at 103

I love celebrating a well-lived life. James M. Houston passed on to the Lord on March 15^th at age 103. He had a profound influence upon a generation of Christians through his writings, speaking, and the major institution he founded: Regent College.

Traditionally seminaries train future pastors and church leaders, but Houston wanted to bring together Christians from all kinds of vocations to develop a Christ-centered view of all of life. My faith grew deep and wide there. I’m profoundly grateful for my years at Regent and for the legacy of thoughtful faith Jim passed on to students from all over the world.

All Evangelical Focus news and opinion, on your WhatsApp.

Here are some of my favorite quotes from him.

“Theology can never be abstracted. Theology has to be lived out”

“Spiritual formation is the slowest of all human movements”

“Prayer: Dear God, it is my greatest goal to not just find you to be friendly, but to know you and be known by you as your friend”

James Houston was also an example of aging with wisdom and hope. When the Covid-19 pandemic became especially worrying in Italy in March 2020, I was surprised to receive an email from him full of excitement for his next book project.

“Living in an old people’s home, secular, where my fellow inmates largely have no relevance for God, looking only to the next meal, has given me a new passion… I would be privileged to hear from you any stories of courage by your fellow Christians, of what is happening now in Rome, which we can include in our book.”

I remember thinking: that’s the kind of 97-years old I want to be one day! This tribute from Christianity Today captures his thoughts on life and aging well.

I encourage you to pick up some of Houston’s books and learn from his admirable outlook on life. He wrote books on the human search for happiness, moving reflections on the Psalms, and published a series of Letters of Faith Through the Seasons.

As you read his writings, you will be inspired by his personable, curious, and warm spirit. Here’s a final quote that captures it.

“I have devoted my life to mentoring, first as an Oxford don for twenty-five years, teaching in a secular environment, and then for another thirty years at Regent College among theological students. It has been an enriching life, in deliberately choosing to be a facilitator of the hearts and minds of others… I have learned to interpret the knock at my office door, not as an interruption but a fresh opportunity to learn more of the mysteries of our humanity.”

René Breuel, evangelical pastor, author, in Rome (Italy).