“We are neither to seek to preserve our holiness by escaping from the world nor to sacrifice our holiness by conforming to the world.” John Stott
Stott Recipients
Each year, the Stott Award is awarded to six churches and congregations who demonstrate pastoral wisdom in their ability to apply the deep and abiding truths of God’s word to bear on the pressings issues of ecclesial life.
2019-2020 Stott Award Recipients
Gavin Ortlund
First Baptist Church of Ojai
First Baptist Church of Ojai (ABC) is located in Ojai, California. Gavin Ortlund has been the Senior Pastor for just over a year. He has a PhD in historical theology from Fuller Theological Seminary.
Wesley Vander Lugt
Warehouse 242
Warehouse 242 (EPC) is located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Wesley Vander Lugt has been the Lead Pastor for six years. He holds a PhD in theology, imagination, and the arts from the University of St. Andrews.
Ryan O’Dowd
Bread of Life Anglican Church
Bread of Life Anglican Church (ACNA) is located in Ithaca, New York. Ryan O’Dowd has been the Pastor for nine years. He has a PhD in philosophy from the University of Liverpool.
Mike Woodruff & Ben Dockery
Christ Church Lake Forest
Christ Church Lake Forest (Non-Denominational) is located in Lake Forest, Illinois. Mike Woodruff has been the Senior Pastor for over 15 years. He has an MDiv from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Ben Dockery has been the Campus Pastor for two years. He has a PhD in leadership and higher education from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Matt O’Reilly
Hope Hull United Methodist Church
Hope Hull United Methodist Church (UMC) is located in Hope Hull, Alabama. Matt O’Reilly has been the Pastor for one year. He holds a PhD in New Testament from the University of Gloucestershire.
Greg Gilbert & Rafael Bello
Third Avenue Baptist Church
Third Avenue Baptist Church (SBC) is located in Louisville, Kentucky. Greg Gilbert has been the Senior Pastor for nine years. He has an MDiv from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and is currently working on his PhD there. Rafael Bellow is a Group Leader at Third Ave, and he has a PhD in systematic theology from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
2018-2019 Recipients
Paul Anderson
Grace Valley Fellowship
Paul Anderson is the Lead Pastor at Grace Valley Fellowship, where he has served since 2010. He received his ThM form Dallas Theological Seminary.
Jeff Boldt
Trinity Church
Jeff Boldt is a Curate at Trinity Church Streetsville. He holds a ThD in Historical Theology from Wycliffe College, University of Toronto, where he studied with Ephraim Radner.
Christopher Bechtel
Evergreen Church of Salem
Christopher Bechtel is a Minister at Evergreen Church of Salem, where he has served since 2012. He holds a PhD in Hebrew Bible from New College, University of Edinburgh.
Wesley Vander Lugt
Warehouse 242
Wesley Vander Lugt has been the Lead Pastor of Warehouse 242 for five years. He holds a PhD in Theology, the Imagination, and the Arts from the University of St. Andrews.
James Martin
Hope Community Church
James Martin is the Lead Pastor of Hope Community Church. He holds a MA in Theological Studies form Asbury Theological Seminary.
Joey Sherrard
Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church
Joey Sherrard is the Associate Pastor of Discipleship at Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church. He holds a PhD in Systematic Theology from the University of St. Andrews, where he studied with Alan Torrance.
2017-2018 Recipients
Nathan Barczi
Christ the King Presbyterian Church
Nathan Barczi is an Associate Pastor at Christ the King. He holds a PhD in economics from MIT and an MA in systematic and philosophical theology from the University of Nottingham, where he is currently pursuing a PhD in theology.
Raymond Johnson
The Journey Church
Raymond Johnson is the Lead Pastor at The Journey Church. He holds a PhD in New Testament Interpretation from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he studied under Jonathan Pennington.
Mickey Klink
Hope Church
Edward (“Mickey”) Klink III is the Pastor of Hope Church, where he has served since 2014. Mickey holds a PhD in New Testament from St. Andrews, and prior to his pastoral ministry at Hope, he was a professor of Biblical and Theological Studies at Talbot School of Theology.
Mitch Kim
Wellspring Alliance
Mitch Kim is the Senior Pastor at Wellspring Alliance, and holds a PhD in Biblical Theology from Wheaton College. In 2010, he participated in the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization in Cape Town, South Africa.
Andrew Lee
Chinese Christian Union Church
Andrew Lee is the Senior Pastor of Chinese Christian Union Church, including all three of its campuses, and holds a PhD in Religion with an emphasis in Old Testament from Baylor University.
Mark Stirling (co-recipient, with Jared Michelson)
Cornerstone Church
Mark Stirling is the Senior Pastor at Cornerstone Church, and holds a PhD in New Testament from St. Andrews University.
Jared Michelson (co-recipient, with Mark Stirling)
Cornerstone Church
Jared Michelson is the Assistant Pastor at Cornerstone, and is currently a PhD candidate at St. Andrews University in Systematic Theology.
2016-2017 Recipients
Paul Anderson
Grace Valley Fellowship
Paul is the lead pastor of Grace Valley Fellowship. A graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary, Paul has over 15 years of pastoral experience. Paul is an incurable coffee drinker, avid reader, & dedicated treehouse-builder. He loves playing kickball with his kids, swing dancing with his wife, studying ancient Hebrew texts, and Jesus (not in that order).
J. Matthew Barnes (co-recipient, with Greg Waybright)
Lake Avenue Church
Matt Barnes serves as ministry curriculum coordinator at Lake Avenue. He also recently completed his PhD in New Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary.
Doug Kyle
Green Valley Church
Doug is the lead pastor of Green Valley Church. Doug Kyle received his DMin from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and is a licensed minister with the Evangelical Free Church of America.
Bing Nieh
Holy Trinity Church
Bing Nieh is the Assistant Pastor of University and Missional Ministries at Holy Trinity Church, a non-denominational church located near the University of Chicago. He is a PhD student in Intercultural Studies at TEDS, and a licensed minister with the Evangelical Free Church of America. Bing also has years of experience as an engineer.
Gregory Snyder
St John’s Parish
Rev. Snyder has served as the Rector of St. John’s Perish Church since 2005. Prior to ministry, Snyder received his PhD in geochemistry from the Colorado School of Mines, and served as Research Professor of Planetary Geology and Geochemistry at the University of Tennessee. He received his MDiv from Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry.
Gregory Waybright (co-recipient, with Matt Barnes)
Lake Avenue Church
Greg Waybright is the Senior Pastor of Lake Avenue Church, where he has served since 2007. He received his PhD in New Testament Theology from Marquette University. Greg was also the President of Trinity Evangelical Divinity school prior to his current pastorate.
Todd Wilson
Calvary Memorial Church
Todd Wilson is the Senior Pastor at Calvary Memorial, where he has served since 2007. He received his PhD in New Testament from Cambridge University. Along with associate pastor Gerald Hiestand, Wilson also founded the Center for Pastor Theologians in 2006.
