INTERNATIONAL PREACHER, BROADCASTER STEPHEN OLFORD DIES

Known as a “preacher’s preacher,” Dr. Stephen Olford, founder and chairman of Olford Ministries International, died the evening of Sunday, Aug. 29, after suffering a massive stroke. He was 86. Olford was born in Zambia, the son of missionaries Frederick and Bessie Olford, but grew up in Angola where he committed his life to Christ. After preparing for the ministry in the U.K., Olford was appointed an Army Scripture Reader during World War II. After the war he was involved in an extensive evangelistic and preaching ministry throughout the U.K. and worldwide. He later served as pastor of Duke Street Baptist Church in Richmond, Surrey, England (1953-1959) and Calvary Baptist Church in New York City (1959-1973). He pioneered a Christian TV program, “Encounter,” in New York, and his Sunday-morning services were broadcast worldwide on radio. His weekly half-hour radio program, also called “Encounter,” continues to air in the U.S. and overseas. In 1980 he founded the Institute for Biblical Preaching. In 1985 Olford and his wife, Heather, moved to Memphis, Tenn., where he began the Stephen Olford Center for Biblical Preaching three years later. It is also the headquarters of Olford Ministries International where his son, David Olford, is the president. The senior Olford was recognized nationally and internationally for his Christ-centered, expository preaching and has received numerous awards, honorary degrees and distinctions. He also authored many books, booklets and preaching resources. (Assist News Service)

This great man preached at the Sydney Town Hall when I was ordained by the Baptist Union of NSW in 1968)

Rowland Croucher