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Known for his logic and wit, Stuart Briscoe has been preaching since he was
just 17 years old. Now, edging close to 80 years young, Stuart shows no sign of
slowing down. In fact, he continues to proclaim the Gospel on nearly every
continent.
Born to a believing family in Millom, Cumbria, England in 1930, Stuart began
working in banking right after high school and eventually became personal
assistant to the chief inspector of the bank. In 1959, a year after he married
Jill, a school teacher, they felt a call to leave their careers and serve in
ministry full time. They joined Torchbearers, an international Christian
ministry organization involved in evangelism and Bible teaching. Stuart
traveled extensively and Jill remained in England with their three children
and was involved in local ministry. On a trip to the United
States, Stuart was introduced to members of Elmbrook Church, a growing
church in Brookfield, Wisconsin. They were seeking a pastor;
Stuart was feeling led to find a home church that would value outreach, but
also reduce the traveling that kept him away from his family for many months at
a time. When Elmbrook invited Stuart to lead them, he accepted, with Jill’s
blessing.
That was in 1970. For the next 30 years, Stuart served as senior pastor of
Elmbrook and the church experienced explosive growth. There was an overwhelming
hunger in the community to hear about God. Weekly attendance grew from 300 to
7,000 and numerous sister churches were planted. Telling the Truth was
founded during these exciting years, to repurpose Stuart and Jill’s Bible
teaching so it could reach outside the walls of the church. It has grown into
an international broadcast and Internet ministry that is now heard around the
world.
Stuart returns to his passion – global outreach
In 2000, Stuart decided to step down as senior pastor; however it was not a
retirement, but a retooling of his mission back into global outreach. He and
Jill began serving as Elmbrook’s ministers-at-large, going where they were most
needed to support under-resourced churches and missionaries. Today, the
Briscoes spend most of their year away from home, bringing encouragement to
God’s servants throughout the world and adding new Bible teaching resources to Telling
the Truth.
Stuart has written more than forty books, preached in over 100 countries and
has received honorary doctorates from a number of schools and universities.
Stuart and Jill have been asked why they don’t slow down but instead keep going
so much and so far. Stuart’s reply? “Because we’re invited.”
In his spare time he likes to read, run (not at the same time), garden, and
enjoy God's creation.
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