Journal of Applied Christian Leadership Volume 4 Number 1 Article 7 2010 John R. Mott, 1865-1955: Mission Leader Extraordinaire Gorden R. Doss Andrews University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/jacl Part of the Leadership Studies Commons Recommended Citation Doss, Gorden R. (2010) "John R. Mott, 1865-1955: Mission Leader Extraordinaire," Journal of Applied Christian Leadership: Vol. 4: No. 1, 72-81. Available at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/jacl/vol4/iss1/7 This Leadership Lived is brought to you for free and open access by Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Applied Christian Leadership by an authorized editor of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Doss: John R. Mott, 1865-1955: Mission Leader Extraordinaire who called him “one of the most nobly useful men in the world” (Hopkins, 1979, p. 435). When Mott declined to succeed Wilson as presi- dent of Princeton University, Wilson commented, “Mr. Mott can’t afford to take the presidency of a great univer- sity; Mr. Mott occupies a certain spiri- tual presidency in the spiritual uni- versity of the world” (Allison, 2004, p. 14). Although he declined several LEADERSHIP diplomatic positions, he did serve on Wilson’s Root Commission to Russia LIVED in 1917 and became the president’s most trusted advisor on Russian affairs. In 1946, he was awarded GORDEN R. DOSS the Nobel Peace Prize for his JOHN R. MOTT, humanitarian work. 1865-1955: Mott was active in Christian mis- sion leadership from his early twen- MISSION LEADER ties all the way into his final years. EXTRAORDINAIRE As a young man he founded the Student Volunteer Movement and the World Student Christian Federation. Introduction In his middle years he chaired the 2010 marks the 100th famous Edinburgh Missionary anniversary of one of the Conference of 1910. As an old man most significant organ- he was honorary chair of the World ized events in Christian Council of Churches at its founding history: the Edinburgh in 1948. Mission historian Ruth A. Missions Conference. Tucker is of the opinion that Mott was Yale Divinity School Library Its organizer was John R. more responsible than any other sin- Mott, then one of the gle person for the great surge of uni- most revered mission leaders. Even versity students who became overseas though his name has slipped some- missionaries in the late-nineteenth what from the collective memory, and early-twentieth century (2004, missiologists still regard him as the p. 319-320). missionary leader extraordinaire. John Mott deserves to be consid- Who was he? And what is his ered an exemplar because he was a legacy that prompts many Christian leader who was both “born” and organizations to celebrate Edinburgh “made.” He was truly a “five talent” in 2010? man who used what he was given to Born shortly after the American make another five. “A tall man for his Civil War, which ended in 1865, his time at six feet, with a strong, bold life spanned almost ninety years, end- chin and serious eyes, he was a com- ing in 1955 when Dwight Eisenhower manding personage” (Allison, 2002, was president. During his life Mott p. 15). People were attracted by his interacted with eight American presi- charisma and he was blessed with dents, most notably Woodrow Wilson, excellent interpersonal skills. But he Gorden R. Doss, PhD, is Associate Professor of World Mission at the Theological Seminary at Andrews University, in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Published by Digital Commons @ Andrews University, 2010 1 Journal of Applied Christian Leadership, Vol. 4 [2010], No. 1, Art. 7 GORDON R. DOSS a leader in ecumenical circles was rooted in his early decision not to seek ordination or to serve in a particular denomination. Mott lived in Postville until 1881 when he went away to Upper Iowa University. His second college year found him at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, studying history and political science. At Cornell he came into contact with a perfectionist Holiness movement within Methodism. He pursued and achieved the Holiness “second blessing” or “entire sanctification” experience in his first winter there, although he did not claim to be sin- Yale Divinity School Library less (Hopkins, 1994, p. 81; 1979, p. did not use his natural gifts cheaply 19). The Methodist emphasis on for quick and shallow successes. The “unity in diversity” and his experi- gifts he had were matched by “his ence with the Holiness movement almost infinite capacity for hard work became the “base for Mott’s mature and care for details” (Hopkins, 1979, thought on race, ecumenism, and the p. 31). Throughout his long career, social gospel” (Hopkins, 1994, p. 81). Mott used and developed his God- He would promote a balanced given leadership skills at a very approach that called for conversion high level. to Jesus Christ as the unique Savior of humankind, alongside service to Early Years address a wide range of social prob- John R. Mott was born in New York lems and material needs. State on May 25, 1865, six weeks after Another “decisive moment” President Lincoln was assassinated. occurred when J. E. K. Studd, the Shortly after his birth, the Mott family famous English cricketer and associ- moved to Postville, Iowa. The family ate of Dwight Moody, visited Cornell. farmed for a while but then started a Mott arrived late for one of Studd’s retail lumber yard in Postville, even- meetings, just in time to hear him tually becoming the small town’s read the text, “Seekest thou great leading family. The Motts were things for thyself; seek them not. Methodists who attended the local Seek ye first the Kingdom of God.” church and used Methodist materials After spending a sleepless night for religious instruction in the home. wrestling with the meaning of these When John was thirteen, a Quaker words, Mott went to Studd for guid- evangelist working with the Young ance. Studd’s wise advice was to Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) “look Christ-ward” into the Bible to led him to accept Christ. His early cultivate a relationship with Jesus contact with the interdenominational (Hopkins, 1994, p. 19). Spirituality YMCA, combined with the influence would become a defining focus of of Dwight Moody and others, pointed Mott’s life and ministry. him toward a lifetime of interdenomi- Mott’s gift for leadership started to national lay ministry. His later role as become apparent at Cornell. Before THE JOURNAL OF APPLIED CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PAGE 74 https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/jacl/vol4/iss1/7 2 Doss: John R. Mott, 1865-1955: Mission Leader Extraordinaire LEADERSHIP LIVED: JOHN R. MOTT long he became vice-president and Major Leadership Roles then president of the campus YMCA. and Achievements Under his leadership, the Cornell Founding the Student Volunteer chapter became the “largest and most Movement was the great achievement active student YMCA” in the nation of Mott’s early professional career. (Hopkins, 1994, p. 79). The influence of the Mount Hermon Mott was willing and ready but not Hundred set off a “gusher” of enthusi- yet certain of how or where he should asm for world mission that quickly serve. In 1886, he was with a group of produced two thousand volunteers. 251 university and seminary students Organizing these enthusiastic volun- who spent twenty-six days at Mount teers became a major challenge that Hermon, Massachusetts, where led to the organization in 1888 of the Dwight Moody had a conference cen- Student Volunteer Movement. Mott ter. The students listened to ardent served as chairman and Robert P. calls to world mission by A. T. Pierson Wilder was travelling secretary; and others. Mott was among the one Robert E. Speer later joined the leader- hundred students who responded by ship. The famous SVM motto coined signing the pledge, “I purpose, God by Wilder was, “The evangelization of willing, to become a foreign mission- the world in this generation.” For ary,” and became known as the Mott, the motto did “not mean the “Mount Hermon Hundred.” The conversion, or the Christianization, or Student Volunteer Movement for the civilization of the world, no matter Foreign Missions (SVM) and a wider how much the volunteers may believe emphasis on world mission would in each of these. It does mean that the grow out of the commitments of Christians of this generation are to the Mount Hermon Hundred. give every person of this age an oppor- Interestingly, Mott never actually tunity to accept Jesus Christ” (Mott, served as a cross-cultural resident 1897, vol. 1, p. 141). missionary in a foreign land. His mis- Mott would go on to establish SVM sion post truly was the whole world. chapters in many nations. Among Upon graduating from Cornell, those recruited in SVM’s early years Mott yielded to the persuasion of the was Samuel Zwemer, famed mission- North American Student YMCA to ary to the Middle East. “By 1920 near- become their travelling secretary—but ly one-third of the world’s missionar- only on a one-year trial basis, he said. ies serving on the field at that time In his new role, the twenty-three-year- had been launched into missions old Mott was an immediate success. through the SVM” (Allison, 2002, p. He excelled as an evangelist, organiz- 35-36). They served in many different er, fund raiser, administrator, diplo- denominations and agencies, but mat, and appraiser of people. Thus SVM put them on the path to mission- commenced a lifelong traveling career ary service. One of the main features centered around youth and missions of the SVM was its quadrennial mis- that at one time included being presi- sion conference, which first met in dent or chairman of six major mis- 1891 in Cleveland.