Top 32 Quotes & Sayings by John Mott

Explore popular quotes and sayings by an American leader John Mott.

Last updated on September 18, 2024.

John Raleigh Mott was an evangelist and long-serving leader of the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) and the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF). He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1946 for his work in establishing and strengthening international Protestant Christian student organizations that worked to promote peace. He shared the prize with Emily Balch. From 1895 until 1920 Mott was the General Secretary of the WSCF. Intimately involved in the formation of the World Council of Churches in 1948, that body elected him as a lifelong honorary President. He helped found the World Student Christian Federation in 1895, the 1910 World Missionary Conference and the World Council of Churches in 1948. His best-known book, The Evangelization of the World in this Generation, became a missionary slogan in the early 20th century.

American - Leader | May 25, 1865 - January 31, 1955

Source: Wikipedia

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

Foresight has been a distinguishing characteristic of all truly great political, religious, and social betterment leaders.

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

Evangelism without social work is deficient; social work without evangelism is impotent.

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

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

We have nothing less to do than to get inside of whole peoples and change their motives and dispositions.

John Mott

Such highly qualitative leadership is demanded especially in the realm of the fostering of right international relations. Here the demand is simply irresistible.

John Mott

There is an irresistible demand to strengthen the leadership of the constructive forces of the world at the present momentous time. This is true because of stupendous, almost unbelievable changes which have taken place in recent years on every continent.

John Mott

A most highly multiplying trait in point of far-reaching influences is that of ability to discover and use strong men. This trait stands out impressively in Rothschild's 'Lincoln, Master of Men'.

John Mott

Of front-line importance among the most contagious and enduring traits of the leaders of nations and of all callings is that of spotless character.

John Mott

While life lasts, I am an evangelist.

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

Words . . . present a picture of the inward man.

John Mott

The GREATEST HINDRANCES to the evangelization of the world are those within the Church.

John Mott

The Church has not yet touched the fringe of the possibilities of intercessory prayer. Her largest victories will be witnessed when individual Christians everywhere come to recognize their priesthood unto God and day by day give themselves unto prayer.

John Mott

It is easy to magnify human personality and agencies. Prayer recognizes that God is the source of life and light and energy.

John Mott

If added power attends the united prayer of two or three, what mighty triumphs there will be when hundreds of thousands of consistent members of the Church are with one accord day by day making intercession for the extension of Christ's Kingdom.

John Mott

In order to have real prayer and action to change things, we must have conviction as to the need of prayer and action. In order to have conviction as to the need of prayer and action, we must have knowledge.

John Mott

You ask me, How much time? I do not know. I know it means time enough to forget time.

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

Every other consideration and plan and emphasis is secondary to that of wielding the forces of prayer.

John Mott

Let methods be changed, therefore, if necessary, that prayer may be given its true place. Let there be days set apart for intercession; let the original purpose of the monthly concert of prayer for missions be given a larger place; let missionary prayer cycles be used by families and by individual Christians.

John Mott

The world asks, How much does he give? Christ asks why does he give?

John Mott

From the day of Pentecost until the present time, it has been necessary to be of one accord in prayer before the Spirit of God will work with mighty converting power.

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

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 reason why we fail to prevail with unconverted men is due to our more fundamental failure to prevail with God in prayer.

John Mott

The men that will change the colleges and seminaries here represented are the men that will spend the most time alone with God... It takes time for the fires to burn. It takes time for God to draw near and for us to know that He is there. It takes time to assimilate His truth.

John Mott

Prayer is the greatest force that we can wield. It is the greatest talent which God has granted us. He has given it to every Christian.

John Mott

Prayer alone will overcome the gigantic difficulties which confront the workers in every field.

John Mott

No other generation but ours can evangelize the present generation.

John Mott